Francis T & Louis T Nichols
The Francis T & Louise T Nichols Foundation is a private foundation based in Bangor, Maine. Established in 1994, it operates as a non-operating foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.8M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
+86566.7% YoY
Grant Count
88
+8700.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
+884.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Francis T & Louis T Nichols reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to:
- Education
- Health care
- Human services
- Community development
- Children and youth
- Arts and culture, including museums
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$500–$491,000
Average Grant
amount: Not specified in available data
Review Cycle
December 1st
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Francis T & Louis T Nichols?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes funding in:
- Maine
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $20,840,760
- Total Annual Giving: $2,600,000
- Annual Income: $5.2 million
- Asset Growth: Assets have grown from $16 million in 2011 to $22.3 million in 2023
Tax Status:
- EIN: 01-0493311
- IRS Ruling Year: 1995
- Tax Classification: 501(c)(3)
- Contributions are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,840,760 | $22,320,466 | $18,739,273 |
| Revenue | $1,349,971 | $6,073,846 | $3,034,173 |
| Expenses | $2,914,315 | $2,437,831 | $2,444,580 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,914,315 | $2,437,831 | $2,514,958 |
| Net Investment Income | $991,551 | $5,786,015 | $2,789,593 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,572,144 | $2,045,614 | $2,036,639 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Maine Community Foundation ($491,000), George Stevens Academy ($90,000), Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ($85,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MAINE MARITIME MUSEUM BATH, ME | DONATION | $3,000 |
| BROOKLIN FOOD CORP BROOKLIN, ME | DONATION | $500 |
| BETH EDEN CHAPEL BLUE HILL, ME | DONATION | $1,000 |
| GEORGE STEVENS ACADEMY BLUE HILL, ME | DONATION | $90,000 |
| MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM MYSTIC, CT | DONATION | $3,000 |
| PENOBSCOT MARINE MUSEUM SEARSPORT, ME | DONATION | $3,000 |
| OPEN DOOR CLINIC MIDDLEBURY, VT | DONATION | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION WESTFIELD, MA | DONATION | $25,000 |
| APDA VERMONT CHAPTER BOSTON, MA | DONATION | $9,500 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS PORTLAND, ME | DONATION | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: Calvin E True
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN THIBAULT | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| WILLIAM NICHOLS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| NATHANIEL S PUTNAM | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 1210, Bangor, ME 04402-1210
- Telephone: 207-947-0111 or 207-992-4814
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Francis T & Louis T Nichols fund?
The foundation gives primarily to: • Education • Health care • Human services • Community development • Children and youth • Arts and culture, including museums
How do I apply for a grant from Francis T & Louis T Nichols?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $2,600,000 • Total assets: $20,840,760 • Typical grant range: $500–$491,000 • Average grant amount: Not specified in available data • Median grant amount: Not specified in available data **Application Process:** • Application deadline: December 1st • Open application process • Geographic restrictions: Maine and Vermont are priorities
Where does Francis T & Louis T Nichols make grants?
The foundation prioritizes funding in: • Maine • Vermont • Massachusetts
What size grants does Francis T & Louis T Nichols award?
In 2024, Francis T & Louis T Nichols awarded 88 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Francis T & Louis T Nichols required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Francis T & Louis T Nichols reported a distributable amount of $2.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Francis T & Louis T Nichols's EIN?
Francis T & Louis T Nichols's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0493311. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.