The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust
The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Reno, Nevada. The organization focuses its philanthropic efforts on education, human services, and cultural initiatives, with a particular emphasis on supporting nonprofits in Nevada and California.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.8M
+0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$165K
-10.8% YoY
Grant Count
11
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-18.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Arts & Culture (including Visual Arts)
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Support for Jewish nonprofits
- Support for Native American organizations
- HIV/AIDS-related causes
- Family services
Grantmaking
The organization does not currently maintain active grant opportunities for external applicants.
Grant Range
Range:** Typical awards range from $500 to $100,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in Nevada and California, with a particular concentration in the Reno, Nevada area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $4,838,993
- Total Annual Giving: $165,001
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,838,993 | $4,808,853 | $5,038,366 |
| Revenue | $238,753 | $6,124 | $-4,140 |
| Expenses | $208,613 | $235,637 | $390,988 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $165,001 | $184,913 | $310,496 |
| Net Investment Income | $203,607 | $64,479 | $95,236 |
| Distributable Amount | $236,237 | $221,013 | $204,739 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Big Brothers Big Sisters ($52,000), Renown Health Foundation ($50,000), Nevada Mueseum of Art ($37,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS RENO, NV | YOUTH SUPPORT | $52,000 |
| CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION ROSEVILLE, CA | SUPPORT FOR PRESERVATION OF WATERFOWL HABITAT | $1,000 |
| EAST GRASSLAND WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION LIVINGSTON, CA | SUPPORT FOR PRESERVATION OF WATERFOWL HABITAT | $1,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF NORTHERN NEVADA SPARKS, NV | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| HORSEMANSHIP FOR HEROES RENO, NV | EQUINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY AND LEARNING PROGRAM FOR VETERANS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. | $4,500 |
| KENNY GUINN CENTER FOR POLICY PRIORITIES RENO, NV | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT, DATA ANALYSIS OF CRITICAL POLICY ISSUES FOR NEVADA | $5,000 |
| NEVADA MUESEUM OF ART RENO, NV | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $37,500 |
| RENOWN HEALTH FOUNDATION RENO, NV | COMMUNITY HEALTH SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| THE EDDY HOUSE RENO, NV | YOUTH SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ARTOWN RENO, NV | COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLIFFORD SCHEFFEL | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GAYLE RYDINSKI SCHEFFEL | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GEORGINA GEEN | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
| EMILY R OLSEN | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The trust has been associated with scholarship initiatives, including the Dr. Kent Scheff Scholarship for Sports Medicine, which supports future leaders in the sports medicine field.
Dr. Kent Scheff Scholarship for Sports Medicine AnnouncesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust fund?
The trust's primary funding priorities include: • Education • Human Services • Arts & Culture (including Visual Arts) • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Support for Jewish nonprofits • Support for Native American organizations • HIV/AIDS-related causes • Family services
How do I apply for a grant from The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust?
**Grant Size Range:** Typical awards range from $500 to $100,000 **Recent Activity:** The trust distributed $165,001 in total giving according to its most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2025). The organization does not currently maintain active grant opportunities for external applicants.
Where does The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust primarily funds organizations in Nevada and California, with a particular concentration in the Reno, Nevada area.
What size grants does The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust award?
In 2025, The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust awarded 11 grants totaling $165K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $236K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1036243. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Scheffel Family Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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