Fuel your Impact with Our Grant Opportunities
Our Goal
The Engelstad Foundation’s primary grantmaking goal is to help build a self-sufficient and sustainable Southern Nevada that can meet its needs — today and for the long term.
The Foundation is building on its 20-year grantmaking history and knowledge to strengthen the conditions that enable communities, organizations, and systems to work better together.
Key Dates:
2/12 - Letter of Intent (LOI) Informational Webinar at 2:00p pst.
2/27 - Letter of Intent (LOI) submissions close at 11:59pm pst.
3/6 - Grant application submissions close at 11:59pm pst.
All applications must be submitted in full by March 6, 2026 at 11:59p pst to be considered for funding this quarter.
Outlook on 2026 Grants
Over the past two years, the Foundation has been working to understand the challenges and opportunities our grantees and other nonprofits in the region are experiencing. We heard time and again the need for resources that can be invested in building capacity, establishing partnerships and advocating for nonprofits and the people they serve.
Accordingly, we’re proud to launch this new funding opportunity which will focus on these key areas: Sector Strengthening, Innovation and Incubation, and New or Diverse Investments. We expect to provide this funding operating on a rolling basis and fully expect to refine it as we continue to learn with our partners.
How Our Application Process Works
The Engelstad Foundation uses a two-step grantmaking process to ensure that applicants are not asked to invest unnecessary time in full proposals before fit is confirmed.
All organizations begin by submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI). The LOI allows us to learn about your organization, the nature of your work, and how your proposed effort aligns with our funding priorities.
Organizations whose LOIs align with our strategy may then be invited to submit a full application.
We are currently accepting Letters of Intent through February 27, 2026.
Step 1
Letter of Intent (LOI)
The LOI is a brief introduction to your organization and your proposed work. It helps us understand:
- Your mission and primary activities.
- The challenge or opportunity you are addressing.
- How your work contributes to partnerships, advocacy, or strengthening the social sector.
- The type and scale of support you are seeking.
Letters of Intent are accepted via the online portal during each application cycle, as indicated on our website. LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the cycle. Applicants whose LOIs are selected will be invited to submit a full application, and earlier selections allow additional time to complete the full application requirements. Submitting an LOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full application, but every LOI is reviewed with care and in relation to the Foundation’s priorities.
We are currently accepting LOI submissions between January 31 - February 27, 2026.
View industry guidance on what to include in an LOI.
We're hosting an LOI informational webinar on Feb 12th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST. Click here to register for the LOI session.
Step 2
Full Application
By Invitation Only
Organizations invited to submit a full application will receive direct instructions and guidance from the Foundation. Invited applicants may also be offered optional support such as information sessions or one-on-one conversations to help ensure proposals are clear, complete, and aligned.
How Decisions Are Made
Funding decisions are made on a quarterly basis, and all applicants are notified of outcomes.
Applications are reviewed using criteria that consider:
- Alignment with the Foundation’s mission and guiding principles.
- The organization’s stage of development and readiness.
- The strength of partnerships or collaborative strategies.
- Leadership capacity and integrity.
- The potential for long-term, systems-level impact.
We are currently accepting Letters of Intent through February 27, 2026. Our next open submission process will run from April 30, 2026 - June 5, 2026.
A Note on Fit
Because the Engelstad Foundation focuses on strengthening systems and ecosystems, we are not able to fund every strong organization or important program. Not being invited to apply or not receiving funding does not reflect the value of your work — only the degree of alignment with our current strategy and capacity.
We encourage organizations to pursue a broad range of funding and partnership opportunities and to view the LOI as one step in an ongoing relationship with the broader philanthropic community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What types of issues do you fund?
Our foundation does not solely focus on specific issue areas. Right now, we are prioritizing grants to strengthen the social sector itself — including organizational capacity, partnerships, and education that improves how systems serve communities.
What types of organizations do you fund?
We fund U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations at different stages of development, including both emerging and well-established organizations.
What is your typical grant size?
There is no standard grant size. Awards are based on the goals of the initiative, the scope of work, expected outcomes, and organizational needs.
Do you provide multi-year funding?
Yes. Some grants are multi-year, particularly when longer-term investment is needed to achieve meaningful systems or organizational change.
Do you fund general operating support or project support?
We provide both. We believe strong organizations require flexible funding, and we also support specific initiatives aligned with our strategy.
How often do you make funding decisions?
We accept applications through a structured process and make grant decisions on a quarterly basis. Our current open call for Letters of Intent (LOIs) is from January 31 - February 27, 2026. Selected organizations will be invited to submit a full application. The earlier a selected organization submits their LOI, the more time they will have to complete the final application. The application portal closes on March 6, 2026.
Do you provide feedback on declined proposals?
Our goal is to provide guidance that could support future funding opportunities, with others or potentially with ourselves. However, we are unable to schedule meetings to provide guidance forward for every grantee.
We want to hear your ideas.
Submit your Letter of Intent and start the conversation.