Grace S and W Linton Nelson
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
64
+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.
Mission & Focus Areas
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 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
Cities
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.
| 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
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.
What is Grace S and W Linton Nelson's EIN?
Grace S and W Linton Nelson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2583922. 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.
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