Nicolas Fund for Education
Nicolás Fund for Education (NFE) is a public charity based in Bellevue, Washington. Founded in 2012, it supports Christ-centered education for Mayan youth in Guatemala’s Ixil region, including education programs, scholarships, and related student services.
Nicolas Fund for Education at a glance
In short: Nicolas Fund for Education reported $637K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $637,192 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +65.5% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $1,351,373
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $846,496
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $30,396
- -29.5% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $779,818
- -22.3% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Nicolas Fund for Education
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3724, Bellevue, WA 98009
Phone: (206) 619-0999
Website: https://nicolasfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nicolas Fund for Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NFE’s stated program focus is the Ixil region in the Guatemalan Highlands of Guatemala. Its website describes its work as serving Mayan youth and communities in that region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $328K (2021) to $1.3M (2023). In 2025 it reported $637K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building Goodness Foundation Charlottsville, VA | Construction of School | $385,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,351,373 | $846,496 | $779,818 | $637,192 | Total only | $30,396 |
| 2024 | $1,277,312 | $794,596 | $1,003,004 | $385,000 | 1 | $43,107 |
| 2023 | $1,450,775 | $623,703 | $1,364,177 | $1,315,846 | Total only | $63,669 |
| 2022 | $2,173,704 | $1,588,514 | $826,739 | $784,626 | Total only | $44,006 |
| 2021 | $1,505,432 | $1,241,478 | $375,220 | $328,439 | Total only | $14,489 |
| 2020 | $656,130 | $661,788 | $402,721 | $357,837 | Total only | $2,737 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NFE’s stated mission is to empower Mayan youth to break the generational cycle of poverty in the Ixil region through Christ-centered education. Its programs include scholarships covering tuition, uniforms, tutoring, school supplies, food, and transportation; school-based education; service-team educational activities; school improvements and equipment; and scholarships for graduates pursuing further education.
According to the organization’s 2025 filing, Nicolás Christian School had 175 students that year. NFE reported that 24 students graduated from the school’s high school program and 28 from junior high in 2025. The filing also describes safe student transportation, a satellite school and digital curriculum for a remote village, and support for school facilities, computers, furniture, and library resources.
Grantmaking
The available filings report one grant totaling $385,000 in 2024 and no grants in 2023 or 2025. The 2025 filing says the grant recipient in Guatemala is a related organization, with grant use monitored through common management and site visits. The available information does not identify the recipient or report an award amount by recipient.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Alfred Lopus as president, Paul Selvig as vice president, Carrie Nordberg as secretary, and Lolo Levy as treasurer. It lists Heidi Reynolds, Kathy Riper, Ashley Koo, and Susan Dapron as directors. The organization’s website identifies Al Lopus as president and board chair.
Nicolas Fund for Education is led by Alfred Lopus, President since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alfred Lopus
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Reynolds
Director
On filings since 2020
14 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Riper
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Koo
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Dapron
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Nordberg
Secretary
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lolo Levy
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Selvig
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Rebecca Merritt (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Pete Renn (2024) — Academic Chair
- Former: Al Lopus (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bill Safstrom (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Mary Young (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Nicolas Fund for Education
How much does Nicolas Fund for Education give each year?
Nicolas Fund for Education reported $637K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $385K across 1 grant.
How large is Nicolas Fund for Education?
Nicolas Fund for Education reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $846K.
What does Nicolas Fund for Education fund?
NFE’s stated mission is to empower Mayan youth to break the generational cycle of poverty in the Ixil region through Christ-centered education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nicolas Fund for Education?
Nicolas Fund for Education has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nicolasfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Nicolas Fund for Education make grants?
NFE’s stated program focus is the Ixil region in the Guatemalan Highlands of Guatemala. Its website describes its work as serving Mayan youth and communities in that region.
What is Nicolas Fund for Education's EIN?
Nicolas Fund for Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4887611. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 6, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Nicolas Fund for Education funds
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Figures come from Nicolas Fund for Education's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Nicolas Fund for Education down — hundreds of funders to go?