NV Energy Charitable Foundation
NV Energy Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Reno, Nevada. It provides grants to qualified public charities in the service areas of Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, both doing business as NV Energy; it does not make contributions to individuals.
Key facts about NV Energy Charitable Foundation
In short: NV Energy Charitable Foundation gave $4.2M across 207 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Nevada. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 88-0244735
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,201,926
- Grants made (2025)
- 207
- Average grant
- $20,299
- Median grant
- $7,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (64 of 173, 2025)
- Total assets
- $26,566,081
- Primary geography
- Nevada (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Submit an LOI through the current program process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The program accepts LOIs in any month, once per calendar year; it gives July and December as funding decision months.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.6M
-10.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.2M
-16.4% YoY
Grant Count
207
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-12.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, NV Energy Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is NV Energy Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 64 of 173 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $350 first-time, $10K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 314% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s grant program describes environmental conservation, education, and public safety as areas of emphasis. The foundation’s filing states that it supports qualified public charities located within the service areas of the two NV Energy operating companies.
Among its 2025 grantees, Three Square describes its mission as providing wholesome food to hungry people and pursuing a hunger-free community. The Food Bank of an individual recipient says its mission is to feed people experiencing hunger and address hunger through community partnership. The University of Nevada, Reno Foundation says it facilitates charitable gifts and grants to enhance the quality of education at the university. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a statement of the foundation’s own mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 207 grants totaling $4,201,926. Grant amounts ranged from $350 to $500,000, with a median of $7,500.
Notable 2025 grants included $500,000 to United Way of an individual recipient for REACH Program Support; $448,442 to United Way of an individual recipient & the Sierra for an employee giving matching gift; $250,000 to the University of Nevada Reno Foundation for the Tahoe Environmental Observatory Network; and $125,000 to Three Square for emergency response. Other grants included $100,000 each to the Community Foundation of an individual recipient, Food Bank of two individual recipients, and The Public Education Foundation.
The current grant program uses an open Letter of Interest process. Eligible organizations may submit one LOI per calendar year, in any month. Organizations are notified by the end of the month after submitting whether they may proceed to an application or have been declined; funding decisions are made in July and December. The program describes its invitation as being for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Nevada. The foundation’s 2025 filing separately states that charitable organizations do not need a form and have no filing deadline.
Review Cycle
The program accepts LOIs in any month, once per calendar year; it gives July and December as funding decision months.
How to Apply
Submit an LOI through the current program process. The foundation’s filing says grants are limited to qualified public charities in the NV Energy service areas and are not made to individuals.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from NV Energy Charitable Foundation
Ready to take the next step with NV Energy Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grants were concentrated in Nevada: 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in that state. The filing lists Arizona, Utah, Alaska, and Massachusetts at 0% each. Its stated eligibility area is the service area of Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, both doing business as NV Energy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 207 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2022) to $5.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 207 grants totaling $4.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Way of Southern Nevada ($812K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,040 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 953 grants of 1,040 (92%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV | REACH Program Support | $500,000 |
| United Way of Northern Nevada & the Sierra Reno, NV | Employee Giving Matching Gift | $448,442 |
| University of Nevada Reno Foundation Reno, NV | Tahoe Environmental Observatory Network (TEON) - Protecting the Jewel of the Sierra | $250,000 |
| United Way of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV | Employee Giving Matching Gift | $243,484 |
| Three Square Las Vegas, NV | Three Square Emergency Response | $125,000 |
| Community Foundation of Northern Nevada Reno, NV | America 250 Nevada | $100,000 |
| Food Bank of Northern Nevada Sparks, NV | FBNN Emergency Response | $100,000 |
| Rebuilding Together So Nevada Las Vegas, NV | Merlayne Affordable Rental Project | $100,000 |
| The Public Education Foundation Las Vegas, NV | Public Education Foundation's Scholarship Plus | $100,000 |
| Friends of the Marzen House Lovelock, NV | Marzenville: Museum Heritage Electricity Project | $75,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,566,081 | $943,685 | $4,351,271 | $4,201,926 |
| 2024 | $29,763,406 | $845,892 | $5,168,661 | $5,025,813 |
| 2023 | $33,071,128 | $11,884,858 | $3,211,758 | $2,977,275 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,566,081 | $29,763,406 | $33,071,128 |
| Revenue | $943,685 | $845,892 | $11,884,858 |
| Expenses | $4,351,271 | $5,168,661 | $3,211,758 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,334,322 | $5,143,536 | $3,074,288 |
| Net Investment Income | $939,730 | $838,875 | $11,878,070 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,382,440 | $1,500,982 | $1,130,030 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Tony F Sanchez III, Chair/Director; Lisa Harris, Secretary; Michael Behrens, Treasurer; Adrian Cacuci, Assistant Treasurer; Ryan L Bellows, General Councel/Director; Brandon Barkuff, Director; and Marie K Steele, Director.
NV Energy Charitable Foundation is led by Tony F Sanchez III, Chair & Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tony F Sanchez III
Chair & Director
Director → Chair & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2025)
Ryan L Bellows
General Councel & Director
Director → General Councel & Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$2K (2024) → $10K (2025)
Brandon Barkuff
Director
General Counsel → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marie K Steele
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Harris
Secretary
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$55K (2020) → $30K (2025)
Adrian Cacuci
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Behrens
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Douglas A Cannon (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Carolyn Barbash (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kimberley Hopps (2020–2022) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Michael Cole (2020–2022) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $30K, to Lisa Harris (Secretary). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Lisa Harris
Mailing address: PO Box 10100, Reno, NV 89520
Phone: (775) 834-3067
Frequently asked questions about NV Energy Charitable Foundation
How much does NV Energy Charitable Foundation give each year?
NV Energy Charitable Foundation gave $4.2M across 207 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.0M across 218 grants.
What is NV Energy Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
NV Energy Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $20,299, across 207 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from NV Energy Charitable Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does NV Energy Charitable Foundation give grants?
NV Energy Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Nevada: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Las Vegas, NV (86 grants), Reno, NV (60 grants), Henderson, NV (11 grants) and Sparks, NV (7 grants).
Does NV Energy Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 207 grants with a stated purpose on NV Energy Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Dollars for Doers" (74 grants) and "Community College Powerful Partner Scholarship" (3 grants).
Who are NV Energy Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
NV Energy Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Way of Southern Nevada ($812,484 across 4 grants), United Way of Northern Nevada & the Sierra ($448,442) and University of Nevada Reno Foundation ($252,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is NV Energy Charitable Foundation?
NV Energy Charitable Foundation reported $26.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does NV Energy Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s grant program describes environmental conservation, education, and public safety as areas of emphasis. The foundation’s filing states that it supports qualified public charities located within the service areas of the two NV Energy operating companies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from NV Energy Charitable Foundation?
Submit an LOI through the current program process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is NV Energy Charitable Foundation's EIN?
NV Energy Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0244735. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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