Joanne Nicolay Foundation
Joanne Nicolay Foundation is a private foundation, based in Grosse Pointe, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $15K. Net investment income was $46K.
Joanne Nicolay Foundation at a glance
In short: Joanne Nicolay Foundation gave $15K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,500
- -74.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -46.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,813
- -52.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,377,889
- -1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (86% 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 Joanne Nicolay Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was De La Salle High School ($5K). Together the top 8 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 57 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Joanne Nicolay Foundation gives
- Giving fell 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 72% 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2019) to $262K (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| De La Salle High School Warren, MI | Daniel Staperfene Endowment | $5,000 |
| The Helm - Meals on Wheels Grosse Pointe Farms, MI | General Support | $2,500 |
| Regina High School Warren, MI | General Support | $2,000 |
| Detroit Goodfellows Detroit, MI | General Support | $1,000 |
| Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Neighborhood Club Grosse Pointe, MI | General Support | $1,000 |
| Detroit Symphony Orchestra Detroit, MI | General Support | $1,000 |
| George W Bush Presidential Center Dallas, TX | General Support | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,377,889 | $58,087 | $86,132 | $14,500 | 8 | $70,412 | $45,959 | $97,593 |
| 2024 | $1,400,350 | $58,751 | $141,983 | $57,500 | 15 | $112,382 | $45,169 | $99,737 |
| 2023 | $1,422,326 | $435,232 | $352,760 | $262,000 | 11 | $324,983 | $419,613 | $103,637 |
| 2022 | $1,420,233 | $956,845 | $192,859 | $104,000 | 19 | $172,936 | $936,922 | $90,270 |
| 2021 | $1,010,301 | $216,527 | $136,235 | $77,500 | 4 | $90,722 | $207,522 | $85,577 |
| 2020 | $1,078,009 | $113,184 | $226,582 | $179,500 | 21 | — | $93,670 | $88,104 |
| 2019 | $1,191,407 | $45,821 | $53,571 | $8,950 | 5 | — | $23,509 | $92,278 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joanne Nicolay Foundation reported a distributable amount of $98K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Joanne Nicolay Foundation is led by S. Gary Spicer Sr., President on every filing since 2019; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
S. Gary Spicer Sr.
President
On filings since 2019
12 hrs/week
$32K (2019) → $36K (2025)
Keith R. Shreve
Trustee
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$1K (2019) → $12K (2025)
Kristie Shreve
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$1K (2021) → $12K (2025)
Leah Haffey
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$3K (2019) → $0 (2025)
John Mabley
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$500 (2024) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Edward Zionkowski (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Kristie Phillips (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $36K, to S Gary Spicer Sr (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Joanne Nicolay Foundation
How much does Joanne Nicolay Foundation give each year?
Joanne Nicolay Foundation gave $15K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $58K across 15 grants.
What is Joanne Nicolay Foundation's typical grant size?
Joanne Nicolay Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,813, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Joanne Nicolay Foundation give grants?
Joanne Nicolay Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (7%) and Texas (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Warren, MI (2 grants) and Detroit, MI (2 grants).
Does Joanne Nicolay Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Joanne Nicolay Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joanne Nicolay Foundation's largest grantees?
Joanne Nicolay Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include De La Salle High School ($5,000), The Helm - Meals on Wheels ($2,500) and Regina High School ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joanne Nicolay Foundation?
Joanne Nicolay Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $70K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $98K (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 Joanne Nicolay Foundation's EIN?
Joanne Nicolay Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3302112. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Joanne Nicolay Foundation funds
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