The Bretzlaff Foundation concentrates its giving in large, targeted gifts that strengthen business and higher-education capacity, youth business literacy, arts professional development, and applied research. It favors endowments and sizeable program funding—often to local Nevada institutions—but will also make significant, repeat gifts to select non-local cultural partners (notably the Honolulu Museum of Art). Recipients range from community colleges and university business units to youth entrepreneurship programs and research institutes.
The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc. stands out for its repeated seven-figure commitments to education and institutional capacity in Nevada, especially the $1,000,000 gifts in 2025 to Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada for the Biz Town Project and to the University of Nevada Reno Foundation for the College of Business. That pattern appears alongside sizable endowment and operations support for colleges, museums, research institutes, and youth-serving organizations. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs both campus-based and community-based work. Truckee Meadows Community College received $500,000 for an endowment, while Desert Research Institute received two $500,000 grants for the Innovation Research Program Endowment. In the arts, the Nevada Museum of Art received multiple grants for operations, endowment, exhibitions, and facility needs, and Artown received $265,000 for program support. Youth development also appears in the portfolio through First Tee of Northern Nevada, Boys and Girls Club Truckee Meadows, and Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program. Its grantmaking shows a preference for building organizational capacity over short-term project aid, with endowments, professional development funds, capital support, and general operations recurring across the list. The foundation also makes select large gifts outside Nevada, including recurring support for Honolulu cultural institutions.
Education is a clear thread in the portfolio. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada for the Biz Town Project and $1,000,000 to the University of Nevada Reno Foundation for the College of Business, showing support for career readiness and higher-education business training. Capacity-building is another recurring theme. Truckee Meadows Community College received $500,000 for an endowment, and Desert Research Institute received two $500,000 grants for the Innovation Research Program Endowment. Those gifts point to long-term institutional support rather than only project-specific funding. The arts also receive sustained backing. The Nevada Museum of Art was funded for general operations and endowment, as well as expansion, equipment, maintenance, exhibition, and exhibit programming. Artown also received program support, indicating interest in public-facing arts delivery as well as organizational infrastructure.
$2.8M
$0
$1.6M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Highly concentrated, large-dollar grants (four $1M and two $500K gifts) focused on a small set of institutional grantees; mix of endowment-building and program support; occasional repeat funding to the same cultural partner.
Notable grantees: University of Nevada Reno Foundation, Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada, Honolulu Museum of Art, Truckee Meadows Community College, Desert Research Institute
Typical grant size centers on mid-sized awards, with p25 at $10,000, a median of $15,000, and p75 at $100,000. The recent list also shows repeated high-dollar gifts, including several $500,000 grants and multiple six-figure awards, which suggests a portfolio that mixes smaller community grants with major capacity-building support. The same recipients can appear across multiple years, such as the Honolulu Museum of Art, Nevada Museum of Art, and University of Nevada Reno Foundation. The foundation is a private grantmaker; it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Nevada, which accounts for 87% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Reno appears frequently, with grants to Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada, the University of Nevada Reno Foundation, Desert Research Institute, Truckee Meadows Community College, Nevada Museum of Art, and Boys and Girls Club Truckee Meadows. Outside Nevada, the foundation also gives in Honolulu, including to the Honolulu Museum of Art, Bishop Museum, Hawaii Theatre Center, Hawaii Food Bank, and Hawaii Justice Foundation. All recent grants in the data are to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants list shows support for colleges and university business programs, youth financial-literacy and entrepreneurship education, museums and arts organizations, research institutes, health-related nonprofits, and youth sports or recreation groups. Examples include the College of Business at the University of Nevada Reno Foundation, Desert Research Institute, Nevada Museum of Art, and First Tee of Northern Nevada.
The grant-size distribution is centered on mid-sized awards: p25 is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and p75 is $100,000. The recent list also includes much larger gifts, including several $500,000 awards and two $1,000,000 grants in 2025.
Yes. Nevada is the top state by grant count, and 87% of grants in the data go to recipients in Nevada. Reno is the most visible city in the list, with grants to organizations such as the University of Nevada Reno Foundation, Desert Research Institute, and Nevada Museum of Art.
