Nevada ranks 49th out of the 50 U.S. states

Nevada ranks 49th out of the 50 U.S. states

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Nevada ranks 49th out of the 50 U.S. states when it comes to charitable giving, sitting just ahead of New Mexico according to a study by WalletHub cited by The Nevada Independent.

That local giving baseline shifted sharply when sports philanthropy entered the market. Major league franchises have expanded community funding networks across Southern Nevada.

MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle secured a $25 million gift from the Las Vegas Raiders for the development of Southern Nevada’s first comprehensive stand-alone children’s hospital. Hornbuckle said that 2,000 children must leave the state annually for specialized medical treatment.

“I went through some of the numbers. I explained how we have to send 2,000 kids everywhere out of state for treatment because we don’t have a facility like this,” Hornbuckle recalled to The Nevada Independent. “Mark literally said, ‘Stop. I’m in.’”

Raiders Owners and Philanthropists Pledge Millions for New Hospital

The Raiders’ commitment marks the largest charitable donation in the National Football Team’s history. Team owner Mark Davis, along with fellow owners Egan Durban and Michael Meldman, contributed $5 million each, while the team added $10 million.

Las Vegas Raiders donate $25 million for state's first standalone children's hospital — FOX5 Las Vegas

On Oct. 26, ground was broken for the $1 billion hospital inside the Harry Reid Technology Park during a red-carpet event featuring a drone show and fireworks. The facility is expected to open in 2030.

Additional support for the project includes a $50 million gift from developers Heidi and Larry Canarelli and a $150 million pledge from philanthropists Felicia and Ben Horowitz.

The community benefits are tied to legislative agreements like SB1, which provided $750 million in public funding for Allegiant Stadium. Up to $380 million in public money was approved for the Athletics’ upcoming $2.1 billion ballpark.

Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan said that the franchise’s community giving exceeds the mandates attached to public stadium agreements. In 2025, the team provided more than $2.4 million in charitable contributions through direct corporate giving, in-kind ticket donations, and signed memorabilia.

“Mark and I obviously talk about business but one of his mandates when he hired me was to make sure Las Vegas knows we’re their team,” Morgan told The Nevada Independent.

Broadening the Donor Network

Bob Brown, CEO of Opportunity Village, said that the evolution of Las Vegas from a casino-centric community operated by individual investors to a corporate-owned market changed how nonprofits secure funding.

“The sports franchises have all made a huge difference. It’s great, but is it enough? No, it’s never going to be enough,” Brown told The Nevada Independent.

In less than a decade, Las Vegas welcomed three major league professional sports teams: the Raiders, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Las Vegas Aces. Major League Baseball’s Athletics will arrive in 2028, and the NBA is finalizing an expansion team for the city.

The Vegas Golden Knights, currently in their 10th season, operate a charitable foundation focused on education and youth sports, military and first responders, and health and wellness. Last year, the Knights foundation gave $2.5 million to more than 120 organizations.

“The arrival of the Raiders, the A’s and the NBA team, as well as the Aces has broadened the scope for charitable efforts in the region,” said Kim Frank, president of the NHL team’s charitable foundation. “More teams can only help. It works better for the community.”

Athletics Prepare for 2028

Athletics Vice President of Community Stephanie Gaywood is currently establishing local roots while the team plays another season in Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas in 2028.

“Our goal is to integrate into the community fabric authentically,” Gaywood told The Nevada Independent. “We could do a very large gift. But for us, it’s truly grassroots. We’re aligning ourselves with our fans and with the community so they feel like they are a part of the process.”

“We want to demonstrate to the community that we were invested 365 days of the year,” said Lori Nelson Kraft.

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