The Nickless Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 and based in Saginaw, Michigan. The foundation was created by Arthur H. and Helen M. Nickless to enable the Nickless family to give back to the communities in which they lived and worked. The foundation maintains a primary focus on educational, vocational, and social service opportunities for families and individuals in need.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$641K
+2.7% YoY
Grant Count
32
+10.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-6.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: To increase educational, vocational and social service opportunities to families and individuals in need.
Mission: To grant monies to agencies that support educational, vocational, and social service concentrations within Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Area and the geographical areas of the Board members.
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Innovation awards and scholarships
- Support for teen mothers and children
- Youth development and community service
- Church and park renovation projects
- Educational advancement and STEM initiatives
- General operational support for nonprofits
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications. Contact information is available at 989-921-0010.
Grant Range
$4,000 to $150,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Area, including:
- Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola counties
- The cities of Bay City and Millington, Michigan
- Sun City West, Arizona (historical interest)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $10,466,588
- Total revenues: $869,296
- Total expenses: $902,240
Assets and Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $13,000,000
- Total distributions: $723,000
- Giving rate: 4.9% of assets
Employees: 0 (foundation operates without staff)
| 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
176 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bay Area Soccer Association ($150,000), Guardian Group ($100,000), Rye Youth Council ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF RENO-SPARKS RENO, NV | FOR TRANSFORMATION OF LIVES OF ADULT AND CHILDREN THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
| BAY AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BAY CITY, MI | SCHOLARSHIP PAYOUT FOR TIM MARCINIAK FUND | $1,000 |
| BAY AREA SOCCER ASSOCIATION BAY CITY, MI | BASA MAPLEWOOD PARK SPORTS COMPLEX PROJECT | $150,000 |
| BAY CITY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BAY CITY, MI | FOR PBIS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS | $19,000 |
| BULLOCK CREEK HIGH SCHOOL MIDLAND, MI | INNOVATION AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,290 |
| CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY MOUNT PLEASANT, MI | INNOVATION AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| EDDY HOUSE RENO, NV | FOR YOUTH HOMLESSNESS IN RENO, NV | $10,000 |
| FREELAND HIGH SCHOOL FREELAND, MI | INNOVATION AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS | $1,000 |
| GUARDIAN GROUP BEND, OR | FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| HELEN NICKLESS VOLUNTEER CLINIC MCLAREN BAY MEDICAL FOUNDATION BAY CITY, MI | FOR HELEN NICKLESS VOLUNTEER CLINIC | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members and Officers (2023):
- Janet N Royce - President
- Joan N Tankersley - Vice President
- Stephen Tankersley - Treasurer
- Judith N Graham - Secretary
- Peter Tankersley - Member
- Christine Graham - Member
- Abbie Graham-Durkin - Member
- Tri-Star Trust Bank - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUDITH N GRAHAM | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOAN N TANKERSLEY | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JANET N ROYCE | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| STEPHEN TANKERSLEY | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| TRI-STAR TRUST BANK | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| PETER TANKERSLEY | MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| CHRISTINE GRAHAM | MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
| ABBIE GRAHAM-DURKIN | MEMBER | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation operates the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award, an annual competition for high school students ages 13 to 18 in Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola counties. The award program is designed to:
20 student teams compete for $77,500 in A.H. Nickless Innovation AwardConnect business mentors with high school students for real-world experience
Provide financial awards for students' college costs
Award grants to schools for equipment, programs, and resources
Five schools, 20 teams, compete in A.H. Nickless Innovation AwardEncourage creative problem-solving and STEM exploration
Recent competition activity includes 20 student teams competing for $77,500 in awards through the innovation program.
20 student teams compete for $77,500 in A.H. Nickless Innovation AwardSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nickless Family Charitable fund?
**Vision:** To increase educational, vocational and social service opportunities to families and individuals in need. **Mission:** To grant monies to agencies that support educational, vocational, and social service concentrations within Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Area and the geographical areas of the Board members. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Innovation awards and scholarships • Support for teen mothers and children • Youth development and community service • Church and …
How do I apply for a grant from Nickless Family Charitable?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Number of grants: 30 • Total distributions: $723,000 • Grant range: $4,000 to $150,000 • Median grant size: $9,500 to $32,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Bay Area Soccer Association: $150,000 (Basa Maplewood Park Sports Complex Project) • Guardian Group: $100,000 (Operational Support) • RYE Youth Council: $60,000 (Various Purposes) **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications. Contact information is available at 989-921-0010.
Where does Nickless Family Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Area, including: • Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola counties • The cities of Bay City and Millington, Michigan • Sun City West, Arizona (historical interest)
What size grants does Nickless Family Charitable award?
In 2024, Nickless Family Charitable awarded 32 grants totaling $641K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Nickless Family Charitable's EIN?
Nickless Family Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3501091. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nickless Family Charitable's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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