The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada (formerly known as the Community Foundation of Western Nevada) announced recently that Lyndsey Crossley and Lauren Renda recently earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) professional designation from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College of Financial Services. According to a March 23 press release, they represent two of the four active professionals in the state of Nevada to earn the CAP.
Lyndsey Crossley
“A chartered advisor in philanthropy is a trained expert in charitable giving. Candidates for the CAP designation must complete a rigorous18-month program consisting of three graduate-level courses in philanthropic studies and six hours of exams,” per the press release. “The curriculum addresses the advanced design, implementation and management of charitable gift techniques and strategies, as well as philanthropic tools that include charitable trusts, private foundations, supporting organizations, donor-advised funds, pooled income funds and charitable gift annuities.
"The CAP program provides the knowledge and tools needed by professionals in the nonprofit and financial services fields to help clients reach their charitable giving goals and estate planning goals.” As a Philanthropic Advisor with the foundation, in addition to advising businesses and individuals with donor-advised funds, Renda manages the foundation’s scholarships and is the philanthropic advisor to several of the foundation’s designated charitable funds, including the Truckee River Fund and NV Dream Tags. Renda is a Nevada native and graduate of University of Nevada, Reno (International Affairs major; Spanish minor); she earned her master’s degree from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey in 2012 (International Policy, focusing on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights). “Achieving my CAP designation during a particularly difficult year has made me all the more proud to have earned this certification,” Renda said in a statement. “I look forward to putting my designation into action to increase the philanthropic impact of the fundholders with whom I work.” Crossley, also a Philanthropic Advisor with the foundation, advises its Women’s Giving Circle fund and the Community Foundation of Elko County affiliate fund, according to the release. She also manages several foundation-designated legacy funds and nonprofit endowment funds, in addition to working with families to deepen the impact of their donor-advised funds. Also a graduate of UNR, Crossley is a member of the Planned Giving Roundtable of Northern Nevada and the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy. She began her career with the Community Foundation in 2013 and was promoted from Program Officer to Philanthropic Advisor in 2020. “Participating in the (CAP) was a challenging endeavor that I am proud to have completed,” Crossley said in a statement. “Expanding my skills to engage donors on a deeper level to create thoughtful and effective giving plans and was a rewarding experience; and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Lyndsey Crossley