Community Foundation of Elko County
Your gift to the Community Foundation of Elko County Endowed Fund is a lasting way to support the region you love.
Welcome to the Community Foundation of Elko County – where local giving creates lasting change. We're your neighbors who believe in the power of community and the impact we can make when we work together.
Established in 2015, we serve as Elko County's permanent community savings account, carefully stewarding donations to support the causes and organizations that make our region thrive. As a proud affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, we combine the personal touch of local leadership with the professional expertise of an established foundation. Our dedicated volunteer advisory board guides our local vision, while we benefit from the philanthropic advising, grant management, and administrative support of the Community Foundation's team in Reno. This powerful partnership allows us to focus on what matters most: connecting caring individuals, families, and businesses with meaningful opportunities to invest in Elko County's future. Whether you're passionate about education, healthcare, the arts, or other vital causes, we're here to help you make a difference that will benefit our community for generations to come.
Seeking Proposals for the 2026 Grant Cycle
This year's grant cycle will support projects and initiatives that honor the community's past while building a vibrant future.
Priority will be given to initiatives that:
- Preserve and celebrate local history, cultural traditions, and heritage
- Enrich the present community
- Enhance public spaces and shared community environments
- Create lasting improvements that benefit residents now and for years to come
Proposals are due by April 30, 2026 and must be submitted through an online application portal on the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada's Grant Portal Website.
Please share this opportunity with any eligible grantees that would fit the funding scope. This includes 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational, governmental, and religious institutions.
Considerations:
- Grant applications of up to $25,000 will be considered
- If the applying organization is not headquartered within Elko County, a designated lead based in Elko County must be determined.
Questions? Please email CFElkoCounty@nevadafund.org or call Lyndsey Crossley at the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, 775-333-5499, Ext. 120
Background: The Community Foundation of Elko County (CFEC) was started in December 2015 by a group of dedicated Elko residents who recognized the need to create a sustainable funding stream to support Elko County - today and for years to come. CFEC strengthens our region by using available income from the endowment to make an impact in Elko County. This unrestricted endowment is a permanent source of funding to be used to address issues in Elko County which may not yet be on anyone's radar. With local leadership addressing local issues, CFEC is posed to make an impact on Elko - today and for generations to come.
The Community Foundation of Elko County is an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada which was established in 1997 to strengthen local communities through leadership and philanthropy. EIN #88-0370179. Gifts may be tax deductible under federal law.
2025 Grantee Awards for the Elko County Endowed Fund grant cycle
The grant focus of this year was enhancing the effectiveness and
sustainability of those organizations serving the Elko area through capacity
building grants.
$45,200 was awarded to 6 nonprofits serving Elko County:
- Ruby Mountain Resource Center, $20,000, for the completion of their life skills kitchen.
- Nevada Classical Academy Elko, $7,200, for faculty and staff training
- Northeastern Nevada SAFE, $5,500, for training, workshops, sessions
- Wells Family Resource Center, $5,000, for security cameras
- Nevada Outdoor School, $5,000, toward the purchase of van for educational outreach
- Society for the Preservation of Western Heritage, $2,500, toward the rehabbing of their current building
Community Foundation of Elko County Builder's Club
Bob and Kerry Aguirre
Kevin and Teri Gage
Marie Manning
Kevin and Ann Marie Melcher
Kurt and Katie Neddenriep
Jon Wahrenbrock
Marcus and Alissa Wood
William and Vivian Wright
Ways to Give
Partner with Your Financial Advisor
Your financial advisor can help you explore the perfect charitable giving strategy for your goals. Many local advisors already work closely with us through our Professional Advisor Council. For expert guidance on charitable planning options, have your advisor contact the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada at 775-333-5499.
Workplace Giving
Give a small amount to the permanently endowed Community Foundation of Elko County with each paycheck. Regular contributions add up, and will become part of the grant distributions from the fund. Call Katie Neddenriep at 775-340-4654 for more information.
Leave a Legacy
Honor the community that shaped your life by including the Community Foundation of Elko County in your estate plans. Working with your attorney, you can designate a percentage of your estate to support causes you care about, joining community leaders like Bob and Kerry Aguirre who have already committed to this powerful form of giving.
We recommend the following language:
I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to the Community Foundation of Elko County an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation Northern Nevada, a nonprofit organization located at 50 Washington St., Suite 300, Reno, NV, 89503, Federal Tax ID #88-0370179 for Community Foundation of Elko County’s charitable purposes.
Contact Lyndsey Crossley, CAP®, Philanthropic Advisor
Call 775-333-5499 Ext. 120
PRESS RELEASE: Community Foundation of Elko County Closes Builder's Club Membership
January 14, 2026
PRESS RELEASE: Community Foundation of Elko County Welcomes New Members to Builder’s Club – Membership Open Until December 31, 2025
December 15, 2025
Elko County Nonprofit Leaders Gather for Transformative Training Event
July 23, 2025
The Community Foundation of Elko County Receives Legacy Gift from an Anonymous Donor
December 17, 2023
Community Foundation of Elko County Grant Awards Total Nearly $60,000
August 12, 2021
Kinross Bald Mountain Mine Invests in Community Foundation of Elko County
October 04, 2018
Community Foundation of Elko County Awarded Annual Grants at Elko County Fair
September 06, 2018
The Community Foundation of Elko County (CFEC) offers its 2nd Annual Grant Opportunity!
July 02, 2018
