Lemay Family Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Lemay Family Foundation is a small, private family foundation based in Reno, Nevada, with assets of approximately $3.7 million. Founded by H. Eugene LeMay Jr. — likely the retired University of Nevada Reno chemistry professor and co-author of the widely-used "Chemistry: The Central Science" textbook — and his wife Carla A. Lemay, this foundation operates on a fully preselected basis with no open application process.

Critical insight for grant seekers: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are awarded at the personal discretion of the LeMay family officers. External applicants should not expect to receive funding through any formal submission process.

The most promising pathway, if any, is building a genuine personal relationship with H. Eugene LeMay Jr. or Carla A. Lemay through shared academic, scientific, or community channels in the Reno/University of Nevada orbit. Given the apparent academic background of the founders, connections through UNR alumni networks, faculty associations, or science education organizations may be the only viable indirect path.

## Funding Patterns

The foundation distributes approximately $172,000 to $245,000 annually from investment returns on its approximately $3.7M asset base. The foundation has received no new contributions since at least 2019, operating as a self-liquidating or perpetual endowment depending on investment performance.

FY2024 giving summary: Total grants $233,100 across 14 grants. Median grant size approximately $15,000. Maximum grant $45,000. Asset base $3,713,361.

Historical consistency: Annual giving has held steady in the $172K to $245K range since 2019, reflecting a disciplined spend-down of investment income rather than growth or expansion.

Grant sizes: The $45,000 maximum and $15,000 median suggest a sweet spot of $10,000 to $30,000 for typical grantees. At 14 grants per year, the portfolio is moderately diversified for a family foundation of this size.

Focus areas inferred from academic background: Chemistry education, STEM outreach, University of Nevada Reno programs, science literacy, and community philanthropy in northern Nevada are likely priorities based on the founders' professional history.

## Peer Comparison

At $3.7M in assets with 14 grants per year, this foundation sits in the middle tier of Nevada private foundations. Its fully preselected model places it among approximately 60-70% of family foundations in this asset range that do not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations seeking funding in Reno's academic or scientific ecosystem would have more success approaching UNR's Office of Sponsored Projects, the Nevada Community Foundation, or the E.L. Wiegand Foundation.

## Recent Activity

Based on IRS 990-PF filings through FY2024: Total $233,100 distributed across 14 grants; assets $3,713,361; no new contributions to the foundation. Officers remain H. Eugene LeMay Jr. (President) and Carla A. Lemay (Secretary) with no governance changes.

Website status: lemayfamily.org is a parked Cloudflare domain with no content. The foundation maintains no public web presence, consistent with its private, by-invitation grantmaking model.

The foundation has maintained remarkable consistency over its history with no evidence of new program areas, geographic expansion, or changes in governance. This stability suggests the foundation will continue its current pattern until a leadership transition occurs.

## Application Tips

Bottom line: Do not apply. This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and has no public application process, website, or contact information for grant seekers.

For organizations that have an existing relationship with H. Eugene LeMay Jr. or Carla A. Lemay:

1. Leverage the chemistry/STEM connection: If your organization has ties to chemistry education, STEM literacy, or the University of Nevada Reno, mention these connections explicitly in any personal outreach.

2. Reno/northern Nevada focus: Local organizations in the Reno area have a geographic advantage given the founders' decades of UNR affiliation.

3. Keep asks modest: The $45,000 maximum grant suggests this foundation does not fund large capital campaigns. Requests in the $10,000 to $25,000 range align with the foundation's typical portfolio.

4. Work through university channels: UNR development officers may be able to facilitate introductions for qualified academic or community organizations.

Alternative funders for STEM/education in Nevada: E.L. Wiegand Foundation (Reno, open applications), Nevada Community Foundation, and national STEM funders like NSF, Simons Foundation, or American Chemical Society are more accessible alternatives.