Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation
The Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Its 2025 filing reports 20 grants totaling $342,580, supporting programs including scholarships, education, arts, dementia training and support, domestic violence education, and special-needs music programs.
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation gave $343K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Virginia. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $342,580
- +37.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,129
- +30.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,600
- Total assets
- $8,857,780
- +14.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (7 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 704 Hanson Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: (540) 220-3508
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Shenandoah University Scholarship ($60K). Together the top 10 received $266K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($37,080), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 74 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia. Other recipient states were Alabama (7%), New York (6%), and Texas (4%); Washington, DC, received 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 18 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 39% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 214% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $108K (2021) to $343K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $343K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah University Scholarship Winchester, VA | Scholarship Programs | $60,000 |
| Winchester Education Foundation Winchester, VA | Patsy Cline Theater Project | $50,000 |
| Dementia Matters Boyce, VA | Dementia Training and Support Programs | $35,000 |
| Stafford Regional Handbell Society Fredericksburg, VA | Bells After School Programs and Scholarships | $25,000 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $37,080 |
| Empowerhouse Fredericksburg, VA | Domestic Violence Education Programs | $20,000 |
| Step VA Inc Fredericksburg, VA | Special Needs Musical Programs | $20,000 |
| South Loudon Youth Chorale Aldie, VA | Summer Choral Programs | $20,000 |
| Liberty Ukraine Foundation Austin, TX | Summer Camp Programs | $15,300 |
| Global Bronze Foundation Fredericksburg, VA | Special Needs Handbell Instruction | $10,200 |
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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 | $8,857,780 | $460,362 | $402,781 | $342,580 | 20 | $399,486 | $291,767 | $394,220 |
| 2024 | $7,718,782 | $206,145 | $303,733 | $249,700 | 19 | $302,339 | $58,444 | $363,581 |
| 2023 | $6,606,732 | $135,401 | $258,660 | $131,785 | 13 | $255,373 | $90,839 | $303,592 |
| 2022 | $5,894,007 | $207,970 | $258,467 | $108,986 | 12 | $256,302 | $160,642 | $320,164 |
| 2021 | $8,153,158 | $195,968 | $476,701 | $107,800 | 10 | $472,195 | $141,182 | $377,568 |
| 2020 | $7,247,440 | $-39,653 | $414,247 | $123,625 | 9 | — | $26,459 | $329,518 |
| 2019 | $6,728,315 | $329,040 | $166,909 | $114,735 | 13 | — | $278,425 | $312,878 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $394K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included scholarship programs and support for education, performing arts, music, dementia training and support, domestic violence education, and summer camps.
Grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. Winchester Education Foundation says it promotes educational opportunities and supports Winchester Public Schools, students, teachers, and staff. An individual recipient says it works to empower and support student-moms. Empowerhouse says it supports survivors of domestic violence and their children. Liberty Ukraine Foundation says it provides humanitarian aid to people affected by war or disaster. Broadway Bound Kids says it inspires youth through performing arts education in a transformative and inclusive environment.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave 20 grants totaling $342,580. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $60,000, with a median grant of $12,600.
Notable 2025 grants included $60,000 to Shenandoah University Scholarship for scholarship programs; $50,000 to Winchester Education Foundation for the Patsy Cline Theater Project; $35,000 to Dementia Matters for dementia training and support programs; and $25,000 to Stafford Regional Handbell Society for after-school programs and scholarships. Other grants included $22,080 to an individual recipient for daycare scholarships, $20,000 each to Empowerhouse, STEP VA, and South Loudon Youth Chorale, and $15,300 to Liberty Ukraine Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gerald McNichols, G. Robert McNichols Jr., Katherine Loftis, and Melissa Cardon as directors.
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
G ROBERT MCNICHOLS Jr.
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gerald And Paula McNichols
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Loftis
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Cardon
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation
How much does Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation give each year?
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation gave $343K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $250K across 19 grants.
What is Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,600, and its average grant was $17,129, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation give grants?
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Alabama (7%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winchester, VA (4 grants), Fredericksburg, VA (4 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Shenandoah University Scholarship ($60,000), Winchester Education Foundation ($50,000) and Dementia Matters ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($37,080), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation?
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation reported $8.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $399K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $394K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included scholarship programs and support for education, performing arts, music, dementia training and support, domestic violence education, and summer camps. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's EIN?
Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1973996. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gerald-and-paula-mcnichols-family-foundation-morg_a2e75d9e308948b8b1010a7680bb6feb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541973996_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gerald-and-paula-mcnichols-family-foundation-morg_a2e75d9e308948b8b1010a7680bb6feb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gerald and Paula McNichols Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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