Yes. Several organizations appear in more than one year, including the Honolulu Museum of Art, Nevada Museum of Art, and the University of Nevada Reno Foundation. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time awards.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and the available data shows grants only to organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Tee of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $600,000 | 2026 | Construction project support |
| Desert Research Institute | Reno, NV | $500,000 | 2026 | Innovation Reasearch Program Endowment |
| Nevada Museum of Art | Reno, NV | $350,000 | 2026 | General Operations & Endowment |
| Artown | Reno, NV | $265,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Bishop Museum | Honolulu, HI | $250,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Hawaii Justice Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $250,000 | 2026 | Endowment |
| The Nature Conservatory | Arlington, VA | $250,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Boys and Girls Club Truckee Meadows | Reno, NV | $250,000 | 2026 | General Operations |
| PBS Reno | Reno, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | Operational Support |
| Big Brother and Sisters of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $20,000 | 2026 | Mentoring Program |
| Reno Dance Company | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2026 | Nutcracker Outreach Tour |
| New Reno Little Theater | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2026 | Production Support |
| Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2026 | Family Assistance Fund |
| Safe Talk For Teens | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Assistance League of Reno-Sparks | Reno, NV | $5,000 | 2026 | Operations School Bell |
| Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Biz Town Project |
| University of Nevada Reno Foundation | Reno, NV | $1,000,000 | 2025 | College of Business |
| Truckee Meadows Community College | Reno, NV | $500,000 | 2025 | Endowment |
| Desert Research Institute | Reno, NV | $500,000 | 2025 | Innovation Reasearch Program Endowment |
| Hawaii Theatre Center | Honolulu, HI | $200,000 | 2025 | Capital Improvements |
| Western Folklife Center | Elko, NV | $200,000 | 2025 | Bretzlaff Learning Center |
| Hawaii Food Bank | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| University of Nevada Reno Foundation | Reno, NV | $100,000 | 2025 | Tennis Center |
| Nevada Museum of Art | Reno, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | Exhibitions |
| Boys and Girls Club Truckee Meadows | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | College and Careers Readiness Program |
| Safe Talk For Teens | Reno, NV | $20,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| First Tee of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Artown | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Big Brother and Sisters of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | Mentoring Program |
| Hawaii Opera Theatre | Honolulu, HI | $10,000 | 2025 | Education Outreach |
| PBS Reno | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Sierra Nevada Journeys | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | Camp Maintenance and Fund Campaign |
| Discovery Children's Museum | Las Vegas, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | Discovery on Wheels Program |
| Center For Adaptive Riding | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | Equipment |
| Truckee Meadows Community College | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | Scholarships Program |
| Girls on the Run | Reno, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Boy Scouts of America Nevada Area Council | Reno, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Honolulu Museum of Art | Honolulu, HI | $500,000 | 2024 | Haxel Bretzlaff Fund for Professional Development |
| Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program | Reno, NV | $200,000 | 2024 | Snowmaking Campaign |
| Nevada Museum of Art | Reno, NV | $150,000 | 2024 | Expansion, Equipment, and Maintenance |
| Renown Health Foundation | Reno, NV | $100,000 | 2024 | Children's Hospital |
| University of Nevada Reno Foundation | Reno, NV | $100,000 | 2024 | Tennis Center |
| Nevada Museum of Art | Reno, NV | $50,000 | 2024 | Exhibition |
| Washoe CASA Foundation | Reno, NV | $20,000 | 2024 | Program Support |
| Artown | Reno, NV | $15,000 | 2024 | Summer Festival |
| Hawaii Opera Theatre | Honolulu, HI | $10,000 | 2024 | Education Programs |
| First Tee of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2024 | Program Support |
| Reno High School Alumni Association | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2024 | Scholarships/Program Support |
| Assistance League of Reno-Sparks | Reno, NV | $10,000 | 2024 | Operations School Bell |
| Junior League of Reno | Reno, NV | $2,500 | 2024 | Program Support |
First Tee of Northern Nevada
$600,000Construction project support
Desert Research Institute
$500,000Innovation Reasearch Program Endowment
Nevada Museum of Art
$350,000General Operations & Endowment
Artown
$265,000Program Support
Bishop Museum
$250,000Program Support
Hawaii Justice Foundation
$250,000Endowment
The Nature Conservatory
Program Support
Boys and Girls Club Truckee Meadows
$250,000General Operations
PBS Reno
$20,000Operational Support
Big Brother and Sisters of Northern Nevada
$20,000Mentoring Program
Reno Dance Company
$15,000Nutcracker Outreach Tour
New Reno Little Theater
$10,000Production Support
Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation
$10,000Family Assistance Fund
Safe Talk For Teens
$10,000Program Support
Assistance League of Reno-Sparks
$5,000Operations School Bell
Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada
$1,000,000Biz Town Project
University of Nevada Reno Foundation
$1,000,000College of Business
Truckee Meadows Community College
$500,000Endowment
Desert Research Institute
$500,000Innovation Reasearch Program Endowment
Hawaii Theatre Center
$200,000Capital Improvements
Western Folklife Center
$200,000Bretzlaff Learning Center
Hawaii Food Bank
$100,000Program Support
University of Nevada Reno Foundation
$100,000Tennis Center
Nevada Museum of Art
$50,000Exhibitions
Boys and Girls Club Truckee Meadows
$25,000College and Careers Readiness Program
Safe Talk For Teens
$20,000Program Support
First Tee of Northern Nevada
$15,000Program Support
Artown
$15,000Program Support
Big Brother and Sisters of Northern Nevada
$10,000Mentoring Program
Hawaii Opera Theatre
$10,000Education Outreach
PBS Reno
$10,000Operational Support
Sierra Nevada Journeys
$10,000Camp Maintenance and Fund Campaign
Discovery Children's Museum
$10,000Discovery on Wheels Program
Center For Adaptive Riding
$10,000Equipment
Truckee Meadows Community College
$10,000Scholarships Program
Girls on the Run
$5,000Program Support
Boy Scouts of America Nevada Area Council
$5,000Program Support
Honolulu Museum of Art
$500,000Haxel Bretzlaff Fund for Professional Development
Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program
$200,000Snowmaking Campaign
Nevada Museum of Art
$150,000Expansion, Equipment, and Maintenance
Renown Health Foundation
$100,000Children's Hospital
University of Nevada Reno Foundation
$100,000Tennis Center
Nevada Museum of Art
$50,000Exhibition
Washoe CASA Foundation
$20,000Program Support
Artown
$15,000Summer Festival
Hawaii Opera Theatre
$10,000Education Programs
First Tee of Northern Nevada
$10,000Program Support
Reno High School Alumni Association
$10,000Scholarships/Program Support
Assistance League of Reno-Sparks
$10,000Operations School Bell
Junior League of Reno
$2,500Program Support