The Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation is a private foundation based in Mequon, Wisconsin, established in 2012. The foundation was created by Albert Nicholas, founder of the Nicholas Company, Inc., a Milwaukee-based investment advisory firm that manages the Nicholas mutual funds. The foundation was established with a $50 million endowment to support higher education access for Wisconsin students.
Key facts about Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation
- EIN
- 46-6194488
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,465,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 445
- Average grant
- $7,787
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applications available online only. Full details ↓
- Next open deadline
- April 30, 2027 (Ab Nicholas Scholarship)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation's 445 itemized 2025 grants were Wisconsin (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (11 grants), Wausau, WI (7 grants), Green Bay, WI (6 grants) and Wauzeka, WI (6 grants). None of its 445 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "University of Wisconsin - Madison College Scholarship" (92 grants), "University of Wisconsin - La Crosse College Scholarship" (85 grants) and "University of Wisconsin - Platteville College Scholarship" (37 grants).
How Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation
- How to evaluate Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
445
+6.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-4.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation seeks to make a college degree affordable for Wisconsin high school students who participate as players or managers in their school's basketball program. The foundation provides need-based scholarships that are renewable annually for students pursuing degrees at University of Wisconsin System schools.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Wisconsin. The foundation exclusively funds students attending University of Wisconsin System schools.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 445 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending September 2024:
- Total assets: $57,564,782
- Total revenue: $2,886,438
- Total expenses: $3,609,439
- Total liabilities: $15,000
- Investment income and dividends: $961,085
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,719,515
- Miscellaneous revenues: $205,838
Staffing:
- 1 employee (as of 2024)
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- Tax-exempt since September 2012
- EIN: 46-6194488
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
2,004 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Nadilee Fernandez ($25,000), Brady Hassinger ($15,000), Carter Prey ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NADILEE FERNANDEZ Beloit, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $25,000 |
| BRADY HASSINGER Elkhart Lake, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $15,000 |
| CARTER PREY Wausau, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - PLATTEVILLE SCHOLARSHIP | $15,000 |
| AADEN JENSEN Shell Lake, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - PLATTEVILLE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| ABRIANA BROWN Butternut, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| ADAM SCHAEFER Muscoda, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| ADELAIDE LILLA Green, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| ALEECE JANDRAIN Luxemburg, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| ALEXANDER ANDERSON Eleva, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - RIVER FALLS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| ALEXANDER PETERSON Siren, WI | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - EAU CLAIRE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Albert Nicholas, founder of the Nicholas Company, Inc., established the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn S Nicholas | Trustee | 20 | $120,000 |
| David O Nicholas | Trustee | — | — |
| Susan Nicholas Fasciano | Trustee | — | — |
| Nancy J Nicholas | Trustee | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 10309 N. River Road Mequon, WI 53092
Phone: 262-242-3040
Email: info@abnicholasscholars.org
Website: abnicholasscholars.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation fund?
The Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation seeks to make a college degree affordable for Wisconsin high school students who participate as players or managers in their school's basketball program. The foundation provides need-based scholarships that are renewable annually for students pursuing degrees at University of Wisconsin System schools.
How do I apply for a grant from Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation?
Applications available online only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation make grants?
Wisconsin. The foundation exclusively funds students attending University of Wisconsin System schools.
What size grants does Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation award?
In 2025, Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation awarded 445 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation's EIN?
Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-6194488. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.