The Steve & Lana Hardy Foundation concentrates its giving on free‑market/public policy organizations and a small number of community institutions. A large share of grants and dollars go to libertarian-leaning think tanks and networks (both national and state-level), alongside targeted support for a local hospital foundation and a regional arts center. Grants are typically unrestricted, suggesting general operating support rather than project-specific funding.
Concentrated, relatively large unrestricted grants to a small set of repeat grantees; mix of national/state policy think tanks and a few place‑based community beneficiaries. Funding is focused (few organizations receive multiple sizable gifts) rather than broadly distributed across many small grants.
A recurring pattern defines The Steve & Lana Hardy Foundation’s recent giving: unrestricted support for a small set of free-market policy institutions, with Nevada-based grantees and local community organizations appearing alongside national think tanks. The foundation has backed Atlas Economic Research Foundation (Atlas Network) in Arlington, Virginia, the George Mason University Foundation - Mercatus Center in Arlington, Virginia, and the Nevada Policy Research Institute in Las Vegas, showing a clear interest in policy research and advocacy rooted in market-oriented ideas. It has also supported community institutions outside the policy world, including Eisenhower Health Foundation in Rancho Mirage, California, and Buffalo Creek Art Center in Gardnerville, Nevada. Those grants are typically labeled general and unrestricted, which points to flexible operating support rather than tightly defined project funding. The grant list also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, suggesting an ongoing relationship with core grantees rather than isolated gifts. With annual grants of $775,000 and assets of $3,402,241, the foundation’s recent activity is concentrated enough to show a deliberate mix of policy, healthcare philanthropy, and arts support.
The foundation’s strongest pattern is support for free-market and libertarian public policy organizations. It gave $35,000 in 2023, $35,000 in 2024, and $30,000 in 2025 to Atlas Economic Research Foundation (Atlas Network) for general and unrestricted support. It also funded the George Mason University Foundation - Mercatus Center with $30,000 in 2023, $30,000 in 2024, and $30,000 in 2025, again on a general and unrestricted basis. Nevada-focused policy work appears as well: Nevada Policy Research Institute received $30,000 in 2023, $30,000 in 2024, and $30,000 in 2025. Beyond policy research, the foundation gave $30,000 in 2023, $30,000 in 2024, and $30,000 in 2025 to Buffalo Creek Art Center for general and unrestricted support, showing that its grantmaking is not limited to think tanks alone.
Typical grants cluster tightly around $25,000 to $30,000, with a p25 of $25,000, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $30,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to continuing relationships rather than one-time gifts. Grants are generally marked general and unrestricted, indicating flexible operating support. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, so its giving is routed through organizational grants.
$775K
$3.4M
$312K
$284K
Most grants fall between $25K and $30K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$30K
About 23% of grants go to recipients in NV.
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Notable grantees: George Mason University Foundation - Mercatus Center, Atlas Economic Research Foundation (Atlas Network), Nevada Policy Research Institute, Eisenhower Health Foundation, Buffalo Creek Art Center
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the recent sample, with 26 grants going to U.S. organizations. Nevada receives the most frequent support by count, and 23% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Nevada recipients include Las Vegas and Gardnerville, while Arlington, Virginia appears repeatedly among policy grantees. Washington, DC and Los Angeles also show up more than once, and Rancho Mirage, California appears in the healthcare-related grants.
Its recent grants emphasize free-market and libertarian public policy organizations, especially think tanks and network builders, along with a smaller set of community institutions. The list also includes a regional hospital foundation and an arts center, all funded on a general and unrestricted basis.
Recent grants cluster around $25,000 to $30,000. The distribution provided shows a p25 of $25,000, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $30,000.
Yes. The recent grant list shows multi-year support to several organizations, including awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to the same policy groups and community recipients. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-off gifts.
Nevada is the top state by grant count, and 23% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Nevada recipients include organizations in Las Vegas and Gardnerville.
The recent grants are labeled general and unrestricted. That indicates flexible support for operating needs rather than narrowly defined project funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| BUFFALO CREEK ART CENTER | GARNDERVILLE, NV | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ATLAS NETWORK) | ARLINGTON, VA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| NEVADA POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - MERCATUS CENTER | ARLINGTON, VA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| REASON FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ATLAS NETWORK) | ARLINGTON, VA | $35,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - MERCATUS CENTER | ARLINGTON, VA | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| BUFFALO CREEK ART CENTER | GARNDERVILLE, NV | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| NEVADA POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| REASON FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ATLAS NETWORK) | ARLINGTON, VA | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| BUFFALO CREEK ART CENTER | GARNDERVILLE, NV | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| NEVADA POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE | LAS VEGAS, NV | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - MERCATUS CENTER | ARLINGTON, VA | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| REASON FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED. |
EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
BUFFALO CREEK ART CENTER
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ATLAS NETWORK)
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
NEVADA POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - MERCATUS CENTER
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
REASON FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
CATO INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ATLAS NETWORK)
$35,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - MERCATUS CENTER
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
BUFFALO CREEK ART CENTER
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
NEVADA POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
REASON FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
CATO INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (ATLAS NETWORK)
$35,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
BUFFALO CREEK ART CENTER
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
NEVADA POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION - MERCATUS CENTER
$30,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
REASON FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.
CATO INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED.