Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Bluefield, WV. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $774K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $74K. Net investment income was $63K.
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc gave $74K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in West Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $74,400
- +13.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,300
- +70.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,500
- Total assets
- $773,826
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (100% 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 Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wellspring of Greenbrier Inc ($30K). Together the top 7 received $71K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 58 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% 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 $64K (2021) to $74K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $74K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wellspring of Greenbrier Inc Rupert, WV | Food Services for Low Income Individuals | $30,000 |
| Communities in the Schools of Greenbrier CO Lewisburg, WV | Student Dropout Prevention | $16,900 |
| Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Lewisburg, WV | Charitable | $9,500 |
| Old Stone Presbyterian Church Lewisburg, WV | Pledge for Roof Replacement | $6,000 |
| Family Refuge Center Lewisburg, WV | Charitable | $3,000 |
| Greater Greenbrier Valley Community Fdn Lewisburg, WV | Alumnae association memorial grove upkeep and maintenance and mary b nickell fine arts fund | $3,000 |
| Lewisburg Literary Group Lewisburg, WV | Charitable | $3,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $3,000 |
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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 | $773,826 | $75,238 | $90,679 | $74,400 | 8 | $75,469 | $62,851 | $79,553 |
| 2024 | $789,267 | $122,621 | $78,426 | $65,500 | 12 | $66,555 | $110,775 | $74,870 |
| 2023 | $745,072 | $31,698 | $82,807 | $70,470 | 12 | $71,515 | $27,066 | $68,092 |
| 2022 | $796,181 | $55,050 | $85,196 | $70,000 | 15 | $71,013 | $43,345 | $70,224 |
| 2021 | $826,327 | $117,569 | $76,680 | $64,000 | 11 | $64,975 | $105,889 | $73,114 |
| 2020 | $785,438 | $29,435 | $76,683 | $64,500 | 11 | — | $18,791 | $63,348 |
| 2019 | $832,686 | $83,391 | $80,193 | $68,140 | 24 | — | $72,338 | $66,609 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $80K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc is led by Aaron Ambler, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Aaron Ambler
President
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$200 (2019) → $200 (2025)
Beth Kemper Wharton
Board Member
President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$200 (2019) → $200 (2025)
Sherry Ferrell
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$200 (2019) → $200 (2025)
Thomas Wharton
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$200 (2025)
Julie Johnson
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Elizabeth Sudduth (2019–2024) — Board Member
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 $200, to Aaron Ambler (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc
How much does Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc give each year?
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc gave $74K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $66K across 12 grants.
What is Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $4,500, and its average grant was $9,300, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc give grants?
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc gives mostly in West Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lewisburg, WV (6 grants).
Does Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (3 grants).
Who are Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Wellspring of Greenbrier Inc ($30,000), Communities in the Schools of Greenbrier CO ($16,900) and Greenbrier Valley Aquatic ($9,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc?
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc reported $774K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $75K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $80K (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 Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc?
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Bluefield, WV. It holds $774K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc's EIN?
Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1185471. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
Live grants for the work Mary B Nickell Foundation Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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