Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 84-3968467

The HARRIET H NICOL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It reported 14 grants totaling $212,000 in 2025, supporting preselected charitable organizations; it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Key facts about Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation

In short: Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation gave $212K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), top state Massachusetts. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
84-3968467
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$212,000
Grants made (2025)
14
Average grant
$15,143
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2025)
Total assets
$3,648,465
Primary geography
Massachusetts (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
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. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.6M

-2.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$212K

+5.5% YoY

Grant Count

14

+7.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

-2.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $219K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?

7%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $16K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for schools and colleges, as well as organizations working in mental health, adoption, healthcare, international relief, and heritage preservation.

Among the 2025 grantees, The Chestnut Hill School describes its mission as educating children through academic excellence, diversity, and community. The Madeira School says it prepares girls in grades nine through twelve for leadership, while The Winsor School says it prepares young women to pursue their aspirations and contribute to the world. Fountain House describes its work as creating community, innovation, and social change so people most impacted by serious mental illness can lead connected and healthy lives.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $212,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest reported grants included $50,000 to Bryn Mawr College for the “Harriet Nicol Endowed” purpose; $40,000 to The Chestnut Hill School for renovation; $35,000 to The Madeira School for its equestrian center; and $30,000 to The Winsor School for its annual fund.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (35%), Pennsylvania (24%), New York (22%), Virginia (17%), and Kentucky (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkBostonBryn MawrChestnut HillMcLeanVersaillesHarpers FerryWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K10 grants2020 13 grants2021 13 grants2022 10 grants2023 13 grants2024 14 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $160K (2020) to $271K (2021). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $212K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Bryn Mawr College: $50KBryn Mawr College$50KThe Chestnut Hill School: $40KThe Chestnut Hill School$40KThe Madeira School: $35KThe Madeira School$35KThe Winsor School: $30KThe Winsor School$30KFountain House: $10KFountain House$10KSpence-Chapin Services: $10KSpence-Chapin Services$10KDoctors Without Borders: $5KDoctors Without Borders$5KEpiscopal Charities of New York: $5KEpiscopal Charities of NewYork$5KEpiscopal Relief and Development: $5KEpiscopal Relief andDevelopment$5KFrontier Nursing University: $5KFrontier Nursing University$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Bryn Mawr College ($50K). Together the top 10 received $195K.

Grant Size Distribution

63 grants across all recorded years

59<$50K4$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 63 (94%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PAHarriet Nicol Endowed$50,000
The Chestnut Hill School Chestnut Hill, MARenovation of the Early$40,000
The Madeira School McLean, VAEquestrian Center$35,000
The Winsor School Boston, MAAnnual Fund with Preference$30,000
Fountain House New York, NYGeneral Purposes$10,000
Spence-Chapin Services New York, NYSpecial Needs Adoption$10,000
Doctors Without Borders New York, NYGeneral Purposes$5,000
Episcopal Charities of New York New York, NYBulk Buying Program for$5,000
Episcopal Relief and Development New York, NYGlobal Needs Fund$5,000
Frontier Nursing University Versailles, KYGeneral Purposes$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $3,648,465 $175,448 $251,489 $212,000
2024 $3,724,602 $168,932 $237,156 $201,000
2023 $3,797,022 $78,915 $234,357 $200,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$3,648,465$3,724,602$3,797,022
Revenue$175,448$168,932$78,915
Expenses$251,489$237,156$234,357
Qualifying Distributions$236,289$225,315$222,338
Net Investment Income$163,488$157,257$86,626
Distributable Amount$218,524$213,598$204,265

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Sarah M Allen and Robert G Bannish as trustees.

Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Robert G. Bannish

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $10K (2020) → $15K (2025)

  • Sarah M. Allen

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $10K (2020) → $15K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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

Sarah M Allen — Trustee: $15KSarah M AllenTrustee$15KRobert G Bannish — Trustee: $15KRobert G BannishTrustee$15K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $15K, to Sarah M Allen (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: Rhb Inc 1 Federal St Fl 25, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 227-1782

Frequently asked questions about Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation

How much does Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation give each year?

Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation gave $212K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $201K across 13 grants.

What is Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $15,143, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation give grants?

Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (24%) and New York (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (8 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).

Does Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 43% of Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?

Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Bryn Mawr College ($50,000), The Chestnut Hill School ($40,000) and The Madeira School ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation?

Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $236K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $219K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for schools and colleges, as well as organizations working in mental health, adoption, healthcare, international relief, and heritage preservation. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Harriet H Nicol Charitable 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 Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3968467. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Harriet H Nicol Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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