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The Boyd Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.6M

The Boyd Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,640,722 (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $72,833,589 (FY 2024)
  • Number of Grants: 39 grants (2024), 25 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Nevada, with strong focus on Las Vegas/UNLV
  • Foundation Type: Private foundation
  • EIN: 88-0220082

Contact Details

Address: 6465 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89118

Phone: (702) 233-0186

Contact: William S. Boyd, President

Note: Application process exists but operates primarily at trustee discretion

Overview

The Boyd Foundation was established in June 1987 by William S. Boyd, co-founder of Boyd Gaming Corporation. With total assets of $72.8 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $3.6 million, the foundation has experienced significant growth from $17.5 million in assets in 2011. The foundation operates as a private 501(c)(3) organization focused primarily on supporting Nevada charitable organizations, with particular emphasis on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). William S. Boyd and The Boyd Foundation achieved Diamond membership status in UNLV's Palladium Society in 2009, recognizing cumulative donations of $10 million or more to the university. The foundation is governed by seven trustees from the Boyd family, demonstrating multi-generational commitment to Nevada philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Boyd Foundation operates through trustee-discretionary grantmaking rather than structured grant programs. Awards are limited to charitable purposes qualifying under Section 501(c)(3), including:

  • Charitable and educational purposes
  • Religious organizations
  • Scientific initiatives
  • Literary programs
  • Amateur sports competitions (excluding athletic facilities/equipment provision)
  • Prevention of cruelty to children or animals

Important Restriction: The Boyd Foundation does not consider endowment requests.

Priority Areas

Based on their documented giving history, the foundation prioritizes:

Higher Education: Major support for UNLV, including the founding gift for the William S. Boyd School of Law in 1997 and subsequent gifts to secure the school's future. Recent major gifts include $10 million for the William S. Boyd and Judy Boyd Endowment for Athlete Nutrition (November 2024) and $6.5 million for a multi-use indoor sports practice facility (February 2024).

University Programs: Support for UNLV Foundation and various university initiatives, legal education, and student-athlete welfare

Community Organizations: Various Nevada-based charitable organizations serving educational, religious, scientific, literary, and social welfare purposes

What They Don't Fund

  • Endowment requests (explicitly stated policy)
  • Organizations outside traditional 501(c)(3) qualifying purposes
  • Athletic facilities or equipment provision (as part of amateur sports support)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by seven trustees, each compensated $30,000 annually (2024):

  • William S. Boyd - President (receives no compensation)
  • Samuel J Boyd - Secretary
  • Marianne E Boyd Johnson - Treasurer
  • William R. Boyd - Trustee
  • Bruno Mark - Trustee
  • Samuel Boyd Jr - Trustee
  • Taylor J Boyd - Trustee
  • Sean W Johnson - Trustee

Leadership Background

William S. Boyd co-founded Boyd Gaming Corporation in 1974 with his father, Sam Boyd, after practicing law for 15 years. A Las Vegas resident since 1941, he serves on the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees and served as honorary co-chair of UNLV's "Invent the Future" comprehensive fundraising campaign. The family's multi-generational involvement in both gaming and philanthropy demonstrates deep roots in Nevada's community development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Boyd Foundation accepts applications through a formal submission process. According to their documentation, the foundation's application for funds includes:

  • Organization name
  • Tax-exempt status verification
  • Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
  • Contact information
  • Amount requested
  • Tax-exempt purpose description
  • Detailed explanation of how funds will be used
  • Sources of the majority of the applicant's income and contributions

Critical Note: "However, the awards will be granted to the applicants only in the judgement and discretion of the trustees of the Foundation based upon the preceding guidelines."

This language indicates that while there is an application process, final decisions rest entirely with the trustees' discretion. Organizations should understand that meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. The foundation operates on a fiscal year basis with annual grantmaking cycles, but individual application processing times are determined by trustee meeting schedules and discretionary review processes.

Success Rates

With 39 grants made in 2024 and 25 grants in 2023, the foundation maintains selective grantmaking. Success rate data is not publicly available, but the limited number of awards relative to total assets suggests a competitive process focused on strategic partnerships rather than broad distribution.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are documented. However, given the trustee-discretionary nature of awards and the foundation's focus on long-term relationships with organizations like UNLV, ongoing relationships appear more favorable than one-time requests.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of the foundation's documented giving patterns and operational approach:

Established Relationships Matter: The foundation's most significant support flows to organizations with established connections, particularly UNLV. The multi-decade partnership with UNLV, including the 1997 founding gift for the law school and continued major gifts through 2024, demonstrates preference for sustained institutional relationships.

Nevada Focus: As stated on their UNLV Foundation profile, William S. Boyd has been "a resident of Las Vegas since 1941" and the foundation's giving reflects strong Nevada community ties. Organizations with Nevada operations and beneficiaries align with this geographic commitment.

Educational Impact: The Boyd School of Law example shows the foundation values transformative educational initiatives. The law school offers "legal clinics, externships, and moot court activities" and has achieved national rankings, demonstrating the foundation's interest in programs with measurable educational outcomes.

Strategic, High-Impact Gifts: Recent giving patterns show preference for major institutional gifts ($10 million for athlete nutrition endowment, $6.5 million for sports facilities) over numerous small grants. The foundation made only 39 grants in 2024 despite having $72.8 million in assets, suggesting selective, strategic focus.

Trustee Alignment: With seven family trustees making discretionary decisions, applications should clearly articulate alignment with traditional charitable purposes and demonstrate how funding serves Nevada communities and institutions the Boyd family supports.

No Endowment Requests: This is an explicit policy. Avoid requesting endowment funding regardless of organizational strength or mission alignment.

Documentation and Transparency: The application requires detailed financial information including "sources of the majority of the applicant's income and contributions," suggesting the foundation values financial transparency and diversified funding sources.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a family foundation operating primarily through trustee discretion - while an application process exists, decisions rest entirely with the Boyd family trustees based on their strategic priorities
  • UNLV connection is paramount - the foundation's largest and most consistent giving supports University of Nevada, Las Vegas programs and initiatives
  • Major gifts over broad distribution - with only 39 grants from $72.8 million in assets, the foundation favors substantial, transformational funding over numerous small awards
  • Nevada organizations strongly preferred - decades of Las Vegas residency and community involvement suggest geographic focus on Nevada beneficiaries
  • Educational impact resonates - the Boyd School of Law and athlete nutrition programs demonstrate interest in educational institutions and student development
  • Endowment requests are automatically declined - save time by avoiding endowment proposals regardless of organizational merit
  • Multi-year relationships likely preferred - sustained partnership with UNLV spanning nearly three decades suggests preference for ongoing commitments over one-time grants

References

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