Nicholson Family Foundation
The Nicholson Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on supporting nonprofit organizations through grant-making activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$902K
+6.9% YoY
Grant Count
156
-3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+10.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to champion organizations that create opportunities for local underserved youth in arts, education, and social services.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Education
- Health
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
Average Grant
amount varies by funding cycle
Review Cycle
June 1
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include Minnesota, Colorado, and the District of Columbia, with particular emphasis on Northern California communities (San Francisco to Santa Cruz region) and local underserved youth.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $15,414,714
- Total Giving: $902,138
- Total Revenues: $1,949,605
- Total Expenses: $1,105,184
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $14.9 Million
- Revenue: $827,000
- Expenses: $953,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Commonbond Communities ($34,401), George Washington University ($25,000), Allina Health Foundation ($24,467).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| AFS INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMS USA AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| AFTON PRESS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| ALLINA HEALTH FOUNDATION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $24,467 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS TWIN CITIES AREA AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $6,000 |
| ANCIENT FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS OF MINNESOTA 0003 ST PAUL LODGE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| BELWIN CONSERVANCY AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| BGCI-US AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $3,500 |
| BILL BETCHEY MEMORIAL FUND AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | SCHOLARSHIPS | $1,250 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE TWIN CITIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $8,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD H NICHOLSON | PRESIDENT | 2 | $25,000 |
| DAVID O NICHOLSON | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| FORD J NICHOLSON | SECRETARY | — | — |
| TODD S NICHOLSON | TREASURER | — | — |
| PONDIE N TAYLOR | MANAGER/ADVISOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 6 5th Street West, Suite 200 Saint Paul, MN 55102-1490 United States
Telephone: 651-290-0549
EIN: 41-1572346
Tax-Exempt Status: Designated 501(c)(3), tax-exempt since April 1987
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nicholson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to champion organizations that create opportunities for local underserved youth in arts, education, and social services. Primary funding areas include: • Arts, Culture & Humanities • Education • Health • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Nicholson Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 183 grants in the most recent year • Typical grant awards range from $30 to $64,606 • Average grant amount varies by funding cycle • Median grant amount varies by funding cycle **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Ramsey County Historical Society: $61,556 (Capital Campaign) • Commonbond Communities: $34,401 (General Operations) • Amherst H Wilder Foundation: $32,312 (Endowment) **Application Process:** • Letter of Inquiry submission deadline: June 1 • Proposals accepte…
Where does Nicholson Family Foundation make grants?
Primary funding areas include Minnesota, Colorado, and the District of Columbia, with particular emphasis on Northern California communities (San Francisco to Santa Cruz region) and local underserved youth.
What size grants does Nicholson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Nicholson Family Foundation awarded 156 grants totaling $902K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Nicholson Family Foundation's EIN?
Nicholson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1572346. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nicholson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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