Changing Lives Community Fund Inaugural Grant Cycle Awardees

The Changing Lives Community Fund is proud to annouce the grant recipients for its Inaugural Community Outreach Fund.

• CASA Foundation
• Child Focus, Inc.
• Communities in Schools of Nevada
• HopeLink (HACA)
• Pioneer Territory CASA, Inc.
• Safe Nest
• SAFY
• The Shade Tree
• St. Jude's Ranch for Children
• Three Square

On behalf of the board of directors of Nevada Community Foundation, we would like to thank the Changing Lives Community Fund for its generosity and for making a positive impact in southern Nevada.

Three Square Recipient of Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Matching Grant

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has announced a $3 million matching grant for Three Square Food Bank.  Recognizing that the need continues to grow and 300,000 southern Nevadans still struggle with hunger, the Foundation’s generosity gives us an historic opportunity for the Vegas community to multiply its year-end giving.  The years ahead will provide new challenges for the food bank and our community.  But we know with the support of donors like you we cannot fail in our mission to provide wholesome food to those in need.  A multi-year pledge will qualify for this match which is a rare chance to double your future giving.  We are extremely excited and trust you’d like to contribute to your community’s benefit during this holiday season.  No one in Southern Nevada should go hungry.

THREE SQUARE
working together, we serve hope

p 702 644-FOOD (3663)
f 702 365-6574
w www.threesquare.org
4190 N. Pecos Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89115
A member of Feeding America

GOLDEN NUGGET'S 2011 GRANT CYCLE AWARDEES

As a part of its ongoing commitment to the community, the Golden Nugget is proud to announce the grant recipients for its 2011 Community Outreach Fund which assists children, neighborhoods, and the community.

• The Adoption Exchange, Family Recruitment Program
• Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter, Family Care Consultation Program
• Assistance League Las Vegas, Operation School Bell
• Boys Town Nevada, Inc., Home Family Services Program
• Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada, Career Connections Program
• Horses4Heroes, Inc., StayStrong! Program
• Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Rolling Salad Bar Program
• Miracle Flights for Kids, Transportation Assistance Program
• Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, Pediatric Program
• Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation, After school homework Program
• Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Education Services Program
• Nevada Diabetes Association for Children and Adults, Emergency Insulin Program
• S.A.F.E. House, Emergency Services Program
• United Labor Agency of Nevada, Inc., Basic Needs Program

In addition to the financial support provided, the Golden Nugget’s Community Outreach Committee and its other employees give back to local nonprofits through volunteerism and in-kind gifts throughout the year.

Thanks to Golden Nugget and its generous team of employees for making a positive impact in Southern Nevada!

FOUNDATION REVAMPS GRANTMAKING

FOR GREATER COMMUNITY IMPACT

The Nevada Community Foundation has always endeavored to serve as a faithful community steward.  Along the way, we have benefited from the candid feedback of our good friends in the nonprofit community.  Increasingly, that feedback reflects a frustration-undoubtedly exacerbated by the difficult economic climate- with the relatively few dollars available for discretionary grantmaking and a perception that the same nonprofit organizations benefit every year.  We are happy to report that, after considerable soul-searching, we are implementing some changes. 

In an effort to leverage our limited discretionary dollars for greater community impact, the Nevada Community Foundation’s (NCF's) Board of Directors recently approved a new approach to the Foundation’s grant making. Instead of employing a competitive, responsive grantmaking process as it has in years past, the Foundation will commit its discretionary dollars to multi-year funding of programs that are aligned with Ready for Life®, a statewide collaborative movement to ensure that all Nevada youth are “ready for life” and supported by a community ethic that values education, links youth to workforce opportunities, and creates a safe learning environment for students. 

This strategic shift in our grantmaking approach will allow NCF to leverage our investment by supporting a larger community vision for southern Nevada while simultaneously strengthening each of our designated fields of interest in support of this shared vision. Changes to our discretionary grant making will take effect in 2010 and for the next several years.  It is important to note that while the Foundation undergoes this change in our annual grantmaking process, the majority of the Foundation’s grantmaking, which is driven by our generous donors, remains unchanged.   Equally, we are more committed than ever to connecting donors with community organizations for funding opportunities towards a better southern Nevada.

As the Foundation works with key partners involved in Ready for Life®, we will keep you abreast of developments. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  If you would like to meet with our President, Gian Brosco, please contact Jane Ramos at 892-2326 to schedule a personal meeting.

READY FOR LIFE®

Following the Nevada Community Foundation’s decision to invest in Ready for Life®, it retained the Nevada Public Education Foundation to administer the investment, guide the process, and share their knowledge of Ready for Life® partners. The Nevada Public Education Foundation has since developed an external committee comprised of key Ready for Life® stakeholders, education experts and community leaders who have developed a strategy to ensure NCF’s investment supports organizations aligned with Ready for Life® while also furthering NCF’s donor impact areas listed below:

• Math, science and technology programs for the benefit of the Clark County School District 
• Humane care and treatment of animals; provide spay/neuter, shelter, foster and adoption programs; and administer educational and therapeutic programs for people that involve animals or are for the indirect benefit thereof.
• Protection and promotion of conservation of the natural world; protect animals and wildlife and their natural habitat; protect parks, reserves, and open spaces for animals; and contribute to wildlife research.
• Needy seniors

In the near future, the committee will invite organizations to apply with a goal of funding approved proposals by the end of this calendar year.