James and Aune Nelson Foundation
The James and Aune Nelson Foundation is a private foundation based in Godfrey, Illinois. In 2022, it reported 10 grants totaling $1,095,500, including support for organizations in Illinois and Missouri.
Key facts about James and Aune Nelson Foundation
In short: James and Aune Nelson Foundation gave $1.1M across 10 grants in 2022 (avg $110K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 37-1371840
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022
- Annual giving (2022)
- $1,095,500
- Grants made (2022)
- 10
- Average grant
- $109,550
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $18,682,295
- Primary geography
- Illinois (99% of itemized 2022 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, 2022; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.7M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+9.3% YoY
Grant Count
10
-23.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$110K
+42.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Aune Nelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How James and Aune Nelson Foundation gives
- In 2022 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2022 grants included general operating support and grants for purposes such as a legal defense fund, educator grant, water diversion project, and burn equipment.
One recipient, TreeHouse Wildlife Center, describes its mission as rehabilitating injured and abused wildlife and returning animals to their surroundings when their condition permits.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation gave 10 grants totaling $1,095,500. Grant sizes ranged from $2,000 to $595,000, with a median grant of $22,500.
Grant Range
s ranged from $2,000 to $595,000, with a median grant of $22,500.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 1% to recipients in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 10 itemized 2022 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $969K (2020) to $1.1M (2022). In 2022 it made 10 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was The Natrue Institute ($595K). Together the top 9 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 38 (76%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Natrue Institute Godfrey, IL | General Operations | $595,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Alton, IL | General Operations | $200,000 |
| Great Rivers Land Trust Alton, IL | General Operations | $193,000 |
| Great Rivers Land Trust Alton, IL | Legal Defense Fund | $27,500 |
| Mississippi River Confluence East Alton, IL | General Operations | $25,000 |
| Treehouse Wildlife Center Inc Dow, IL | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Riverlands Audubon Center West Alton, MO | Educator Grant | $15,000 |
| Friends of Pere Marquette Grafton, IL | Water Diversion Project | $13,000 |
| Lewis & Clark Community College Godfrey, IL | Ngrrec Operations | $5,000 |
| Southern Illinois Prescribed Burn Golconda, IL | Burn Equipment | $2,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $18,682,295 | $556,507 | $1,263,712 | $1,095,500 |
| 2021 | $19,376,803 | $2,068,390 | $1,183,999 | $1,002,405 |
| 2020 | $18,485,976 | $790,481 | $1,136,425 | $968,950 |
| Metric | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,682,295 | $19,376,803 | $18,485,976 |
| Revenue | $556,507 | $2,068,390 | $790,481 |
| Expenses | $1,263,712 | $1,183,999 | $1,136,425 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,102,958 | $1,017,051 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $353,752 | $1,709,164 | $641,231 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,075,072 | $1,173,344 | $1,040,218 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Matt Schrimpf as president, Robert McClellan as secretary, and Cory Gallivan as treasurer. It lists Rick Dyer, Warren Copple, Amitie Flynn, John Lovseth, Lisa Nielsen, and Anita Cooper as directors.
James and Aune Nelson Foundation is led by Matt Schrimpf, President on the 2022 filing; none of the 9 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Matt Schrimpf
President
New on the 2022 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anita Cooper
Director
Vice President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amitie Flynn
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Lovseth
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Nielsen
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Dyer
Director
Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Warren Copple
Director
New on the 2022 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert McClellan
Secretary
Treasurer → Director, 2021
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cory Gallivan
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Craig Dixon (2021) — Director
- Former: Richard Snyder (2021) — Director
- Former: Dianne White (2020) — Director
- Former: Felicia Breen (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Laura Asher (2020) — Director
- Former: Mike Fitzgerald (2020) — President
- Former: Patti Brown (2020) — Director
- Former: Shannon Briggs (2020) — Director
- Former: Steve Thompson (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 5146, Godfrey, IL 62035
Phone: (618) 463-0700
Frequently asked questions about James and Aune Nelson Foundation
How much does James and Aune Nelson Foundation give each year?
James and Aune Nelson Foundation gave $1.1M across 10 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $1.0M across 13 grants.
What is James and Aune Nelson Foundation's typical grant size?
James and Aune Nelson Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $22,500, and its average grant was $109,550, across 10 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does James and Aune Nelson Foundation give grants?
James and Aune Nelson Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Alton, IL (3 grants) and Godfrey, IL (2 grants).
Does James and Aune Nelson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of James and Aune Nelson Foundation's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James and Aune Nelson Foundation's largest grantees?
James and Aune Nelson Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include The Natrue Institute ($595,000), Great Rivers Land Trust ($220,500 across 2 grants) and Sierra Club Foundation ($200,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is James and Aune Nelson Foundation?
James and Aune Nelson Foundation reported $18.7M in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James and Aune Nelson Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2022 grants included general operating support and grants for purposes such as a legal defense fund, educator grant, water diversion project, and burn equipment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James and Aune Nelson 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 James and Aune Nelson Foundation's EIN?
James and Aune Nelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1371840. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Does James and Aune Nelson 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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