The Lynne Ruffin-Smith Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on a small set of institutions with an emphasis on brain/medical research and community health, plus selective support for faith-based social services and regional arts. Grants are geographically focused (notably Southern Nevada and Wichita) and often directed to established organizations with mission-driven operational or program support. The foundation makes relatively large, targeted gifts and shows a pattern of repeat funding to a few core grantees.
The Lynne Ruffin-smith Charitable Foundation’s recent giving is defined by a large, repeated commitment to the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, including a $260,000 grant in 2023 and a $210,000 grant in 2024 for diagnosis and treatment for individuals experiencing cognitive changes. That emphasis on brain health sits alongside a smaller set of recurring gifts to community health, social services, and arts organizations. The foundation’s pattern is not broad-based; it favors a compact roster of institutions and returns to several of them across multiple years. Among its other largest awards are grants to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and St Rose Dominican Health Foundation, both in Southern Nevada, which points to a strong local service orientation. The foundation also supports organizations tied to shelter and crisis response, veterans’ services, public broadcasting, and Catholic school support. In the arts, it has backed Wichita Art Museum and Music Theatre Wichita, showing that its funding is not limited to health and human services. The overall profile is one of targeted, institution-level support rather than a wide grantmaking portfolio.
In neurological research and brain health, the foundation directed $210,000 in 2024 to The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute for diagnosis and treatment for individuals experiencing cognitive changes. That same organization received $260,000 in 2023, making it a central beneficiary of the foundation’s medical giving. Community health and wellness is another clear theme. The foundation gave $55,000 in 2024 to St Rose Dominican Health Foundation to improve community health and wellness, following a $55,000 grant in 2023 to the same organization. It also supported Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation with $10,000 in 2024 for hospice care for uninsured and underinsured patients. Social services appear through Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, which received $52,500 in 2024 for food, shelter, housing, and comprehensive services in Southern Nevada. In the arts, the foundation provided $55,000 in 2024 to Wichita Art Museum for connection with the arts, and $2,500 in 2024 to Music Theatre Wichita for Broadway-caliber productions.
Typical grants fall in a mid-sized range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $37,500. The foundation’s recent filings show repeated support to several organizations across 2023 and 2024, including multiple renewed gifts rather than single one-time awards. Its giving is made by a private foundation with $9,974,460 in assets and $1,173,750 in annual grants. The pattern is direct institutional support, often framed as furthering exempt purposes or supporting programmatic work.
$890K
$9.9M
$740K
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $38K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$38K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NV.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated funding: a small number of relatively large grants, frequent repeat support to the same organizations, and emphasis on established institutions rather than many small, diverse grantees.
Notable grantees: The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Wichita Art Museum, St. Rose Dominican Health Foundation
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, with Southern Nevada appearing most often. Las Vegas and Henderson account for many of the foundation’s grants, including recipients such as The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, St Rose Dominican Health Foundation, and Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation. Wichita, Kansas also appears repeatedly through Wichita Art Museum and Music Theatre Wichita. Other recipient cities in the record include Los Angeles, Erlanger, North Las Vegas, and Wichita.
The foundation gives most visibly to brain and cognitive health, community health and wellness, social services in Southern Nevada, and the arts. Recent grants show repeated support for The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, St Rose Dominican Health Foundation, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Wichita Art Museum, and Music Theatre Wichita.
Its recent grant sizes cluster around a median of $20,000, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $37,500. The recent list also includes larger gifts such as $210,000 and $260,000, along with smaller awards of $2,500 and $5,000.
Yes. The recent record shows several organizations funded in both 2023 and 2024, including The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, St Rose Dominican Health Foundation, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Wichita Art Museum, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada, The Shade Tree Incorporated, Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, Keck Medicine of USC, Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, Vegas PBS, Olympia Companies Southern Highlands Charitable Foundation, and Music Theatre Wichita.
Its grants land most often in Nevada, especially Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. The recipient list also includes Wichita, Kansas; Los Angeles, California; and Erlanger, Kentucky, but the strongest concentration is in Southern Nevada.
