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Nevada Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$10.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.5M
0

Nevada Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,246,401 (2023)
  • Total Assets: Nearly $250 million
  • Grant Awards: 84 grants in 2023
  • Founded: 1989 (IRS ruling 1993)
  • Geographic Focus: Southern Nevada
  • Application Method: Primarily donor-directed; limited public grant programs

Contact Details

Address: 1140 N Town Center Dr, Suite 340, Las Vegas, NV 89144
Phone: 702-892-2326
Email: info@nevadacf.org
Website: www.nevadacf.org
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Pacific Time (appointments recommended for in-person visits)

Overview

Nevada Community Foundation (NCF) was established in 1989 and received its IRS ruling in 1993. Since inception, NCF donors have given more than $250 million to causes across Southern Nevada. The foundation administers over 150 charitable funds with nearly $250 million in assets. NCF has experienced extraordinary growth under the leadership of President & CEO Gian Brosco—expanding from $14.9 million to over $160 million in assets since 2008, an increase of more than 1,500% over 15 years. The foundation has been awarded The Community Foundations National Standards Accreditation Seal and earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100% trust rating, placing it among the 100 largest community foundations in the country. NCF's mission is to "steward our donors' charitable giving, now and for generations to come" while providing "leadership, vision and impactful community investment for Southern Nevada." Unlike traditional grant-making foundations, NCF primarily operates by managing donor-advised funds and other charitable vehicles that allow donors to recommend grants to nonprofits on their own schedule, though the foundation also manages field-of-interest funds and partners with initiatives like Nevada Women's Philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NCF's grant-making occurs primarily through donor-directed funds rather than competitive public application processes:

  • Donor-Advised Funds: The primary vehicle for grant-making at NCF. Donors contribute assets to their fund, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to eligible nonprofits on their own timeline. Grant amounts vary based on individual fund size—from a few hundred dollars to substantial six-figure grants.

  • Nevada Women's Philanthropy Impact Grant: A member-driven, pooled-fund initiative that awards large impact grants annually. Since 2005, NWP has granted close to $6 million to 26 Southern Nevada nonprofits. Recent awards include $500,000 to St. Jude's Ranch for Children (2023), $500,000 to Bridge Counseling Associates (2021), and $500,000 to HELP of Southern Nevada (2020). NWP operates as a donor-advised fund of NCF.

  • Field-of-Interest Funds: Competitive grant pools allocated to specific areas including Capacity Building, Education, and Animals, Wildlife & Conservation. Grant amounts and application processes vary by fund.

  • Scholarship Funds: Financial assistance for individuals pursuing education from pre-K through postgraduate levels. Minimum of $25,000 required to establish a scholarship fund. Recipients selected on competitive basis considering academic and non-academic factors and demonstrated financial need.

  • Community Grants: Limited public grant opportunities designed to help nonprofits meet community needs and build organizational capacity. Grants vary from a few hundred dollars upward.

  • Individual Assistance: Financial assistance to Nevada residents for food, clothing, utilities, rent/mortgage assistance, and other special needs.

Priority Areas

NCF does not maintain centralized funding priorities, as grant decisions are predominantly made by individual donors through their funds. However, documented areas of recent activity include:

  • Mental health services
  • Youth services and child welfare
  • Education and scholarship support
  • Community capacity building
  • Social services and safety net programs
  • Wildlife and conservation

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available. Requirements vary by individual fund.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Geraldine Tomich, Esq. – Chair
Attorney at Marquis Aurbach specializing in estate planning, asset protection, and business succession. Founding director of Gift Planning Advisors and frequent community educator on planned giving.

Alberto A. León, JD, PhD – Vice Chair
Intellectual property attorney and owner of A. León Law. Former chemistry professor with Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry; serves as Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel for World Boxing Council.

Michael J. Threet – Treasurer
CPA and Chief Financial Officer of Caltrol (industrial automation). Former secretary/treasurer of Salvation Army and president of City of Las Vegas Community Schools.

