James and Aune Nelson Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Godfrey, IL EIN: 37-1371840

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.

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

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

2states

Share of all 10 itemized 2022 grant dollars.

Cities

AltonGodfreyEast AltonWest AltonDowGraftonGolconda

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M15 grants202013 grants202110 grants2022

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 Natrue Institute: $595KThe Natrue Institute$595KGreat Rivers Land Trust: $221K across 2 grantsGreat Rivers Land Trust$221K · 2 grantsSierra Club Foundation: $200KSierra Club Foundation$200KMississippi River Confluence: $25KMississippi River Confluence$25KTreehouse Wildlife Center Inc: $20KTreehouse Wildlife Center Inc$20KRiverlands Audubon Center: $15KRiverlands Audubon Center$15KFriends of Pere Marquette: $13KFriends of Pere Marquette$13KLewis & Clark Community College: $5KLewis & Clark CommunityCollege$5KSouthern Illinois Prescribed Burn: $2KSouthern Illinois PrescribedBurn$2K

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

29<$50K$50–100K6$100–250K1$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 38 (76%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Natrue Institute Godfrey, ILGeneral Operations$595,000
Sierra Club Foundation Alton, ILGeneral Operations$200,000
Great Rivers Land Trust Alton, ILGeneral Operations$193,000
Great Rivers Land Trust Alton, ILLegal Defense Fund$27,500
Mississippi River Confluence East Alton, ILGeneral Operations$25,000
Treehouse Wildlife Center Inc Dow, ILGeneral Operations$20,000
Riverlands Audubon Center West Alton, MOEducator Grant$15,000
Friends of Pere Marquette Grafton, ILWater Diversion Project$13,000
Lewis & Clark Community College Godfrey, ILNgrrec Operations$5,000
Southern Illinois Prescribed Burn Golconda, ILBurn 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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M202020212022
Metric202220212020
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

  1. 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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