Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Fort Lauderdale, FL EIN: 26-3923755

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $132K. Net investment income was $35K.

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc gave $132K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$131,516
+22.7% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
6
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$21,919
+22.7% vs 2024
Median grant
$26,303
Total assets
$1,812,864
-5.6% vs 2024
Primary geography
Florida (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2025

Cardboard Project: $26KCardboard Project$26KBeyond Nine Cat Rescue Inc: $26KBeyond Nine Cat Rescue Inc$26KCanine Assisted Therapy Inc: $26KCanine Assisted Therapy Inc$26KShartlesville Community Fire Company 1: $26KShartlesville Community FireCompany 1$26KHundred Club of Broward County Inc: $13KHundred Club of Broward CountyInc$13KTunnel to Towers Foundation: $13KTunnel to Towers Foundation$13K

The largest 2025 recipient was Cardboard Project ($26K). Together the top 6 received $132K.

Grant Size Distribution

27 grants across all recorded years

27<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 27 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.

Cities

Fort LauderdalePlanoPompano BeachOakland ParkShartlesvilleStaten IslandBoca Raton

How Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K4 grants2020 4 grants2021 5 grants2022 6 grants2023 6 grants2024 6 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $107K (2024) to $132K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $132K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cardboard Project Plano, TXConnects individualsto opportunities service and technology$26,303
Beyond Nine Cat Rescue Inc Pompano Beach, FLShelter and pet adoption$26,303
Canine Assisted Therapy Inc Oakland Park, FLTherapy for individuals$26,303
Shartlesville Community Fire Company 1 Shartlesville, PACommunity fireprotection$26,303
Hundred Club of Broward County Inc Fort Lauderdale, FLprovides financialsupport for firefightersand officers in need$13,152
Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NYprovide services to first responders$13,152
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$1,812,864$76,277$183,909$131,5166$141,766$35,450$151,042
2024$1,920,496$128,393$150,381$107,1666$114,390$94,709$138,740
2023$1,942,484$74,607$157,409$111,7346$121,934$39,457$117,366
2022$2,025,286$67,898$162,944$122,3405$129,540$34,494$118,935
2021$2,120,332$102,353$150,326$109,0404$116,190$68,217$129,489
2020$2,168,305$23,235$153,841$115,3524—$17,215$116,190

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $151K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc is led by Daria Pekic, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Daria Pekic

    President

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

  • Jacwen Jones

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Patricia Horkan

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

  • Pam Feltus

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

  • Valerie Wagner

    Vice President

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Valerie Matthews (2020–2022) — Vice President
  • Former: Barbara Bihus (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Mary Martin (2020–2021) — Director

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.

Frequently asked questions about Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc

How much does Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc give each year?

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc gave $132K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $107K across 6 grants.

What is Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $26,303, and its average grant was $21,919, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc give grants?

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (20%) and Pennsylvania (20%).

Does Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cardboard Project ($26,303), Beyond Nine Cat Rescue Inc ($26,303) and Canine Assisted Therapy Inc ($26,303), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc?

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $142K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $151K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc?

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2025.

What is Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's EIN?

Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3923755. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 9, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 25, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 31, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 3, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Joan Leslie Nichols Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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