Nielsen-Massey Foundation
The Nielsen-Massey Foundation is a private foundation based in Waukegan, Illinois. Its 2023 filing reports $280,000 in grants to 18 organizations; the foundation states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
Nielsen-Massey Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $570,807
- -21.6% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $73,958
- -28.6% vs 2023
- Qualifying distributions (2024)
- $708
- -99.7% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $18,378
- -93.7% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Nielsen-Massey Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1550 Shields Drive, Waukegan, IL 60085-8307
Phone: (847) 578-1550
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nielsen-Massey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 60 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The listed 2023 grantees are based in locations including Providence, Rhode Island; Washington, DC; New York, New York; and several Illinois communities. These locations describe the listed grantees, not a stated geographic funding restriction.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Nielsen-Massey Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 1 of 18 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 94% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 1% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $184K (2021) to $280K (2023). In 2023 it made 18 grants totaling $280K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University Providence, RI | General Support | $100,000 |
| Common Threads Chicago, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $25,000 |
| Grameen Foundation Washington, DC | General Support | $15,000 |
| Wateraid America Inc New York, NY | General Support | $15,000 |
| College of Lake County Foundation Grayslake, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| DC Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Support | $10,000 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Inc Hoffman Estates, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Healthy Schools Campaign Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $570,807 | $73,958 | $18,378 | — | — | $708 | $64,787 | $53,433 |
| 2023 | $727,779 | $103,653 | $290,824 | $280,000 | 18 | $280,661 | $93,685 | $56,321 |
| 2022 | $826,875 | $-22,239 | $232,213 | $220,000 | 17 | $220,661 | $10,556 | $69,204 |
| 2021 | $1,093,868 | $203,874 | $197,564 | $184,000 | 15 | $184,655 | $190,965 | $73,738 |
| 2020 | $942,705 | $35,297 | $282,192 | $270,000 | 10 | — | $23,556 | $77,013 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nielsen-Massey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $53K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grantees describe work in areas including education, food access and food education, clean water and sanitation, and programs for people with Down syndrome. For example, Johnson & Wales University describes its mission as providing an exceptional education that inspires professional success and lifelong personal and intellectual growth. World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation gave $280,000 across 18 grants. Among the listed grants were $100,000 to Johnson & Wales University, $25,000 to World Central Kitchen Inc, $15,000 to WaterAid America Inc, and $10,000 each to Pilot Light, Feeding America, Gigi’s Playhouse Inc, College of Lake County Foundation, and Healthy Schools Campaign.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Camilla Nielsen, Beth Nielsen, Matthew Nielsen, and Craig Nielsen as directors.
Nielsen-Massey Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Beth Nielsen
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Camilla Nielsen
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Craig Nielsen
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Nielsen
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Nielsen-Massey Foundation
How large is Nielsen-Massey Foundation?
Nielsen-Massey Foundation reported $571K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $708 in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $53K (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 does Nielsen-Massey Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grantees describe work in areas including education, food access and food education, clean water and sanitation, and programs for people with Down syndrome. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nielsen-Massey Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Nielsen-Massey Foundation make grants?
The listed 2023 grantees are based in locations including Providence, Rhode Island; Washington, DC; New York, New York; and several Illinois communities. These locations describe the listed grantees, not a stated geographic funding restriction.
What is Nielsen-Massey Foundation's EIN?
Nielsen-Massey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3814484. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Nielsen-Massey Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Nielsen-Massey Foundation'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.
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