Nevada
Northern Nevada nonprofits lose thousands in missing donations after fundraising collapse
RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — At least a dozen northern Nevada nonprofits are scrambling to recover after a nationwide fundraising platform failed to deliver thousands of dollars in donations, leaving critical community programs at risk.
Oakland-based Flipcause, a company that processed online donations for nonprofits, is accused of withholding funds before filing for bankruptcy in December. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has since issued a cease-and-desist order, halting the company’s charitable operations.
Officials say more than 3,200 nonprofits nationwide are affected, with over $29 million in donations unaccounted for.
At least 12 organizations in northern Nevada are among them — each now facing financial losses.
The Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada reports losing $33,602. Other impacted groups include:
- JUSTin Hope Foundation — $8,463
- Larena Smith Bengoa Run — $7,338
- Nevada Hands & Voices — $6,283
- Cancer Community Clubhouse — $5,672
- Sustainable Tahoe — $1,487
- Urban Cowgirl — $1,262
- I School — $1,050
- Reno Tahoe Athletics — $834
- Transgender Allies Group — $500
- Fire & Ice Horse Training — $201
- Nevada Humanities — $142
For the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada, the loss is immediate and deeply personal.
“We’ve lost about 30% of our operating budget for this year,” said Christina Ugalde, the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada.
The nonprofit provides support and programming for hundreds of families in northern Nevada through grants and community support.
“We are funded about 90% by individual donations,” Ugalde said. “So what’s happened to us has been absolutely devastating.”
The organization has served the region for nearly two decades, offering social programs, events and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
“For our families, it is so important that they feel a part of the community,” Ugalde said. “Getting the diagnosis of Down syndrome can be a very isolating thing for a lot of families.”
Some of the now missing funds were raised during the group’s largest annual fundraiser in September, the Buddy Walk. Ugalde said the organization submitted a request for the money, which typically arrives within 10 business days.
“It didn’t,” she said.
Instead, she says Flipcause repeatedly assured her the funds were on the way.
“They came back with all sorts of responses the money was on its way,” Ugalde said.
Weeks turned into months. Then came the bankruptcy filing — with no warning to many nonprofits still waiting for their money.
“We’re out $33,602,” Ugalde said. “That affects all of our families and the individuals that have Down syndrome with the amount of events that we’re able to put on.”
Despite the financial strain, she says the organization is determined to continue serving families — even as uncertainty remains about whether any funds will be recovered.
“I would love for everyone to get their money back,” Ugalde said. “I hope that through the bankruptcy process, we get something back.”
The California Attorney General’s Office is urging affected nonprofits to file complaints as part of the ongoing investigation.
In the meantime, organizations across northern Nevada are turning to their communities for help — hoping to replace what was lost and keep essential programs running.
For families who rely on those services, the stakes are deeply personal.
“These programs mean connection, support and belonging,” Ugalde said. “We don’t want that to go away.”
Nevada
Nevada workers fear homelessness as housing, jobs vanish before July deadline | Fox News Video
The final casino resort in Primm, Nevada, will close this summer after years of declining tourism, ending gaming operations in the once-busy border town and putting hundreds of employees out of work.
Primm Valley Casino Resorts is shutting down its remaining hotel and casino operations in July as experts point to increased competition, changing travel habits and post-pandemic losses behind the decline.
RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo (R) is in a strong position heading into the thick of his 2026 reelection bid — a huge war chest, almost universal name recognition and strong favorability numbers among the electorate.
Though Lombardo is likely focusing on the general election already, he faces 6 longshot candidates in the GOP primary seeking to upset him in June.
Nevada Governor GOP primary: 6 longshot candidates taking on incumbent Joe Lombardo
The challengers face a ‘Herculean’ task, said Mike Noble, CEO and founder of Noble Predictive Insights, an Arizona-based nonpartisan pollster focusing on the Southwest region.