Tami J. Hance-Lehr – Secretary
Chief Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Nevada. 26 years of experience in destination management and nonprofit leadership.

Daniel Anderson – Board Member
Recently retired Managing Director at Morgan Stanley (41-year tenure). Former trustee and president of Discovery Children's Museum.

Lisa Morris Hibbler, D.P.A. – Board Member
Executive Director of Shaquille O'Neal Foundation. Previously Deputy City Manager for City of Las Vegas (27 years). Expertise in social equity and workforce development.

Dan Martin – Board Member
CPA and Partner at Eide Bailly specializing in gaming and hospitality audits. Recent Chair of Nevada Society of CPAs.

Kari Uyehara – Board Member
Executive Director of Raiders Foundation. Over 20 years nonprofit leadership with fundraising experience exceeding $40 million. Previously led Andre Agassi Foundation, Shane Victorino Foundation, and Shaquille O'Neal Foundation.

Executive Leadership

Gian F. Brosco, Esq. – President & CEO
Joined NCF in 2008 with over 25 years of experience in philanthropy, law, fundraising, and banking. Under his leadership, NCF grew from $14.9 million to over $160 million in assets. One of only 175 BoardSource© Certified Governance Trainers worldwide. Previously served as Vice President for Philanthropic Management Group at U.S. Trust Bank of America and as development officer at The Rhode Island Foundation.

Beth Farley – Chief Financial Officer
CPA with 20+ years in nonprofit financial management. Former Partner at Eide Bailly specializing in grant management and fund accounting.

Taylor Arth – Chief Development & Relationship Officer
Over a decade of experience in strategic marketing, brand leadership, and relationship building. UNLV hospitality graduate.

Caroline Ciocca – Executive Consultant
20+ years nonprofit leadership. Former President/CEO of Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, where she grew revenue from $1.4 million to $3.9 million.

Don Quattrucci – Executive Consultant
25+ years in wealth management and organizational growth. Former BNY Mellon Wealth Management executive; chairs investment committee at Bryant University ($200 million endowment).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Nevada Community Foundation does not have a traditional public grant application process. The foundation primarily operates through donor-advised funds, where individual donors recommend which nonprofits receive grants from their funds. Grants are awarded based on donor recommendations rather than through competitive applications submitted by nonprofits.

For the limited field-of-interest funds and special grant programs that may accept applications, nonprofits should contact NCF directly at 702-892-2326 or info@nevadacf.org to inquire about current opportunities.

For Donor-Advised Fund Grants: Nonprofits cannot apply directly. Grants from donor-advised funds are awarded when individual donors who have established funds at NCF recommend your organization. These recommendations can be made year-round through the DonorCentral website or by contacting the donor's philanthropic advisor at NCF.

For Special Programs: Some initiatives administered through NCF (such as Nevada Women's Philanthropy or Cox Charities grants) may have specific application periods. Contact NCF directly for current opportunities.

Scholarship Applications: Individuals seeking scholarship support should inquire about available scholarship funds and their specific criteria.

Getting on Their Radar

Since NCF operates primarily through donor-advised funds, relationship building occurs primarily at the donor level rather than the foundation level. However, nonprofits can increase visibility by:

  • Ensuring 501(c)(3) status and strong financial practices: Donor-advised fund grants can only be recommended to eligible charitable organizations. Maintaining good standing and transparent financials makes it easier for donors to recommend grants.

  • Building relationships with individual donors: NCF donors are the decision-makers for grant recommendations. Cultivating relationships with philanthropists who have established funds at NCF is the most direct path to receiving grants.

  • Participating in NCF-connected initiatives: Nevada Women's Philanthropy presents an annual Impact Grant opportunity through a competitive process for large grants ($500,000). Maintaining awareness of NCF-administered special grant programs can provide specific application opportunities.

  • Maintaining NCF awareness: While NCF staff don't make grant decisions for donor-advised funds, they do serve as advisors to donors. Establishing a positive relationship with NCF staff (particularly Business Development Associates) can help ensure your organization is known when donors seek recommendations.

