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.
$10.8M
$29.8M
$846K
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $4K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 96% of grants go to recipients in NV.
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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.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of So Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $500,000 | 2025 | Project REACH |
| United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra | Reno, NV | $350,000 | 2025 | Special Assistance Fund for Emergencies (SAFE) |
| Tahoe Fund | Tahoe City, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | Smartest Forest Fund Partnership |
| Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe | Fallon, NV | $250,000 | 2025 | Stepping Stones Emergency Youth Shelter |
| Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $250,000 | 2025 | Legal Aid Center Advocacy & Justice Complex Capital Campaign |
| Nevada State College Foundation | Henderson, NV | $250,000 | 2025 | Building a Stronger Workforce in Southern Nevada |
| UNLV Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $100,000 | 2025 | Bonnie & Richard Bryan Endowment in Public History |
| Nevada Clean Energy Fund | Reno, NV | $100,000 | 2025 | Unlocking Tribal Clean Energy Opportunities in Nevada |
| The Public Education Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $100,000 | 2025 | Evening of Excellence Starlight Awards |
| HELP of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $100,000 | 2025 | Shannon West Homeless Youth Center |
| The Just One Project | Las Vegas, NV | $86,174 | 2025 | Food for All Program |
| United Way of So Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $75,774 | 2025 | Employee Giving Match |
| University of Nevada Reno Foundation | Reno, NV | $75,000 | 2025 | Global Water Center Early Career Women in Science Initiative |
| Three Square | Las Vegas, NV | $75,000 | 2025 | Bag Childhood Hunger Campaign |
| Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program | Reno, NV | $75,000 | 2025 | Dollars for Doers |
| Communities in Schools of Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $70,000 | 2025 | Wraparound Support for Underserved K-12 Students |
| The Nevada Independent | Las Vegas, NV | $60,000 | 2025 | Indy Talks and IndyFest |
| Tech Impact | Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | Workforce Training & Employment Assistance Programs |
| Nevada Outdoor School | Winnemucca, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | Outdoor Educational Program Support |
| Western Nevada College Foundation | Carson City, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | The Hub: Community, Career and Employer Service Center |
| Theodore Roosevelt Conservation P'ship | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | Conserving Wildlife Corridors and Connectivity in Nevada |
| Serving Our Kids Foundation | Henderson, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | Feeding Their Dreams |
| Food Bank of Northern Nevada | Sparks, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | Core Food Distribution Program & MLK Day of Service |
| The Igloo | Elko, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | The Igloo Rink & Rec Center Project |
| Public Education Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | Cheyenne High School Senior Night Trip |
| United Way of So Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $44,883 | 2025 | Employee Giving Match |
| United Way of So Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $42,582 | 2025 | Employee Giving Match |
| United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra | Reno, NV | $36,437 | 2025 | Employee Giving Match |
| Cristo Rey St Viator Las Vegas Work Study Inc | North Las Vegas, NV | $34,000 | 2025 | Corporate Work Study Program |
| Cristo Rey St Viator Las Vegas Work Study Inc | North Las Vegas, NV | $34,000 | 2025 | Program Support - Food Bags |
| Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful | Reno, NV | $32,500 | 2025 | Christmas Tree Recycling Program & Raise the River Sponsorship |
| Sparks Fire Department Inc | Sparks, NV | $30,000 | 2025 | W Reg Firefighter Challenge/Pancake Breakfast/Holiday w/a Hero |
| Community Foundation of Northern Nevada | Reno, NV | $30,000 | 2025 | Powerful Partnership Scholarships |
| Domestic Violence Resource Center | Reno, NV | $30,000 | 2025 | Dollars for Doers |
| United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra | Reno, NV | $27,125 | 2025 | Employee Giving Match |
| Truckee Meadows CommCollege Foundation | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | Success First - Summer Bridge Program - 2024 |
| Truckee Meadows CommCollege Foundation | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | Success First - Summer Bridge Program - 2024 |
| Northern Nevada HOPES | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | The Jerry Smith Community Wellness Center |
| Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | JA Inspiration Center:A Monumental Leap in Preparing At-Risk Youth |
| Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services INC | Winnemucca, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | Winnemucca Police Department Generator Project |
