After being part of Nevada GrantLab for nearly six months, I find myself reflecting on what I’ve learned so far of Southern Nevada's nonprofit sector. I keep coming back to this idea that nonprofits aren’t just providers of essential services; they are a sacred part of our state and community's fabric. This sentiment has been growing in me from the time I was a young adult helping my parents navigate the benefits of a community health clinic to embarking on an AmeriCorps VISTA experience nearly a decade ago.

Although I have spent my entire career working within nonprofits and public entities, this is the first time I’ve truly stepped back to see the bigger picture of our community as a whole. In just a few months on the job, I have witnessed the eagerness of our partners to learn, grow and attract more resources to our region. 

I also saw this in my previous role as the district director at a Nevada congressional office for Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), during the pandemic when schools, businesses and public places shuttered. Nonprofits remained steadfast to quickly adapt and execute delivery of crucial programs in a time of extreme community need, and my team and I frequently relied on charitable organizations to connect constituents with the resources they desperately needed. We depended on nonprofits as the experts best equipped to offer real relief and solutions.

However, let’s not forget that nonprofits have been crucial in addressing our community's most urgent needs for a long time, even before the pandemic and continue to be in the post-pandemic world. 

Nevada GrantLab, a Las Vegas born and based nonprofit, emerged in 2020 to support fellow nonprofits and governments access resources they need to do their best work. This work is in direct response to Nevada's chronic underperformance in securing funding for essential, wide-ranging public services such as housing, health care, infrastructure, and education. During the past few months, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of Nevada GrantLab’s results since its inception.

Backed by generous philanthropic donors, government grants and leveraged resources, we have helped our partners secure nearly $260 million in federal funds, have engaged more than 700 partners, offered more than 100 free capacity-building workshops, provided thousands of hours of one-on-one technical assistance, and leveraged data, ideas and partnerships to maximize federal grants and achieve lasting progress. 

Recognizing the importance of this work, two local jurisdictions, the City of North Las Vegas and Clark County, deepened their support of the nonprofit sector by investing in Nevada GrantLab programs and services. In late 2022, the City of North Las Vegas partnered with us to establish and operate the Nonprofit Accelerator Program to strengthen community-based organizations serving the city. Since then, we have delivered educational workshops, peer exchanges and self-help resources to 209 individuals from 81 organizations, helping them build capabilities and better serve North Las Vegas residents. We also provided more than 420 hours of customized, one-on-one technical assistance to 16 agencies and secured $8.6 million in federal funding through eight successful grant applications. 

Leslie Nix, the director of grants development and administration at the City of North Las Vegas, highlighted the importance of our work, stating, “partnerships like the one between the city and Nevada GrantLab is a testament to what we can achieve when governments and nonprofits work hand in hand. Their ability to provide quick target response, and subject matter expertise has significantly strengthened charitable organizations serving our residents, enabling them to secure vital federal resources that ultimately deliver critical services to our community. Their work as a convener of partners, who might otherwise respond as competitors, brings much needed strength to the region.”

Similarly, Clark County funded Nevada GrantLab in mid-2022 to offer capacity-building workshops that enhance the skills and tools of nonprofits to increase their grant competitiveness. With this investment, 45 free learning experiences have benefited nearly 1,100 professionals, improving their organizational capabilities. The county later expanded on our partnerships to deliver technical assistance to nonprofits as part of its Technical & Economic Assistance Program (TEAP).

Shani Coleman, Clark County's director of community and economic development stated, “Clark County's partnership with Nevada GrantLab through the Technical & Economic Assistance Program provided local nonprofits hard hit by the pandemic with technical assistance to get their organizations back on track, build resilience and continue their essential work in our community during the pandemic and beyond.”

Collaborations with local governments have significantly enhanced the capabilities of nonprofits in Southern Nevada, making space for achieving remarkable milestones. In an already-undersized, underfunded and understaffed sector, achieving sustainability and growth will come with its challenges, but circumstances dictate that all partners — nonprofits, governments, businesses, philanthropy and the community — need to work together to continue to support each other in a complementary way that serves all Nevadans. When we collaborate, we enhance the creation of lasting change and the building of a stronger, more resilient Nevada. 

Divya Narala is the director of partnerships and engagement for Nevada GrantLab.

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