The NV Energy Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on direct energy-related community relief, primarily funding programs that help households pay utility bills and avoid service interruptions. Its grants are targeted and operational, delivered through a major local intermediary rather than many small charities. The foundation appears focused on rapid-impact assistance in the utility sector, particularly in Southern Nevada.
NV Energy Charitable Foundation’s giving is anchored by large, repeated grants to United Way of Southern Nevada for utility assistance, including $500,000 in 2025 for Project REACH and another $500,000 in 2024 for Energy Assistance Program Funding. That pattern points to a funder built around keeping households connected to essential services, especially when energy costs become a burden. The foundation also uses sizable awards to support emergency needs and related community infrastructure in Nevada. Recent examples include $350,000 to United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra for the Special Assistance Fund for Emergencies (SAFE) and $250,000 to the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe for Stepping Stones Emergency Youth Shelter. Beyond energy relief, its grants touch youth shelter, food access, workforce preparation, and select capital or capacity projects. The overall picture is of a Nevada-focused corporate foundation making operational, high-impact grants through established local partners and public-serving institutions.
Energy affordability is the clearest thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $500,000 to United Way of Southern Nevada for Project REACH and $500,000 in 2024 for Energy Assistance Program Funding. It also supported emergency utility relief with $350,000 to United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra for the Special Assistance Fund for Emergencies (SAFE). The foundation also funds basic-needs and crisis-response work. It awarded $100,000 to HELP of Southern Nevada for the Shannon West Homeless Youth Center and $86,174 to The Just One Project for the Food for All Program. Education and workforce development appear as another strand. Grants include $250,000 to Nevada State College Foundation for Building a Stronger Workforce in Southern Nevada, $75,000 to the University of Nevada Reno Foundation for the Global Water Center Early Career Women in Science Initiative, and $70,000 to Communities in Schools of Nevada for Wraparound Support for Underserved K-12 Students.
Typical grants cluster in the low five figures: the p25 is $3,500, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $15,000. The distribution is skewed upward by a small number of large operating grants and partnership awards. Recipients do repeat across years, especially United Way of Southern Nevada, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Communities in Schools of Nevada, Public Education Foundation, Three Square, and the UNLV Foundation. The foundation appears to operate as a corporate philanthropy vehicle rather than a private family foundation, and the recent record shows program support, capital campaign funding, and emergency assistance. Grants are made locally in Nevada, with no evidence here of an application-based public grant process.
$4.2M
$26.6M
$944K
$4.4M
Most grants fall between $4K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Highly concentrated: very few, relatively large grants routed through a single intermediary (repeat funding to United Way of Southern Nevada) to deliver operational energy-assistance programs.
Notable grantees: United Way of Southern Nevada
Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Nevada, with 96% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state’s recipient network. Las Vegas is the main hub, with major awards to United Way of Southern Nevada, HELP of Southern Nevada, Communities in Schools of Nevada, Public Education Foundation, and The Nevada Independent. Reno also appears repeatedly through United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Nevada Clean Energy Fund, DRI Foundation, and the University of Nevada Reno Foundation. Outside Nevada, the recent record includes one grant to Tahoe Fund in Tahoe City, California.
Its clearest pattern is energy bill assistance and shutoff prevention. Recent grants include $500,000 to United Way of Southern Nevada for Project REACH, $500,000 for Energy Assistance Program Funding, and $350,000 to United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra for the Special Assistance Fund for Emergencies (SAFE).
The typical grant sits at $10,000, with the 25th percentile at $3,500 and the 75th percentile at $15,000. The recent record also includes a few much larger awards, such as $500,000 and $350,000 grants tied to utility assistance and emergency relief.
Yes. Recent examples include $250,000 to Nevada State College Foundation for Building a Stronger Workforce in Southern Nevada, $75,000 to University of Nevada Reno Foundation for the Global Water Center Early Career Women in Science Initiative, and $70,000 to Communities in Schools of Nevada for Wraparound Support for Underserved K-12 Students.
