Douglas County approves 2026–27 community grant process, opens $150,000 application cycle

Douglas County staff on Oct. 1 presented the county’s Community Grant process for fiscal 2026–27 and the Board of County Commissioners approved the plan. Comptroller Kathy Kiser and grants administrator Debbie Swickard described the application timeline, priorities and how the county has used grants to fill local service gaps.

Kiser said the board was being asked to accept the proposed timeline and application materials. Swickard outlined past recipients and program areas, and said the application opened that day. “Today is the first day that we’re opening it up,” she said, and staff encouraged nonprofits to join a webinar at 9:30 a.m. the next day to review requirements.

Staff said $150,000 in county community grant funding is available this cycle, with an additional $30,000 in social services funds intended for indigent supplies. Swickard said the county has historically distributed over $2 million to nonprofits over the past 16 years and urged groups to apply; she provided an application email for webinar registration: communitygrants@douglasnv.us.

Commissioners asked few questions and expressed support for the program; one commissioner disclosed participation on advisory boards for several nonprofits but said there was no direct personal benefit and that usual disclosures would be made if an actual award were considered. The motion to accept the community grant process passed 5 to 0.