The foundation reported $1,173,750 in annual grants and $9,974,460 in assets in the latest 990 year on file, 2024. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute Larry Ruvo Chairman | Las Vegas, NV | $360,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN NEVADA c/o Sara Meyer VP of Development | Las Vegas, NV | $90,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| St Rose Dominican Health Foundation | Henderson, NV | $65,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Wichita Art Museum Kourtney Carson Director of Development | Wichita, KS | $60,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN NEVAD | Las Vegas, NV | $45,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| THE SHADE TREE INCORPORATED Tiffany Qualls Director | North Las Vegas, NV | $45,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| DAV Charitable Service Trust | Erlanger, KY | $45,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Keck Medicine of USC Attn Kadee McCorkle | Los Angeles, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Music Theater Wichita Carter Tholl Development Manager | Wichita, KS | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial Attn Lisa Waller President | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Core Academy AttnJeff Jones Executive Director | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Olympia Companies Southern Highlands Cha ritable Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| VEGAS PBS Kathleen Frantz Major Gifts | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| NATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE FOUNDATION Stephanie Forbes Mngr | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada c/o Liz OrtenburgerCEO | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Bishop Gorman High School Ms Bridget Michlik Dir of Advancement | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute Larry Ruvo Chairman | Las Vegas, NV | $310,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| St Rose Dominican Health Foundation | Henderson, NV | $97,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN NEVADA c/o Sara Meyer VP of Development | Las Vegas, NV | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Wichita Art Museum Kourtney Carson Director of Development | Wichita, KS | $55,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN NEVAD | Las Vegas, NV | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| DAV Charitable Service Trust | Erlanger, KY | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| THE SHADE TREE INCORPORATED Tiffany Qualls Director | North Las Vegas, NV | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Keck Medicine of USC Attn Kadee McCorkle | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial Attn Lisa Waller President | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| VEGAS PBS Kathleen Frantz Major Gifts | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Music Theater Wichita Carter Tholl Development Manager | Wichita, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada c/o Liz OrtenburgerCEO | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| NATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE FOUNDATION Stephanie Forbes Mngr | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Bishop Gorman High School Ms Bridget Michlik Dir of Advancement | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Core Academy AttnJeff Jones Executive Director | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| Olympia Companies Southern Highlands Cha ritable Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GIFT |
| THE LOU RUVO BRAIN INSTITUTE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $210,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING COGNITIVE CHANGES. |
| ST ROSE DOMINICAN HEALTH FOUNDATION | HENDERSON, NV | $55,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS. |
| WICHITA ART MUSEUM | WICHITA, KS | $55,000 | 2024 | SUPPORTING CONNECTION WITH THE ARTS. |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN NEVADA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $52,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR OFFERING FOOD, SHELTER, HOUSING, AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO SOUTHERN NEVADA. |
| THE SHADE TREE INCORPORATED | N LAS VEGAS, NV | $26,250 | 2024 | SUPPORT TO PROVIDE SAFE SHELTER AND RESOURCES TO HOMELESS AND ABUSED WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN CRISIS. |
| DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHARITABLE SERVICE TRUST | ERLANGER, KY | $26,250 | 2024 | SUPPORTING ILL AND INJURED VETERANS. |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN NEVADA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $26,250 | 2024 | SUPPORTING CREATING LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES. |
| KECK MEDICINE OF USC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION OF THE PRACTIVE OF MEDICINE AND ENSURING PATIENT-CENTERED CARE IN A COMPASSIONATE, HEALING ENVIRONMENT. |
| OLYMPIA COMPANIES SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN SOUTHERN NEVADA. |
| NATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR HOSPICE CARE FOR UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED PATIENTS. |
| SOUTHERN NEVADA LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIALS. |
