United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS) is a public charity based in Reno, Nevada. It brings people together across a 13-county region and supports work that includes early learning, children’s literacy, and assistance for people facing financial hardship.
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra at a glance
In short: United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra gave $2.1M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $126K), mostly in Nevada. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,149,443
- +63.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $126,438
- +43.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $117,612
- Total assets
- $2,316,805
- -33.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nevada (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra
- Review Cycle
- April 1, 2022, at noon Pacific time (past deadline).
- Deadline
- April 1, 2022, at noon Pacific time (past deadline).
- Contact
Mailing address: 639 Isbell Road Ste 460, Reno, NV 89509
Phone: (775) 322-8668
Website: https://uwnns.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was A Plus Learning Center ($351K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 49 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
UWNNS describes its work as serving a 13-county region in northern Nevada. Its 2022–2025 literacy RFP invited organizations serving northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2023) to $2.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Plus Learning Center Reno, NV | PRE-K | $351,325 |
| University of Nevada Reno, NV | PRE-K | $248,439 |
| Under the Magic Pine Tree Hawthorne Reno, NV | PRE-K | $210,000 |
| Wells Family Resource Center Wells, NV | PRE-K | $164,378 |
| ABC Halo Daycare Center Stead Reno, NV | — | $150,000 |
| High Desert Montessori School Reno, NV | PRE-K | $150,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Mason Valley Yerington, NV | PRE-K | $135,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada Reno, NV | Emergency Assistance | $125,573 |
| Biggest Little Learning Center Reno, NV | PRE-K | $117,612 |
| Alphabet Academy Sparks, NV | — | $104,822 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,316,805 | $4,984,038 | $6,211,709 | $2,149,443 | 17 | $38,664 |
| 2024 | $3,505,090 | $3,170,663 | $3,849,921 | $1,317,673 | 15 | $42,742 |
| 2023 | $3,720,288 | $4,794,168 | $2,575,357 | $12,763 | 1 | $10,185 |
| 2022 | $1,215,381 | $2,360,219 | $2,316,806 | $69,729 | 5 | $6,559 |
| 2021 | $979,722 | $1,639,464 | $1,697,040 | $296,355 | 11 | $3,765 |
| 2020 | $1,107,980 | $1,845,551 | $1,585,826 | $391,110 | 9 | $2,457 |
| 2019 | $783,307 | $1,202,131 | $1,344,250 | $172,563 | 5 | $1,523 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
UWNNS’s stated mission is to unite communities to improve lives. Its vision is to create opportunities for children, families, and individuals to realize their full potential.
Its reported programs include free pre-K for eligible families, United Readers literacy mentoring for kindergarten through third-grade students, and workplace campaigns that let donors designate gifts to certified charities. The organization’s website also describes Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which delivers books to children from birth to age five, and the SAFE program, which helps eligible Northern Nevada residents with utility bills.
The organization’s 2022–2025 funding opportunity focused on children ages four to seven and programs intended to build early literacy skills, support preschool and kindergarten success, and improve reading proficiency by the end of first grade. Among its 2025 grantees, Wells Family Resource Center describes its own charitable services as including child care, child and family advocacy, and a literacy program.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, UWNNS reported 17 grants totaling $2,149,443. Grant amounts ranged from $12,500 to $351,325, with a median of $117,612. The largest listed awards included:
The funder’s posted 2022–2025 request for proposals invited community organizations serving northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin to apply for a three-year grant cycle. The proposal called for measurable literacy outcomes and required proposal documents, a cover sheet, a budget form, and an MOU; applicants were asked to include the applying organization’s or partnership’s name in document titles. This was a past cycle, not a current application opportunity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Blake Pang as CEO and president and Kim Spiersch as VP of finance. Listed board officers include Col Mary Devine, board chair; Bill Saylor, board treasurer; and Will Stednick and Yuli Chavez-Camarena, each listed as “Board Vice C.” Other listed board members are CJ Anderson, Mitch Cohen, Dr Lindsay Diamond, and Ann Marie Dickson.
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra is led by Blake Pang, CEO & President on every filing since 2023; 2 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Blake Pang
CEO & President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$33K (2023) → $109K (2025)
Col Mary Devine
Board Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Spiersch
Vice President of Financ
Vice President of Finance → Vice President of Financ, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$58K (2019) → $55K (2025)
Diane Ravenscroft
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitch Cohen
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dianne Fernandez-Paiz
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael McDonald
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Will Stednick
Board Vice C
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2023
Board Secretary → Board Vice C, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Marie Dickson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Saylor
Board Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Reichenberg
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cj Anderson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miguel Martinez
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Zavala
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yuli Chavez-Camarena
Board Vice C
Board Member → Board Vice C, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay Diamond
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Billie Guajardo
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Cote
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (34)
- Former: Jesse Murray (2019–2024) — Board Chair
- Former: Tom Pfoh (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jonathan Moore (2020–2024) — Board Vice C
- Former: Scott Crawford (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Tomi Jo Lynch (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kristopher Dahir (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Devine (2021–2024) — Board Vice C
- Former: McKayla Stutz (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Danielle Brown (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Karla Hernandez (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Donald Easton-Brooks (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bryce Warner (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Jeff Scott (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kate Marshall (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Larry Harvey (2019–2022) — Past Chair
- Former: Mary Wink (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Brazier (2019–2022) — President CEO
- Former: Philip Cote (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Priscilla Bender (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jodi Cody (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Yuli Chavez Camareno (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Luke Walker (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Summer Stephens (2021–2022) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: William Saylor (2021–2022) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Ashleigh FosterInterim (2022) — CEO & President
- Former: Bonnie Drinkwater (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jason Weldon (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Paul Sierzenski (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Mitchell Cohen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Betty Rose (2019) — Director
- Former: Estela Gutierrez (2019) — Director
- Former: Laura Granier (2019) — Director
- Former: Mike Monoski (2019) — Director
- Former: Stephanie Spensky (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $109K, to Blake Pang (CEO and Pres). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra
How much does United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra give each year?
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra gave $2.1M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 15 grants.
What is United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's typical grant size?
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's median grant in 2025 was $117,612, and its average grant was $126,438, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra give grants?
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra gives mostly in Nevada: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Reno, NV (9 grants) and Sparks, NV (2 grants).
Does United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Pre-K" (11 grants) and "Emergency Assistance" (3 grants).
Who are United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's largest grantees?
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's largest 2025 grantees include A Plus Learning Center ($351,325), University of Nevada ($248,439) and Under the Magic Pine Tree Hawthorne ($210,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra?
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.0M.
What does United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra fund?
UWNNS’s stated mission is to unite communities to improve lives. Its vision is to create opportunities for children, families, and individuals to realize their full potential. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra?
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check uwnns.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's EIN?
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0059327. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-northern-nevada-and-the-sierra-morg_c74b2c64244d4ca1a705f2ea0d3de50c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_880059327_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-northern-nevada-and-the-sierra-morg_c74b2c64244d4ca1a705f2ea0d3de50c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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