Why and How the Carol Franc Buck Foundation Supports Nevada Arts Groups

In April 2022, a longtime benefactor of local arts groups in Nevada passed away. Her name was Carol Franc Buck, and since the late 1970s, she had been channeling her philanthropy through a private foundation based in Incline Village, Nevada.

Her foundation always maintained a low public profile, with no website to guide grantseekers and a policy to only fund organizations that it identified itself, rather than accept unsolicited proposals. After her death, Buck’s legacy lives on through her foundation, which is nevertheless worth learning more about if you work in an artistic field in Nevada.

Who was Carol Franc Buck?

Born in San Francisco and raised in Vacaville, California, Buck was the daughter of a U.S. congressman and grew up involved with philanthropy. Her mother created the Frank H. and Eva B. Buck Foundation to provide college scholarships to students from her husband’s congressional district. Carol served as the president of this foundation. She graduated from Stanford University and developed a passion for skiing, horseback riding, tennis, golf, flying planes and travel.

But Carol Buck’s love of music, especially the opera, is what really drove her personal philanthropy and that continues to guide the foundation today. During her lifetime, she was interested in engaging students in art education and served on the boards of numerous art institutions including the Western Opera Theater and the Nevada Museum of Art.

Music is the top priority

The Carol Franc Buck Foundation is an art-specific funder that gives to visual and performing arts groups. It funds art education and is primarily interested in music. Buck helped develop the Classical Tahoe music festival and founded the Carol Franc Buck Residential Tower at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Symphony organizations, Shakespeare in the Park events, museums and ballet companies have received the Buck Foundation’s support. Tax records show that recent grantees include the Grand Teton Music Festival, PBS Reno and Classical Tahoe.

Nevada and beyond

Although Nevada was a very important place for Buck, the California Bay Area remained significant as well and is still a geographic center of Buck Foundation grantmaking. In the Bay Area, the foundation has supported the San Francisco Opera, Livermore Valley Opera and Noe Valley Chamber Music. Other music and arts grantees are based in New Orleans, Louisiana; Anchorage, Alaska and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Recent grants have gone toward music festivals, specific musical performances and collaborations with other organizations to bring concerts to new audiences. Grants are typically between $20,000 and $200,000.

Connecting with this local funder

Unfortunately for local arts groups in Nevada, the Buck Foundation is not very transparent or accessible. The foundation does not provide a clear way for groups to get in touch with grant inquiries, not does it welcome unsolicited applications. However, the trustees may be available for contact by phone or mail. The founder’s son, Christian Erdman, and granddaughter, Mackenzie, serve as two of the foundation’s trustees.

Learn more about this funder in IP’s full profile of the Carol Franc Buck Foundation, as well as other local foundations in our Nevada funding guide.

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