Nonprofits remind Las Vegas locals that need doesn’t end after the holidays

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2026/jan/12/nonprofits-remind-las-vegas-locals-that-need-doesn/

By Grace Da Rocha (contact)

Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 | 2 a.m.

Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al español.

The Las Vegas community showed what it’s made of last year.

When a government shutdown in November stripped SNAP benefits from thousands of residents, the response was immediate. Three Square Food Bank’s phones lit up with volunteer calls. Outside the Thomas & Mack Center, a steady stream of cars stretched down the block — each one filled with people ready to share whatever food they could.

With year-end donation drives over, nonprofit experts are issuing a reminder: The need doesn’t end in January. They’re urging residents to sustain that spirit of giving throughout the year, whether through donations, volunteer hours or professional expertise.

It’s especially important as federal funding cuts leave many organizations scrambling to make up for the loss of government support.

“We have excellent nonprofits that would be grateful for help all throughout the year, and that includes seniors, affordable housing and affordability, food insecurity, mental health, health care (and) education,” said Julie Murray, principal and CEO of Moonridge Group, a philanthropy consulting firm based in Nevada. “Our nonprofits are working so hard to cover basic human needs and so many other things, and our community is made great when individuals, corporations (and) family foundations give, and give strategically.”

There are over 11,000 nonprofits in Southern Nevada, said Murray, who once led Three Square and spent years involved with philanthropic groups.

Counting only the organizations that have at least $1 in revenue and a staff member, Nevada Grant Lab says there are 600 groups in Nevada, from animal shelters to nonprofits helping seniors with housing affordability — and many are in need.

The Private Bank by Nevada State Bank released a series of reports last year documenting the trend of philanthropic giving within the state and across the country in 2024. Data showed that total charity donations in the United States grew from $557.2 billion in 2023 to $592.5 billion in 2024, marking a rise of roughly 6.3% and outpacing inflation for the first time in three years.

It was the fifth year in a row that charitable giving rose, Nevada State Bank said in news release.

Nevada corporations increased their donations to $709.3 million in 2024, up nearly 13% from the $628.1 million recorded in 2023, according to the Moonridge Group’s 2025 Nevada Corporate Giving Report. Employee giving declined in the same year by 3.4%, but volunteer hours jumped almost 21% to 2.5 million — showing a larger interest in non-traditional ways of donating.

Even with economic uncertainties, donations on the individual and corporate side have risen, with the holiday season and dates such as Giving Tuesday being some of the most popular and visible times to donate, Murray said.

“Charitable giving continues to be a foundational element in communities throughout the Silver State,” said James Rensvold, executive vice president and director of Private Banking, in a news release. “Nevadans have proven time and again that when it comes to donating to worthy causes, they are ready and willing to support organizations and institutions that make our state a better place.”

Nonprofit organizations could be pushed to rely even more on charitable donations this year as economic concerns and funding cuts to some federal programs, such as permanent housing, are made.

Last month, Living Grace Homes told the Sun that it had to do everything it could and stretch its funds to provide for eight young mothers in its care who had not received food benefits due to the government shutdown.

Just ahead of Thanksgiving, while many families gather to share large feasts, the cabinets at Living Grace Homes were almost empty. It also coincided with the start of winter, when the organization receives an influx of requests for food assistance and supplies, Harvey said.

To ensure mothers and children weren’t without meals, Harvey and her team spent days reaching out to donors, raising awareness of the issue on social media, and even dipping into their own pockets to provide food.

“It took a village at that point just doing what was needed at the given time in order to ensure we had nutritious, fulfilling meals for all the residents and their children,” said Gwen Harvey, executive director of Living Grace Homes. “We did go almost a full 35 days with most of them not having access to food stamps — either it was partial or none at all — so we did what we could to ask for some food, to come in and buy for their daily needs and then the holiday as well.”

They weren’t alone.

Murray said Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada had “served more people than they had served in years” during the government shutdown in the fall. Even families “who normally would not rely on a food pantry or a nonprofit for food” were seeking help because many Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

When emergencies like a government shutdown or funding changes affect charity operations, donations can help the organization remain sustainable and continue providing services.

Amid economic worries, volunteerism has been up, and Murray believes it’s because “in difficult times, volunteering gives you purpose” and “a way to feel good about being able to contribute to society.”

At Catholic Charities, Murray said more volunteers were also donating their time as more people sought help from the nonprofit.

MaryGrace Rendina, vice president at the Moonridge Group, made a few suggestions for people looking to make a contribution to a charity: Find a cause that you’re passionate about, do your homework to see a nonprofit’s impact, coordinate with the group to know what types of donations are needed most, and encourage others around you to give back. Many charity organizations now accept donations through their websites. While giving monetarily remains a popular way to contribute, Rendina stressed that in-kind contributions and volunteering can also make an impact.

But the most important of Rendina and Murray’s suggestions: Donate year-round.

“Nonprofits’ needs don’t end after the holidays,” Rendina said. “That ongoing support, whether that’s donations or consistently showing up for our nonprofits, really does help organizations plan throughout the year and have sustainability, and it creates a lasting impact for both the donor and the nonprofit.”