Foundation Assets and Grants - A Reflection of the Donors in the Community

When looking at the Annual Report of the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, it may not be immediately apparent that the Community Foundation is more representative of the generous people in our region than of a typical foundation engaged in grantmaking.  One of the misnomers about the Foundation is that we decide who is worthy of funding and which organizations to support.  As with general donors in the community who support organizations far and wide based on their personal preferences, the grants made from the Foundation reflect that same pattern. Not to discount the Foundation’s support of and involvement with Donors, but most donors have a pretty good idea of where they would like to see their charitable dollars invested.  Their preferences are more heavily influenced by their personal experiences and beliefs, what they see in the media, and what they hear and learn from local charities about the work they perform, and the needs in and beyond the community.  They choose to work with and through the Community Foundation because we help them perfect their giving plans, and can facilitate their plans in ways that improve their effectiveness and efficiencies, can help them give in ways that are financially advantageous, and can work with them and their family for generations. For example, in 2017 we distributed $10,621,000 in grants.  Of that almost $4 million was for the environment and animal causes, and just over $2 million was granted each in the areas of Education and Arts and Culture.  The remainder totaling about $2.3 million was granted for children, health, human services, community development, religious institutions, and other causes.  Of the total awarded, about $400k was for scholarships and about $100,000 was from the Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking.  We also have some donors who charge us with finding ways to distribute their money to achieve larger community goals, such as with housing.  Two years ago some donors said they wanted us to find a way that would be direct action in helping with housing for the lowest income working poor.  Earlier this year we became engaged in the dorm housing project and as a result monies from fundholders have and are being used in support of that project.  We sometimes hear that charities in the community are upset with the Foundation because they see grants made outside the area (about 30% of monies distributed are outside of Northern Nevada), and think that money should go here.  We don’t disagree with supporting our local community, but donors decide, not just through donor-advised funds, but also through designated funds, area of interest funds, and bequests naming specific needs and/or charities. There is no doubt that with $115 million distributed by the generous people of Northern Nevada over the past 20 years through the Foundation that local charities have received more than they would have otherwise, and there is much more generous giving in people’s estate plans that will be coming, but as with past giving, that giving will be a reflection of people living here, and specifically those who live here who are generous.  I am grateful every day that we live in a community with such generous and caring people and at the Foundation we are honored to help them with their philanthropy. Chris Askin, President, and CEO  775-333-5499 Connecting people who care with causes that matter