Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation
The Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation is a private foundation based in Rockford, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with each listed grant assigned the purpose “CIVIC.”
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation at a glance
In short: Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation gave $28K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $27,500
- -41.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,292
- -27.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $93,653
- -22.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3803 Tallwood Ave, Rockford, IL 61114
Phone: (815) 494-3538
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Marsh Cemetary Association ($5K). Together the top 10 received $27K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 53 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 18% to Texas, 7% to New York, and 4% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 297% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2020) to $47K (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $28K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh Cemetary Association Rockford, IL | CIVIC | $5,000 |
| Second Congregational Church Rockford, IL | CIVIC | $5,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America Irving, TX | CIVIC | $5,000 |
| Keith Country Day School Rockford, IL | CIVIC | $3,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Staten Island, NY | CIVIC | $2,000 |
| YMCA of Rock River Valley Rockford, IL | CIVIC | $2,000 |
| Friends of Coranado Foundation Rockford, IL | CIVIC | $2,000 |
| Hope Village - Tiny Housing Alterna Chippewa Falls, WI | CIVIC | $1,000 |
| Catholic Diocese of Rockford Rockford, IL | CIVIC | $1,000 |
| Shatter Our Silence Rockford, IL | CIVIC | $500 |
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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 | $93,653 | $32,685 | $60,122 | $27,500 | 12 | $27,500 | $2,685 | $9,265 |
| 2024 | $121,090 | $37,210 | $90,376 | $47,250 | 15 | $47,250 | — | $11,351 |
| 2023 | $174,256 | $51,760 | $40,288 | $18,100 | 7 | $18,100 | $31,760 | $13,269 |
| 2022 | $162,784 | $8,283 | $44,974 | $19,950 | 9 | $19,950 | — | $16,393 |
| 2021 | $199,475 | $41,140 | $46,640 | $25,500 | 10 | $25,500 | $25,140 | $18,301 |
| 2020 | $204,975 | $27,458 | $25,173 | $7,250 | 11 | — | $11,458 | $17,804 |
| 2019 | $202,690 | $18,805 | $17,219 | $8,600 | 9 | — | $12,305 | $16,382 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including schools, churches, youth organizations, and community organizations. For example, Keith Country Day School describes its mission as preparing children for lives of meaning and purpose. The YMCA of Rock River Valley says its programs focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Boy Scouts of America describes Circle Ten Council’s purpose as promoting and extending Scouting in northeast Texas and southeast Oklahoma, with programs intended to build character, teach participatory citizenship, and support personal fitness. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $27,500 through 12 grants. Grants ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median grant of $2,000. Notable grants included $5,000 each to Marsh Cemetery Association, Second Congregational Church, and Boy Scouts of America; $3,000 to Keith Country Day School; and $2,000 each to Tunnel to Towers, YMCA of Rock River Valley, and Friends of Coranado Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nobel D Olson is listed as a director on the 2025 filing.
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation is led by Nobel D. Olson, Director on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nobel D. Olson
Director
On filings since 2019
$7K (2019) → $30K (2025)
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 $30K, to Nobel D Olson (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation
How much does Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation give each year?
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation gave $28K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $47K across 15 grants.
What is Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation's typical grant size?
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,292, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation give grants?
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (18%) and New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rockford, IL (7 grants).
Does Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic" (12 grants).
Who are Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation's largest grantees?
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Marsh Cemetary Association ($5,000), Second Congregational Church ($5,000) and Boy Scouts of America ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation?
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation reported $94K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $28K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including schools, churches, youth organizations, and community organizations. For example, Keith Country Day School describes its mission as preparing children for lives of meaning and purpose. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nancy Nichols Olson 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 Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation's EIN?
Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4108737. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 August 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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