Most grants go to Nevada recipients, and 96% of grants are made in the HQ state’s recipient network. Las Vegas and Reno are the main recipient cities in the recent list, with additional grants appearing in Fallon and Henderson.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat support for several organizations, including United Way of Southern Nevada, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Communities in Schools of Nevada, Public Education Foundation, Three Square, and the UNLV Foundation.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $500,000 | 2026 | REACH Program Support |
| United Way of Northern Nevada & the Sierra | Reno, NV | $448,442 | 2026 | Employee Giving Matching Gift |
| University of Nevada Reno Foundation | Reno, NV | $250,000 | 2026 | Tahoe Environmental Observatory Network (TEON) - Protecting the Jewel of the Sierra |
| United Way of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $243,484 | 2026 | Employee Giving Matching Gift |
| Three Square | Las Vegas, NV | $125,000 | 2026 | Three Square Emergency Response |
| Community Foundation of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $100,000 | 2026 | America 250 Nevada |
| The Public Education Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $100,000 | 2026 | Public Education Foundation's Scholarship Plus |
| Rebuilding Together So Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $100,000 | 2026 | Merlayne Affordable Rental Project |
| Food Bank of Northern Nevada | Sparks, NV | $100,000 | 2026 | FBNN Emergency Response |
| The Nature Conservancy | Reno, NV | $75,000 | 2026 | Atwood Preserve Science Support |
| Three Square | Las Vegas, NV | $75,000 | 2026 | 2025 Bag Childhood Hunger Campaign |
| Serving Our Kids Foundation | Henderson, NV | $75,000 | 2026 | Feeding Their Dreams |
| Friends of the Marzen House | Lovelock, NV | $75,000 | 2026 | Marzenville: Museum Heritage Electricity Project |
| Walker River Paiute Tribe | Schurz, NV | $75,000 | 2026 | Little League Ballfield |
| Communities in Schools of Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $70,000 | 2026 | Future Ready: Skills and Opportunities for K-12 Youth |
| HELP of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $70,000 | 2026 | Shannon West Homeless Youth Center |
| United Way of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $54,000 | 2026 | Annual Corporate Contribution |
| Latin Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | 2026 | Otto Merida DocuFilm |
| UNLV Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | 2026 | UNLV Foundation Annual Dinner |
| LGBTQIA Community Center of S Nevada Inc | Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | 2026 | Caf Connect to Permanency |
| Western Folklife Center | Elko, NV | $50,000 | 2026 | 40th and 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering |
| Western Nevada College Foundation | Carson City, NV | $50,000 | 2026 | Commercial Driver's License Program |
| Public Education Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | 2026 | Powerful Partner Scholarship |
| Tahoe Fund | Incline Village, NV | $50,000 | 2026 | Fire Smart Pilot Home Hardening Fund |
| Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful | Reno, NV | $35,000 | 2026 | Raise the River & Christmas Tree Recycling |
| Community Foundation of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $30,000 | 2026 | Powerful Partner Scholarship |
| Green Vibe World | Reno, NV | $26,000 | 2026 | GreenVibe Defensible Space Pilot |
| Air Force Association | Nellis AFB, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | 2025 Aviation Nation Women in Aviation |
| Northern Nevada HOPES | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | Take Pride in HIPES Cocktail Party Event |
| Truckee Meadows CommCollege Foundation | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | Summer Bridge 2026 |
| Southern Nevada Trades High School | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | SNTHS Work Based Learning Program |
| Latin Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | Lithium Summit |
| Nevada Outdoor School | Winnemuca, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | NOS 2026 Youth Focused Programs |
| Center for Nonprofit Business | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | Powering Nevada's Nonprofits: A Rural Capacity Building Initiative |
| Olympia Companies SH Charitable Fdn | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | Governor's Black Tie |
| Nevada Women's Fund | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | Nevada Women's Fund Scholarship & Event Support |
| The Public Education Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | 2025 Evening of Excellence Starlight Awards |
| United Way of Northern Nevada& the Sierra | Reno, NV | $24,000 | 2026 | Annual Corporate Contribution |
| Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Henderson, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | Launchpad and I CAN BE Scholarship |
