Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)

Foundation · Grantmaker Reno, NV EIN: 88-0341058

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) is a private foundation focused on Housing & Shelter, based in Reno, NV. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $619K. Net investment income was $1K.

Key facts about Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)

In short: Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) gave $619K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $44K), mostly in Nevada. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
88-0341058
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$618,978
Grants made (2024)
14
Average grant
$44,213
Median grant
$7,274
New grantees (estimate)
7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2024)
Primary geography
Nevada (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$619K

+69.1% YoY

Grant Count

14

+7.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$44K

+57.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) open to new grantees?

7%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $245K; repeat grants $29K. How we count

Medians: $245K first-time, $6K repeat.

  • 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 86% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of all 14 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Cities

RenoBattle MountainCarson CityElkoHawthorneLovelockMindenSilver SpringsTonopahWinnemuccaFallonVirginia CityIncline Village

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K12 grants202012 grants202113 grants202213 grants202314 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Washoe County Family Resource Centers: $278KWashoe County Family ResourceCenters$278KUnited Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra: $245KUnited Way of Northern Nevadaand the Sierra$245KFriends In Services Helping (FISH): $34KFriends In Services Helping(FISH)$34KElko County Social Services Department: $14KElko County Social ServicesDepartment$14KDouglas County Social Services: $14KDouglas County Social Services$14KLyon County Human Services: $12KLyon County Human Services$12KIndigent Services: $8KIndigent Services$8KConsolidated Agencies of Human Services: $6KConsolidated Agencies of HumanServices$6KNye County Health & Human Services: $3KNye County Health & HumanServices$3KPershing County Clerk Treasurer: $2KPershing County ClerkTreasurer$2K

Grant Size Distribution

64 grants across all recorded years

58<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K4$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Washoe County Family Resource Centers Reno, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$277,527
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra Reno, NVComplement state and federal energy aid programs$245,000
Friends In Services Helping (FISH) Carson City, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$33,952
Elko County Social Services Department Elko, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$14,457
Douglas County Social Services Minden, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$13,678
Lyon County Human Services Silver Springs, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$12,042
Indigent Services Winnemucca, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$8,130
Consolidated Agencies of Human Services Hawthorne, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$6,417
Nye County Health & Human Services Tonopah, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$2,923
Pershing County Clerk Treasurer Lovelock, NVUtility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)$1,807

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K$800K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets—$618,415$298,113
Revenue$8,060$708,013$257,363
Expenses$252,495$395,272$393,675
Qualifying Distributions$626,473$387,246$344,576
Net Investment Income$1,014$1,100$148
Distributable Amount$20,045$23,415$8,170

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) is led by Karen Ross, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Karen Ross

    President

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brenda Costello

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leslie Colbrese

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carol Marin

    Secretary

    Chair → Secretary, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katie Nannini

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Yvonne Enos (2020) — Secretary

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)

How much does Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) give each year?

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) gave $619K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $366K across 13 grants.

What is Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)'s typical grant size?

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)'s median grant in 2024 was $7,274, and its average grant was $44,213, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) that year got $245K on average.

Where does Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) give grants?

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) gives mostly in Nevada: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Reno, NV (3 grants).

Does Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)'s 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Utility Vouchers (Accrued in 2023; to be Paid in 2024)" (13 grants).

Who are Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)'s largest grantees?

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)'s largest 2024 grantees include Washoe County Family Resource Centers ($277,527), United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra ($245,000) and Friends In Services Helping (FISH) ($33,952), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

What is Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)?

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) is a private foundation focused on Housing & Shelter, based in Reno, NV. It holds — in total assets as of 2024.

How much is Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe) reported a distributable amount of $20K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)'s EIN?

Special Assistance Fund For Energy(Safe)'s EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0341058. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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