The Nell J Redfield Foundation
The Nell J Redfield Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Reno, Nevada. Established in 1974 by Nell J. Redfield following her husband LaVere Redfield's death, the foundation has become one of Northern Nevada's most significant philanthropic organizations. The foundation was created to support healthcare, education, medical research, care for needy children and women, and assistance for the homeless. Following Nell's death in 1981, the foundation has continued to award millions of dollars annually to support its mission.
Key facts about The Nell J Redfield Foundation
- EIN
- 27-1017158
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,489,794
- Grants made (2024)
- 91
- Average grant
- $49,338
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (13 of 66, 2024)
- Total assets
- $69,086,291
- Primary geography
- Nevada (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Initial approach by letter (no formal application form required). Full details ↓
- Deadline
- January 15 through June 1
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.
Who The Nell J Redfield Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Nell J Redfield Foundation's 91 itemized 2024 grants were Nevada (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Reno, NV (77 grants), Sparks, NV (6 grants), Malad, ID (3 grants) and McCarran, NV (2 grants). 8% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Holiday funding for 2024" (7 grants).
Is The Nell J Redfield Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 66 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $81K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Nell J Redfield Foundation
- How to evaluate The Nell J Redfield Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$69.1M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.5M
+13.0% YoY
Grant Count
91
+3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nell J Redfield Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "engaging in a program of charitable giving focused on education, healthcare and helping those most in need."
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Healthcare and medical research
- Care of handicapped children and the aged
- Assistance for those struggling with homelessness, housing insecurity, and poverty
- Religion
- Human services
The foundation emphasizes collaborative approaches and encourages creative partnerships among agencies specializing in education, healthcare, homelessness, housing insecurity, and poverty services.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Range:**
Review Cycle
January 15 through June 1
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Nell J Redfield Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily focused on Northern Nevada, with particular emphasis on Washoe County and the city of Reno. The foundation does not make grants to individuals.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 91 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $69,086,291
- Total Revenue: $6,989,245
- Total Expenses: $5,351,329
- Net Income: $1,637,916
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Giving Rate: 7.0%
Tax Status:
- EIN: 27-1017158
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since March 2010
- Designated as a private grantmaking foundation
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $69,086,291 | $67,984,518 | $69,289,566 |
| Revenue | $6,989,245 | $3,926,206 | $13,877,604 |
| Expenses | $5,351,329 | $4,863,683 | $5,634,862 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,793,318 | $4,229,782 | $4,997,670 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,381,476 | $3,562,130 | $13,044,471 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,150,428 | $3,709,452 | $3,484,715 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
439 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include UNR Foundation ($1,515,000 across 16 grants), Washoe County School District ($344,398 across 2 grants), Domestic Violence Resource Center (CAAW) ($255,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNR Foundation Reno, NV | Capital Campaign for the College of Business Building | $500,000 |
| Washoe County School District Reno, NV | to support Redfield Community Coordinators Outreach program in twelve schools | $325,000 |
| UNR Foundation Reno, NV | National Merit Scholarship | $320,000 |
| Domestic Violence Resource Center (CAAW) Reno, NV | Capital campaign, holiday funding, mental health services, and operations expenses | $255,000 |
| First Tee of Northern Nevada Reno, NV | support capital campaign | $210,000 |
| Renown Health Foundation Reno, NV | Conrad breast center and nursing scholarship recruitment program | $175,000 |
| UNR Foundation Reno, NV | UNR Scholarships for Women's Basketball | $150,000 |
| PBS Reno (formerly KNPB) Reno, NV | Curiosity Classroom program and support national programming | $130,000 |
| Reno Philharmonic Reno, NV | Fund several educational programs for 2024 | $125,000 |
| UNR Foundation Reno, NV | UNR Scholarships for Women's other sports (excluding Basketball, Volleyball & Soccer) | $120,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Daniel K Walker — President, CFO, & Director (8.3 hours/week, $25,000 compensation)
- Melissa A Fowler — VP, Director, & Secretary (8.3 hours/week, $25,000 compensation)
- Michael Sebree — VP & Director (8.3 hours/week, $25,000 compensation)
- Kenneth M Coll — Executive Director (40 hours/week, $230,000 compensation)
- Debbi D Wesner — Administrative Manager (26 hours/week, $65,000 compensation)
- Kevin Tiber — Director in Waiting (2 hours/week, $5,000 compensation)
- Glenda Hudgens — Director in Waiting (2 hours/week, $5,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel K Walker | President, CFO, & Director | 8.3 | $25,000 |
| Melissa A Fowler | VP, Director, & Secretary | 8.3 | $25,000 |
| Michael Sebree | VP & Director | 8.3 | $25,000 |
| Kevin Tiber | Director in Waiting | 2 | $5,000 |
| Glenda Hudgens | Director in Waiting | 2 | $5,000 |
| Kenneth M Coll | Excecutive Director | 40 | $230,000 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grantees and initiatives include:
Support for the Redfield Community Coordinators Outreach Program in twelve schools through the Washoe County School District ($325,000 in 2024)
Capital campaign support for The First Tee of Northern Nevada ($210,000 in 2024)
Conrad Breast Center and Nursing Scholarship Recruitment Program through Renown Health Foundation ($175,000 in 2024)
Ongoing support for STEP2, a Reno-based nonprofit treatment program for women struggling with substance use disorder
Partnership with Northern Nevada Literacy Council
Support for Nevada Museum of Art
The foundation maintains a "Partner of the Month" feature on its website highlighting supported organizations.
Contact Information
Address: 1755 E. Plumb Ln., Ste. 212, Reno, NV 89502-3691
Phone: (775) 323-1373
Fax: (775) 323-4476
Website: https://www.nelljredfieldfoundation.org
Email: [email protected]
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Nell J Redfield Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is "engaging in a program of charitable giving focused on education, healthcare and helping those most in need." Primary funding areas include: • Education • Healthcare and medical research • Care of handicapped children and the aged • Assistance for those struggling with homelessness, housing insecurity, and poverty • Religion • Human services The foundation emphasizes collaborative approaches and encourages creative partnerships among agencies specializing in educatio…
How do I apply for a grant from The Nell J Redfield Foundation?
Initial approach by letter (no formal application form required). Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Nell J Redfield Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily focused on Northern Nevada, with particular emphasis on Washoe County and the city of Reno. The foundation does not make grants to individuals.
What size grants does The Nell J Redfield Foundation award?
In 2024, The Nell J Redfield Foundation awarded 91 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Nell J Redfield Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Nell J Redfield Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Nell J Redfield Foundation's EIN?
The Nell J Redfield Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1017158. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.