“I see it as a Herculean task for anyone. If someone was coming in with like, I don’t know $10 million or something to spend, sure I can see that might be competitive, but I don’t see any of them coming anywhere near close to that. And so again, I just think I think it’s a non-factor at this point,” Noble said.
RELATED | Ballot Battleground: Nevada podcast: Early Noble poll shows dead heat in governor’s race
Despite the long odds, News 4-Fox 11 reached out to all candidates requesting an interview as part of our commitment to 2026 election coverage and our Know Your Candidates series. Three of the 7 running interviewed with us — Irina Hansen, Kameron Hawkins, Lombardo and Jose Zelaya did not respond to multiple emails requesting an interview.
We asked them similar questions about Gov. Lombardo’s leadership as governor, how they would pass a balanced budget and whether they support taxpayer subsidies for sports teams or major projects.
Click the candidate’s name to watch their full interview. Quotes below have been edited for space and clarity.
Donald J. Beaudry Jr. is an entrepreneur who founded BlkEdgeAi, a financial technology firm specializing in AI-driven trading systems and market strategy, according to his campaign website.
He told News 4-Fox 11 that Nevada has been drifting the last four years with ‘no captain, no vision.’ He believes his Wall Street-like trading market called NGEX (Nevada Global Exchange) would generate enough revenue to eliminate sales taxes, property taxes, business taxes and vehicle registration fees.
“I completely blueprinted it out and calculated that this model could generate enough revenue in this state that we could eliminate all the state taxes and fees that are currently in place and use that as the revenue source for the state and make everybody, every man, woman and child throughout Nevada, a shareholder in the dividends of that exchange … it would be a kind of Wall Street type of stock market, but far broader, more advanced, and exponentially more profitable.”
Matthew Rian Winterhawk is the founder of SmartSlaps foundation, a nonprofit that works to help schools and students with civic engagement and community responsibility.
If elected, he described going through a DOGE-like review of the state budget to determine which areas can be cut or kept depending on their ‘dollar to impact’ ratio.
“What I would like to do is go through every department, I’m talking top to bottom, from here from the primary to the beginning. We will cut every piece of administrative bloat across the system … I need more money for my teachers. Teachers never see it, students never see it, the impact never reaches the classroom. It’s 100% administrative bloat.”
The son of immigrants, Barak Zilberberg is now an entrepreneur and real estate investor based in Las Vegas. He ran for governor in 2022, earning 0.2% of the vote in the GOP primary. He told News 4-Fox 11 he’s also running for President in 2028.
He said he’s running for governor to improve the educational system, bring jobs to Nevada and open up federal land to build more affordable housing.
“We’ve got get high-speed railing systems in here where we can transit very easily, efficiently, and basically moving around between economies of both cities. Not only that, I’d like to bring Disneyland here and the Olympics, sponsor the Olympics here. I just want to make this a well-known place of entertainment, a hub.”
To help voters make informed decisions this election year, News 4-Fox 11 is publishing and broadcasting dozens of interviews with candidates who will appear on the June primary ballot.
In fairness to all candidates, they were asked a series of similar questions. We are posting the full interviews online so voters can watch their responses in their entirety.
Visit our Know Your Candidates 2026 page to view other race previews and meet other candidates.
Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on X and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — One woman is dead following a head-on collision on US-95 Sunday afternoon.
Nevada Highway Patrol responded to a report of a crash at 4:41 p.m. at mile marker 105, approximately 45 miles north of Beatty. The crash involved two sport utility vehicles.
One adult female driver was confirmed dead at the scene. The other driver was transported to a local area hospital with injuries.
MORE ON FOX5: Report: Nevada traffic deaths down 33% for April
No road closures are in effect. Investigations are being conducted on the southbound shoulder area.
Nevada Highway Patrol, a division of the Nevada State Police, is asking motorists to slow down and use caution in the area as troopers and investigators work at the scene.
Further information will be provided following the preliminary investigation.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
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