Decision Timeline

Donor-Advised Funds: No standard timeline. Donors can recommend grants at any time throughout the year, and recommendations can be submitted 24/7 through online portals. Processing time for approved grant recommendations is typically handled within the foundation's normal administrative schedule.

Field-of-Interest and Special Programs: Timelines vary by specific fund or program. Contact NCF for details on particular opportunities.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available for NCF's limited competitive grant programs. For donor-advised funds, success depends entirely on individual donor decisions rather than foundation selection processes.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for donor-advised fund structure. For competitive programs, policies vary by specific fund.

Application Success Factors

Since NCF primarily operates through donor-advised funds rather than competitive grant applications, traditional "application success factors" don't apply in the conventional sense. However, nonprofits seeking to receive grants from NCF donors should consider:

For Organizations Seeking Donor-Advised Fund Grants:

  • Financial transparency and strong governance: Donors advised by NCF staff often seek organizations with clear financials, strong boards, and well-defined missions. NCF's board composition heavily features financial professionals (CPAs, wealth management executives) and governance experts, reflecting the foundation's emphasis on responsible stewardship.

  • Mission alignment with donor interests: Since grants flow from individual donor recommendations, understanding the philanthropic interests of specific NCF donors is critical. NCF administers over 150 charitable funds, each reflecting different donor priorities.

  • Demonstrable community impact: NCF's mission emphasizes "impactful community investment for Southern Nevada." Organizations that can clearly articulate their community impact and measurable outcomes are better positioned to attract donor recommendations.

  • Capacity building focus: NCF has documented field-of-interest funding for "Capacity Building," suggesting donor interest in organizational sustainability and nonprofit infrastructure development, not just program funding.

For Competitive Grant Programs (Nevada Women's Philanthropy, etc.):

  • Large-scale, transformational projects: Nevada Women's Philanthropy consistently awards $500,000 Impact Grants to single organizations for capital projects or major program expansions (examples: complete office renovations for HELP of Southern Nevada, welcome center construction for St. Jude's Ranch for Children). Applications should present big-vision projects rather than incremental program funding.

  • Focus on vulnerable populations: Recent NWP grants have targeted sex trafficking victims (St. Jude's Ranch), individuals experiencing homelessness (HELP of Southern Nevada), and mental health services. Projects serving Nevada's most vulnerable residents align with documented funding patterns.

  • Operational excellence: With a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating and 100% trust score, NCF values organizational excellence. Competitive grant recipients should demonstrate strong financial management, governance, and operational practices.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Understand the funding model: NCF is not a traditional foundation with competitive grant cycles. Over 150 individual donors control grant recommendations through their charitable funds. Cultivate relationships with individual philanthropists, not just the foundation.

  • Donor-directed grants are year-round: Unlike foundations with annual deadlines, NCF donors can recommend grants at any time. Maintain ongoing donor stewardship rather than focusing on specific application windows.

  • Watch for special initiatives: While most funding is donor-directed, NCF administers special programs (Nevada Women's Philanthropy, Cox Charities, field-of-interest funds) with competitive processes. Monitor NCF communications for these opportunities.

  • Think transformation, not transaction: For competitive grants like NWP's Impact Grant, present bold, transformational projects with clear community benefit. Recent awards average $500,000 for capital improvements and major program expansions.

  • Exceptional growth indicates increased capacity: NCF's 1,500% asset growth since 2008 means more donor funds and greater grant-making capacity. The foundation is expanding its philanthropic footprint in Southern Nevada.

  • Professional advisor relationships matter: With many board members and donors connected to wealth management, estate planning, and professional advisory services, nonprofits may benefit from connections through professional advisors who work with high-net-worth individuals.

  • Focus on Southern Nevada: NCF's mission explicitly focuses on Southern Nevada. Organizations outside this region are unlikely to receive funding unless they clearly serve Southern Nevada residents.

References

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