Community Foundation of Northern Nevada

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately $17.6 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not available
• Decision Time: Not available
• Grant Range: $5,000–$2,000,000 (based on 2023 grant data)
• Geographic Focus: Northern Nevada region

Contact Details

• Address: 50 Washington Street, Suite 300-A, Reno, NV 89503
• Website: https://nevadafund.org/
• Phone: (775) 333-5499
• Email: info@nevadafund.org

Overview

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada (CFNN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation established in 1998 that serves as a philanthropic hub for the Northern Nevada region. With total assets of approximately $155 million as of 2023, CFNN is one of the significant philanthropic institutions in the region. Since its founding, the foundation has distributed more than $200 million in grants and scholarships from over 300 charitable funds. The foundation operates primarily through donor-advised funds and other charitable vehicles, connecting people who care with causes that matter to strengthen the community through philanthropy and leadership.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Northern Nevada Endowment Fund The Northern Nevada Endowment Fund (formerly the Community Fund) addresses the community's most pressing issues through annual grant cycles. Recent funding priorities have included mental health workforce development, environmental conservation and education, and domestic violence support services. The fund provides flexible support during both prosperous times for innovative programmes and during crises for urgent community needs.

Dream Tags Charitable Fund The Dream Tags Charitable Fund accepts proposals year-round for grants supporting wildlife conservation in Nevada. The fund focuses on restoring resilience in at-risk Nevada habitats through strategic collaborative projects that support the preservation, protection, management or restoration of big game, other wildlife and their habitat.

Other Grant Programmes The foundation manages various additional grant programmes and scholarships through its 300+ charitable funds, each established by individual donors to support specific causes and communities within Northern Nevada.

Priority Areas

As a community foundation, CFNN supports a broad range of charitable causes in Northern Nevada, including:

• Mental health and behavioural health
• Affordable housing
• Environmental conservation and watershed protection
• Youth enrichment and education
• Arts and culture
• Animal welfare
• Food security and shelter
• Health and wellness
• Intervention and protection services

Current strategic discretionary priorities include expanding affordable housing and building the region's mental health workforce.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions vary by individual fund. Contact the foundation directly for information about specific grant programmes and their eligibility requirements.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by President and CEO Eaton Dunkelberger, who was appointed in April 2022. Dunkelberger previously served as CEO of Sierra Nevada Journeys and is a USMC veteran with an MBA from London Business School and a BS in Biology from Stanford University. The Board of Trustees is chaired by Beau Keenan, a fourth-generation Nevadan, with multiple trustees overseeing organisational operations and strategic direction.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The application process varies by grant programme:

Northern Nevada Endowment Fund: Annual grant cycles with specific focus areas determined each year. Check the foundation's website for current priorities and deadlines.

Dream Tags Charitable Fund: Accepts proposals year-round. The Advisory Board on Dream Tags reviews proposals and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees for final approval.

Other Programmes: Application processes vary by individual fund. Visit the foundation's website at nevadafund.org for current requests for proposals and grant opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by programme. The Northern Nevada Endowment Fund operates on an annual cycle, whilst the Dream Tags Charitable Fund reviews proposals on a rolling basis.

Success Rates

Application success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by programme. Contact the foundation directly for specific programme guidelines.

Application Success Factors

Organisations seeking funding from CFNN should:

• Align proposals with current grant programme priorities as posted on the foundation's website
• Demonstrate clear community impact in Northern Nevada
• For Northern Nevada Endowment Fund grants, focus on the annual priority area (which changes yearly)
• For Dream Tags grants, show strategic collaborative approaches to wildlife habitat conservation
• Connect with the foundation to discuss programme fit before applying

The foundation is described by sector observers as an "essential, approachable partner" for Northern Nevada nonprofits, particularly those working in watershed protection, mental health or youth enrichment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• CFNN is a well-established community foundation with significant assets ($155 million) that has distributed over $200 million since 1998
• Annual grant-making of approximately $17.6 million demonstrates substantial community investment
• Multiple grant programmes operate on different timelines (annual cycles and rolling applications)
• Grant priorities change annually for some programmes—check the website regularly for current opportunities
• The foundation is particularly focused on mental health, affordable housing, environmental conservation and youth programming
• Direct engagement with foundation staff is encouraged to discuss programme fit
• As a community foundation with 300+ funds, opportunities vary based on donor interests and fund availability

References

• Community Foundation of Northern Nevada official website (nevadafund.org), accessed May 2026
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Community Foundation of Northern Nevada (EIN: 88-0370179), 2023 Form 990
• IRS Tax-Exempt Organisation records showing 501(c)(3) status since February 1998
• Inside Philanthropy - Community Foundation of Northern Nevada profile
• Instrumentl 990 Report data for Community Foundation of Northern Nevada