Nelsons Family Foundation
Nelsons Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Redding, Connecticut (EIN 26-1726820). The organization has held tax-exempt status since July 2008 and operates as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization classified under the NTEE code T20 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations).
Key facts about Nelsons Family Foundation
In short: Nelsons Family Foundation gave $116K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in New York. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 26-1726820
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $115,983
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- Average grant
- $3,314
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (11 of 35, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,708,957
- Primary geography
- New York (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$116K
+1.3% YoY
Grant Count
35
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-1.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nelsons Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $66K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Nelsons Family Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 35 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 185% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, arts and culture, and Jewish causes. Recent grant descriptions indicate support for ballet, theatre, research, parks, and Jewish organizations and institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations. In fiscal year 2023, the foundation made 35 grants totaling approximately $143,000, with a median grant size of $2,500. Grant sizes typically range from under $10,000 (30 grants totaling $75,000) to $10,000–$50,000 (5 grants totaling $68,000). The largest individual grant in FY2023 was $20,000.
Grant Range
of $2,500. Grant sizes typically range from under $10,000 (30 grants totaling $75,000) to $10,000–$50,000 (5 grants totaling $68,000). The largest individual grant in FY2023 was $20,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grants reach 10 states, with significant concentration in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Florida. Primary funding areas include New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 35 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TRINITY SCHOOL New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| PARK AVENUE SYNOGOGUE New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $18,600 |
| HARVARD HILLEL Cambridge, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $9,508 |
| CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,650 |
| AMERICANS FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING HOSPITAL New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| VASSAR COLLEGE Poughkeepsie, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| WILLIAMS COLLEGE ALUMNI FUND Williamstown, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,600 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (FY2025)
- Total Assets: $1,708,957
- Total Revenue: $165,793
- Net Assets: $1,708,957
Revenue Composition (FY2025)
- Contributions Received: $150,000 (90.5%)
- Dividends: $4,511 (2.7%)
- Sales of Assets: $11,079 (6.7%)
- Interest Revenue: $51 (0.0%)
- Other Income: $152 (0.1%)
Expenses (FY2025)
- Charitable Disbursements: $122,985 (98.3% of total expenses)
- Total Expenses: $125,054
Historical Asset Growth Assets have grown from $682,548 in June 2013 to $1,708,957 in June 2025.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,708,957 | $1,666,342 | $681,310 |
| Revenue | $165,793 | $1,100,819 | $161,249 |
| Expenses | $125,054 | $115,779 | $144,229 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $122,985 | $114,464 | $142,573 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,737 | $12,675 | $17,427 |
| Distributable Amount | $66,494 | $59,911 | $31,549 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- 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)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by three volunteer trustees, including Michael Nelson and Steven Nelson. No officers receive compensation.
Nelsons Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amanda Mandel
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Renee Nelson (2021–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact Information
Address: 50 Chalburn Close, Redding, CT 06896-1830
Frequently asked questions about Nelsons Family Foundation
How much does Nelsons Family Foundation give each year?
Nelsons Family Foundation gave $116K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $114K across 34 grants.
What is Nelsons Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Nelsons Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,314, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nelsons Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Nelsons Family Foundation give grants?
Nelsons Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (20 grants) and Warren, CT (2 grants).
Does Nelsons Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Nelsons Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Nelsons Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Nelsons Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Trinity School ($20,000), Park Avenue Synogogue ($18,600) and Harvard Hillel ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Nelsons Family Foundation?
Nelsons Family Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $123K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Nelsons Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, arts and culture, and Jewish causes. Recent grant descriptions indicate support for ballet, theatre, research, parks, and Jewish organizations and institutions.
How do I apply for a grant from Nelsons Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations. In fiscal year 2023, the foundation made 35 grants totaling approximately $143,000, with a median grant size of $2,500. Grant sizes typically range from under $10,000 (30 grants totaling $75,000) to $10,000–$50,000 (5 grants totaling $68,000). The largest individual grant in FY2023 was $20,000. **Recent Grantees (FY2023)** Notable recipients include Trinity School ($20,000), Par…
What is Nelsons Family Foundation's EIN?
Nelsons Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1726820. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Nelsons Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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