Nelson Family Foundation
Nelson Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Stowe, VT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $968K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $49K. Net investment income was $45K.
Nelson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Nelson Family Foundation gave $49K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $48,943
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,314
- -6.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $968,152
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (59% 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 Nelson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rooted Wisdom Africa ($20K). Together the top 3 received $49K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 20 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Nelson Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 76% 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 $49K (2025) to $70K (2024). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $49K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rooted Wisdom Africa Denver, CO | General Support | $20,293 |
| The OR Foundation Cambridge, MD | General Support | $20,000 |
| Africa Development Promise Denver, CO | General Support | $8,650 |
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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 | $968,152 | $50,910 | $58,162 | $48,943 | 3 | $48,943 | $45,250 | $64,014 |
| 2024 | $975,404 | $63,454 | $78,742 | $69,955 | 4 | $69,955 | $58,168 | $60,113 |
| 2023 | $990,692 | $65,101 | $65,465 | $58,000 | 5 | $58,000 | $60,136 | $55,370 |
| 2022 | $991,056 | $10,055 | $74,270 | $65,000 | 4 | $65,000 | $16,872 | $58,052 |
| 2021 | $1,055,271 | $87,816 | $67,856 | $59,000 | 4 | $59,000 | $81,785 | $65,103 |
| 2020 | $1,035,311 | $64,816 | $67,048 | $57,000 | 1 | — | $58,642 | $58,137 |
| 2019 | $1,037,543 | $58,219 | $67,102 | $57,000 | 1 | — | $52,179 | $57,280 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nelson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $64K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Nelson Family Foundation is led by Clea James, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Clea James
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Ingrid Broad
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Nelson Family Foundation
How much does Nelson Family Foundation give each year?
Nelson Family Foundation gave $49K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $70K across 4 grants.
What is Nelson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Nelson Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $16,314, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Nelson Family Foundation give grants?
Nelson Family Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (41%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (2 grants).
Does Nelson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Nelson Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Nelson Family Foundation?
Nelson Family Foundation reported $968K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $49K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $64K (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 Nelson Family Foundation's EIN?
Nelson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4120076. 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 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
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