| VEGAS PBS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. |
| CORE POWERED BY THE ROGERS FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT TO EMPOWER, ENRICH, AND EDUCATE UNDERSERVED CHILDREN TO LEAD CHOICE-FILLED LIVES. |
| BISHOP GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL - DIOCESE OF LAS VEGAS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $2,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF LAS VEGAS. |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $2,500 | 2024 | SUPPORTING GIRLS MAKING NEW FRIENDS, CHALLENGING THEMSELVES, AND EXPERIENCING NEW ADVENTURES. |
| MUSIC THEATRE WICHITA | WICHITA, KS | $2,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT EDUCATING AND NUTURING CREATORS, ARTISTS, AND AUDIENCES, PRIMARILY THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF BROADWAY-CALIBER SHOWS. |
| THE LOU RUVO BRAIN INSTITUTE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $260,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANZIATION |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN NEVADA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $65,000 | 2023 | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute Larry Ruvo Chairman
$360,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Wichita Art Museum Kourtney Carson Director of Development
$60,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN NEVAD
$45,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
THE SHADE TREE INCORPORATED Tiffany Qualls Director
UNRESTRICTED GIFT
DAV Charitable Service Trust
$45,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Keck Medicine of USC Attn Kadee McCorkle
$30,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Music Theater Wichita Carter Tholl Development Manager
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial Attn Lisa Waller President
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Core Academy AttnJeff Jones Executive Director
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Olympia Companies Southern Highlands Cha ritable Foundation
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
VEGAS PBS Kathleen Frantz Major Gifts
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Bishop Gorman High School Ms Bridget Michlik Dir of Advancement
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute Larry Ruvo Chairman
$310,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Wichita Art Museum Kourtney Carson Director of Development
$55,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN NEVAD
$35,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
DAV Charitable Service Trust
$35,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
THE SHADE TREE INCORPORATED Tiffany Qualls Director
$35,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Keck Medicine of USC Attn Kadee McCorkle
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial Attn Lisa Waller President
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
VEGAS PBS Kathleen Frantz Major Gifts
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Music Theater Wichita Carter Tholl Development Manager
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Bishop Gorman High School Ms Bridget Michlik Dir of Advancement
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Core Academy AttnJeff Jones Executive Director
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
Olympia Companies Southern Highlands Cha ritable Foundation
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GIFT
THE LOU RUVO BRAIN INSTITUTE
$210,000SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING COGNITIVE CHANGES.
SUPPORT TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
WICHITA ART MUSEUM
$55,000SUPPORTING CONNECTION WITH THE ARTS.
SUPPORT FOR OFFERING FOOD, SHELTER, HOUSING, AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO SOUTHERN NEVADA.
SUPPORT TO PROVIDE SAFE SHELTER AND RESOURCES TO HOMELESS AND ABUSED WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN CRISIS.
SUPPORTING ILL AND INJURED VETERANS.
SUPPORTING CREATING LIFE-CHANGING WISHES FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES.
SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION OF THE PRACTIVE OF MEDICINE AND ENSURING PATIENT-CENTERED CARE IN A COMPASSIONATE, HEALING ENVIRONMENT.
OLYMPIA COMPANIES SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN SOUTHERN NEVADA.
SUPPORT FOR HOSPICE CARE FOR UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED PATIENTS.
SOUTHERN NEVADA LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIALS.
VEGAS PBS
$10,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
CORE POWERED BY THE ROGERS FOUNDATION
$5,000SUPPORT TO EMPOWER, ENRICH, AND EDUCATE UNDERSERVED CHILDREN TO LEAD CHOICE-FILLED LIVES.
BISHOP GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL - DIOCESE OF LAS VEGAS
$2,500SUPPORT OF CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE OF LAS VEGAS.
SUPPORTING GIRLS MAKING NEW FRIENDS, CHALLENGING THEMSELVES, AND EXPERIENCING NEW ADVENTURES.
MUSIC THEATRE WICHITA
$2,500SUPPORT EDUCATING AND NUTURING CREATORS, ARTISTS, AND AUDIENCES, PRIMARILY THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF BROADWAY-CALIBER SHOWS.
THE LOU RUVO BRAIN INSTITUTE
$260,000TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANZIATION
TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION