Grace S and W Linton Nelson

RADNOR, PA EIN: 22-2583922

The Grace S and W Linton Nelson Foundation is a private independent foundation established in September 1985 and based in Radnor, Pennsylvania. The foundation makes grants and provides financial support to organizations aligned with its mission of expanding opportunities for children and youth.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$21.8M

+2.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$810K

-0.1% YoY

Grant Count

+1.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

-1.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grace S and W Linton Nelson reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Current priorities include programs that:

Fill gaps in life skills education and experiences for children and youth that will prepare them for success in their personal lives, in education, in the workplace, and in their communities
Invest in new ideas and new resources that will benefit children and youth
Provide for unmet needs of children and youth, the lack of which may hinder their development

Primary funding interests include:

Education
Social & Human Services
Arts & Culture

Grantmaking

The foundation makes grants for program funding and emergency funds. Recent grantmaking activity shows the foundation distributed approximately $810,000 to $1.4 million annually in recent years.

Grant Range

$1,000 to $100,000

Average Grant

amount: approximately $13,000

Grant Types

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation provides support primarily in Pennsylvania, with a focus on Chester and Delaware counties. Grantmaking also reaches organizations in New York, Hawaii, and North Carolina.

Grant Distribution by State

Pennsylvania $3.1M (99%)

New York $23K (1%)

North Carolina $4K (0%)

Hawaii $3K (0%)

States

District of Columbia Hawaii North Carolina New York Pennsylvania

Cities

AmblerAshevilleBrooklynBryn MawrChesterCoatesvilleDrexel HillHonoluluKennett SquareLansdowneMediaNew YorkNew York CityNewtown SquareNorristownPaoliParkesburgPhiladelphiaPhoenixvillePlymouth Meeting

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 2023:

Total Assets: $21,225,938 (ledger value)
Annual Income: $5,627,216
Total Revenues: $613,891
Total Expenses: $1,446,858
Total Liabilities: $0

Historical Asset Growth:

2011: $16.7 million
2024: $21.8 million

The foundation is ranked #881 among Pennsylvania foundations by assets and ranks in the top 10% of all U.S. foundations by asset size.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$21,832,598	$21,225,938	$20,106,270
Revenue	$1,041,087	$613,891	$1,890,218
Expenses	$1,521,799	$1,446,858	$1,371,322
Qualifying Distributions	$1,428,115	$1,310,484	$1,261,431
Net Investment Income	$937,669	$503,769	$1,712,685
Distributable Amount	$1,040,153	$1,000,416	$1,040,800

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

250 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

2 open opportunities from Grace S and W Linton Nelson

Foundation

Nelson Foundation: Change Champions Grant Program

GRACE S AND W LINTON NELSON

Amount

US $10,000 - US $40,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Nelson Foundation: Core Grant Program

GRACE S AND W LINTON NELSON

Amount

US $60,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Parkesburg Point Youth Center ($60,000), 12 ($20,000), Asian Americans United ($20,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
12 PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$20,000
ACHIEVE NOW PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,000
ACHIEVE NOW PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,000
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PARTNERSHIP PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,000
AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,000
APOLOGUES CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA	DIRECTORS GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING	$5,000
ASIAN AMERICANS UNITED PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$20,000
BEYOND THE BARS PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING GRANT	$20,000
BIG PICTURE ALLIANCE PHILADELPHIA, PA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$20,000
BLACK GIRLS LOVE MATH PHILADELPHIA, PA	DIRECTOR'S GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING	$2,500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Alexandra Aldridge - President (40 hours/week)
Donna S Lindner - Chair
Meliza A Reynoso - Secretary
Antonio C Williams - Treasurer
Jenny Snyder - Grant Director (32 hours/week)
Nikole Y Smith - Director
Sonya W Weigle - Director
Carlos Aponte - Director
Leigh Anne McKelvey - Director
Fred C Aldridge Jr - In Care of Name (listed on mailing address)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
ALEXANDRA ALDRIDGE	PRESIDENT	40	$267,447
DONNA S LINDNER	CHAIR	2	—
MELIZA A REYNOSO	SECRETARY	1	—
NIKOLE Y SMITH	DIRECTOR	1	—
SONYA W WEIGLE	DIRECTOR	1	—
ANTONIO C WILLIAMS	TREASURER	1.5	—
CARLOS APONTE	DIRECTOR	1	—
LEIGH ANNE MCKELVEY	DIRECTOR	1.5	—

Contact Information

Mailing Address: 150 North Radnor Chester Road, Suite F200 Radnor, PA 19087-5245

Phone: (610) 977-2488

Website: www.nelsonfoundationpa.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Grace S and W Linton Nelson fund?

The foundation's mission is to expand opportunities for children and youth to become responsible, productive and engaged members of their communities. The foundation supports organizations that improve the academic, character and leadership development of children and youth. Current priorities include programs that: • Fill gaps in life skills education and experiences for children and youth that will prepare them for success in their personal lives, in education, in the workplace, and in their …

How do I apply for a grant from Grace S and W Linton Nelson?

The foundation makes grants for program funding and emergency funds. Recent grantmaking activity shows the foundation distributed approximately $810,000 to $1.4 million annually in recent years. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000 to $100,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 to $13,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $13,000 • Recent annual grant count: 54 to 168 grants per year **Grant Types:** • General Operating Support • Capacity Building • Director's Grant - Genera…

Where does Grace S and W Linton Nelson make grants?

The foundation provides support primarily in Pennsylvania, with a focus on Chester and Delaware counties. Grantmaking also reaches organizations in New York, Hawaii, and North Carolina.

What size grants does Grace S and W Linton Nelson award?

In 2024, Grace S and W Linton Nelson awarded 64 grants totaling $810K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Grace S and W Linton Nelson required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grace S and W Linton Nelson reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.