How the E.L. Cord Foundation Backs Rural Communities in Northern Nevada
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Among the philanthropic foundations serving the people of Nevada is the E.L. Cord Foundation. This funder maintains a geographic focus on Truckee Meadows and rural northern Nevada towns, a part of the country that philanthropists often overlook. Recently, the foundation has become more accessible to local grantseekers, and has recently developed a website to guide grantseekers and share public details about its priorities
Here are the top things to know about the E.L. Cord Foundation.
About the founder
Errett Lobban Cord was a businessman and industrialist, known as a man who "worked 18-hour days, seven days a week, and took faltering enterprises and breathed new life into them." For example, he modified Model T Ford automobiles and sold them for high profits. He owned the Auburn Motor Company and released an “ahead-of-its-time” automobile before turning his attention to aviation. Cord was a real estate and land investor, purchased a uranium mine, and donated to many nonprofits where he lived and worked.
Today, a board of trustees governs and stewards the E.L. Cord Foundation. The current foundation trustees are Joseph S. Bradley, who has served on the board since 1995, and Bill Bradley, who has been on the board since 2001.
Current focus areas
The E.L. Cord Foundation has identified five focus areas for its grantmaking: “charitable,” scientific, arts and culture, education, and children and youth. The funder takes a broad approach to considering requests within these categories as long as programs and projects benefit people in northern Nevada.
In a recent year, the foundation held over $66.5 million in total assets and awarded nearly $3 million in grants. Recent grantees include Amplify Life in Sparks, Arts for All Nevada in Reno, the Boys and Girls Club of Mason Valley in Dayton and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada in McCarran. Although it has traditionally awarded many grants in Reno, the funder now specifically looks to support small, rural communities.
Applying for a grant
Fortunately for northern Nevada grantseekers, the E.L. Cord Foundation is open to receiving unsolicited grant applications. Although it discourages direct contact with the foundation trustees, grantseekers are welcome to submit application materials by U.S. mail to the foundation’s Reno office.
You can send an application to the foundation any time of the year and use your own format to submit a project description, general organization information, financial details, a statement about results measurability, proof of tax-exempt status and membership information.
In our Nevada grantmaking guide, you can learn more about locally focused foundations that give throughout the state.
