Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation
Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation is a private foundation, based in San Antonio, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $290K. Net investment income was $295K.
Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation at a glance
In short: Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation gave $290K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $290K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $290,000
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $290,000
- +84.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $290,000
- Total assets
- $6,691,489
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sam Ministries ($290K).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 5 grants of 6 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $240K (2019) to $355K (2022). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $290K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Ministries San Antonio, TX | To provide support to help those homeless in san antonio with shelter and long-term re-housing assistance. | $290,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,691,489 | $378,084 | $417,466 | $290,000 | 1 | $333,898 | $294,516 | $369,389 |
| 2024 | $6,726,067 | $1,402,232 | $395,318 | $315,000 | 2 | $345,588 | $1,061,202 | $351,413 |
| 2023 | $5,724,347 | $347,719 | $400,978 | $313,000 | 1 | $342,718 | $289,481 | $324,120 |
| 2022 | $5,777,606 | $-71,641 | $434,907 | $355,000 | 1 | $384,718 | $123,649 | $342,670 |
| 2021 | $6,284,154 | $321,725 | $374,386 | $285,000 | 1 | $314,718 | $270,105 | $385,543 |
| 2020 | $6,336,815 | $340,230 | $391,199 | $300,000 | 3 | — | $281,496 | $338,323 |
| 2019 | $6,607,647 | $187,026 | $326,460 | $240,250 | 3 | — | $137,179 | $330,671 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $369K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation is led by Helen E. Nelson, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Helen E. Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$42K (2019) → $59K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $59K, to Helen E Nelson (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation
How much does Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation give each year?
Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation gave $290K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $315K across 2 grants.
How large is Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation?
Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation reported $6.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $334K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $369K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation operate?
Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation has awarded grants in Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont.
What is Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation's EIN?
Clara Freshour Nelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6436452. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 31, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
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