| Children's Cabinet Inc | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | The Children's Cabinet Market |
| Education Alliance of Washoe County | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | Caring for Classrooms |
| Community Foundation of Western Nevada | Reno, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | City of Reno Charitable Foundation - ReLeaf Reno |
| The Public Education Foundation | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | Evening of Excellence Starlight Awards |
| LGBTQIA Community Center of S Nevada Inc | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | Youth Programming |
| United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra | Reno, NV | $21,277 | 2025 | Employee Giving Match |
| Nevada Women's Fund | Reno, NV | $20,000 | 2025 | Nevada Women's Fund Scholarship & Event Support |
| Truckee Meadows Tomorrow | Reno, NV | $20,000 | 2025 | Community Data and Storytelling Initiative |
| Western Nevada College Foundation | Carson City, NV | $20,000 | 2025 | The Hub: Community, Career and Employer Service Center |
| United Service Organization (USO) | Las Vegas, NV | $17,500 | 2025 | USO Military and Family Programs in Nevada |
United Way of So Nevada
$500,000Project REACH
United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra
$350,000Special Assistance Fund for Emergencies (SAFE)
Tahoe Fund
$250,000Smartest Forest Fund Partnership
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
$250,000Stepping Stones Emergency Youth Shelter
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
$250,000Legal Aid Center Advocacy & Justice Complex Capital Campaign
Nevada State College Foundation
$250,000Building a Stronger Workforce in Southern Nevada
UNLV Foundation
$100,000Bonnie & Richard Bryan Endowment in Public History
Nevada Clean Energy Fund
$100,000Unlocking Tribal Clean Energy Opportunities in Nevada
The Public Education Foundation
$100,000Evening of Excellence Starlight Awards
HELP of Southern Nevada
$100,000Shannon West Homeless Youth Center
The Just One Project
$86,174Food for All Program
United Way of So Nevada
$75,774Employee Giving Match
University of Nevada Reno Foundation
$75,000Global Water Center Early Career Women in Science Initiative
Three Square
$75,000Bag Childhood Hunger Campaign
Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program
$75,000Dollars for Doers
Communities in Schools of Nevada
$70,000Wraparound Support for Underserved K-12 Students
The Nevada Independent
$60,000Indy Talks and IndyFest
Tech Impact
$50,000Workforce Training & Employment Assistance Programs
Nevada Outdoor School
$50,000Outdoor Educational Program Support
Western Nevada College Foundation
$50,000The Hub: Community, Career and Employer Service Center
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation P'ship
$50,000Conserving Wildlife Corridors and Connectivity in Nevada
Serving Our Kids Foundation
$50,000Feeding Their Dreams
Food Bank of Northern Nevada
$50,000Core Food Distribution Program & MLK Day of Service
The Igloo
$50,000The Igloo Rink & Rec Center Project
Public Education Foundation
$50,000Cheyenne High School Senior Night Trip
United Way of So Nevada
$44,883Employee Giving Match
United Way of So Nevada
$42,582Employee Giving Match
United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra
$36,437Employee Giving Match
Cristo Rey St Viator Las Vegas Work Study Inc
$34,000Corporate Work Study Program
Cristo Rey St Viator Las Vegas Work Study Inc
$34,000Program Support - Food Bags
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful
$32,500Christmas Tree Recycling Program & Raise the River Sponsorship
Sparks Fire Department Inc
$30,000W Reg Firefighter Challenge/Pancake Breakfast/Holiday w/a Hero
Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
$30,000Powerful Partnership Scholarships
Domestic Violence Resource Center
$30,000Dollars for Doers
United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra
$27,125Employee Giving Match
Truckee Meadows CommCollege Foundation
$25,000Success First - Summer Bridge Program - 2024
Truckee Meadows CommCollege Foundation
$25,000Success First - Summer Bridge Program - 2024
Northern Nevada HOPES
$25,000The Jerry Smith Community Wellness Center
Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada
$25,000JA Inspiration Center:A Monumental Leap in Preparing At-Risk Youth
Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services INC
$25,000Winnemucca Police Department Generator Project
Children's Cabinet Inc
$25,000The Children's Cabinet Market
Education Alliance of Washoe County
$25,000Caring for Classrooms
Community Foundation of Western Nevada
$25,000City of Reno Charitable Foundation - ReLeaf Reno
The Public Education Foundation
$25,000Evening of Excellence Starlight Awards
LGBTQIA Community Center of S Nevada Inc
$25,000Youth Programming
United Way of No Nevada & the Sierra
$21,277Employee Giving Match
Nevada Women's Fund
$20,000Nevada Women's Fund Scholarship & Event Support
Truckee Meadows Tomorrow
$20,000Community Data and Storytelling Initiative
Western Nevada College Foundation
$20,000The Hub: Community, Career and Employer Service Center
United Service Organization (USO)
$17,500USO Military and Family Programs in Nevada