| Jobs for Nevada's Graduates Inc | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | Powering Success for Nevada's Youth |
| Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | Prepping Students for Life Programming |
| Fndn for Womens Leadership & Empowerment | Las Vegas, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | Annual Women's Leadership Conference |
| The National Judicial College | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | Reading and Robes |
| Discovery Children's Museum | Las Vegas, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | Energy|Energia STEM-Focused Gallery & Learning Experiences |
| United Way of Northern Nevada& the Sierra | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | UPIC Set-Up Administrative Costs |
| Channel 5 Pub Brdcst Inc dba PBS Reno | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | PBS Reno Curiosity Classroom |
| Truckee Meadows Tomorrow | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | Accentuate the Positive |
| Las Vegas PRIDE | Las Vegas, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | Las Vegas PRIDE 2025 Parade and Festival |
| Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | STEAM Bus |
| Artown | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | Artown |
United Way of Southern Nevada
$500,000REACH Program Support
United Way of Northern Nevada & the Sierra
$448,442Employee Giving Matching Gift
University of Nevada Reno Foundation
$250,000Tahoe Environmental Observatory Network (TEON) - Protecting the Jewel of the Sierra
United Way of Southern Nevada
$243,484Employee Giving Matching Gift
Three Square
$125,000Three Square Emergency Response
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
$100,000America 250 Nevada
The Public Education Foundation
$100,000Public Education Foundation's Scholarship Plus
Rebuilding Together So Nevada
$100,000Merlayne Affordable Rental Project
Food Bank of Northern Nevada
$100,000FBNN Emergency Response
The Nature Conservancy
$75,000Atwood Preserve Science Support
Three Square
$75,0002025 Bag Childhood Hunger Campaign
Serving Our Kids Foundation
$75,000Feeding Their Dreams
Friends of the Marzen House
$75,000Marzenville: Museum Heritage Electricity Project
Walker River Paiute Tribe
$75,000Little League Ballfield
Communities in Schools of Nevada
$70,000Future Ready: Skills and Opportunities for K-12 Youth
HELP of Southern Nevada
$70,000Shannon West Homeless Youth Center
United Way of Southern Nevada
$54,000Annual Corporate Contribution
Latin Chamber of Commerce Foundation
$50,000Otto Merida DocuFilm
UNLV Foundation
$50,000UNLV Foundation Annual Dinner
LGBTQIA Community Center of S Nevada Inc
$50,000Caf Connect to Permanency
Western Folklife Center
$50,00040th and 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Western Nevada College Foundation
$50,000Commercial Driver's License Program
Public Education Foundation
$50,000Powerful Partner Scholarship
Tahoe Fund
$50,000Fire Smart Pilot Home Hardening Fund
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful
$35,000Raise the River & Christmas Tree Recycling
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
$30,000Powerful Partner Scholarship
Green Vibe World
$26,000GreenVibe Defensible Space Pilot
Air Force Association
$25,0002025 Aviation Nation Women in Aviation
Northern Nevada HOPES
$25,000Take Pride in HIPES Cocktail Party Event
Truckee Meadows CommCollege Foundation
$25,000Summer Bridge 2026
Southern Nevada Trades High School
$25,000SNTHS Work Based Learning Program
Latin Chamber of Commerce Foundation
$25,000Lithium Summit
Nevada Outdoor School
$25,000NOS 2026 Youth Focused Programs
Center for Nonprofit Business
$25,000Powering Nevada's Nonprofits: A Rural Capacity Building Initiative
Olympia Companies SH Charitable Fdn
$25,000Governor's Black Tie
Nevada Women's Fund
$25,000Nevada Women's Fund Scholarship & Event Support
The Public Education Foundation
$25,0002025 Evening of Excellence Starlight Awards
United Way of Northern Nevada& the Sierra
$24,000Annual Corporate Contribution
Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation
$20,000Launchpad and I CAN BE Scholarship
Jobs for Nevada's Graduates Inc
$20,000Powering Success for Nevada's Youth
Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada
$20,000Prepping Students for Life Programming
Fndn for Womens Leadership & Empowerment
$15,000Annual Women's Leadership Conference
The National Judicial College
$15,000Reading and Robes
Discovery Children's Museum
$15,000Energy|Energia STEM-Focused Gallery & Learning Experiences
United Way of Northern Nevada& the Sierra
$15,000UPIC Set-Up Administrative Costs
Channel 5 Pub Brdcst Inc dba PBS Reno
$15,000PBS Reno Curiosity Classroom
Truckee Meadows Tomorrow
$15,000Accentuate the Positive
Las Vegas PRIDE
$15,000Las Vegas PRIDE 2025 Parade and Festival
Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
$15,000STEAM Bus
Artown
$15,000Artown