Nikkel Family Foundation
The Nikkel Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In its 2024 filing, it reported grants to charitable organizations in several states, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to organizations in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.
Nikkel Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Nikkel Family Foundation gave $270K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in Oklahoma. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $270,157
- -9.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,297
- -16.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $9,123,147
- +53.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- 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 Nikkel Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6800 S Granite Avenue 306, Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: (918) 630-2600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nikkel Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Metro Christian Academy ($40K). Together the top 10 received $250K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 62 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma (50%), Kansas (17%), Missouri (15%), Georgia (11%), and North Carolina (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Nikkel Family Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $33 first-time, $35K repeat.
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 69% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $235K (2021) to $300K (2023). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $270K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Christian Academy Tulsa, OK | General Fund. | $40,000 |
| Kansas City Christian School Praire Village, KS | General Fund. | $40,000 |
| Crossover Prep Academy Tulsa, OK | General Fund. | $40,000 |
| Cristo Rey Kansas City Kansas City, MO | General Fund. | $40,000 |
| Elam Ministries Alpharetta, GA | General Fund. | $30,000 |
| Christ for Humanity Inc Tulsa, OK | General Fund | $30,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $20,000 |
| Little Light House Tulsa, OK | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Tabor College Hillsboro, KS | General Fund. | $5,000 |
| She Brews Coffee & Transition Program Tulsa, OK | General Fund | $5,000 |
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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 | $9,123,147 | $2,574,994 | $308,225 | $270,157 | 14 | $270,157 | $2,585,477 | $391,419 |
| 2023 | $5,946,191 | $604,061 | $319,780 | $299,500 | 13 | $299,500 | $536,813 | $283,328 |
| 2022 | $5,661,910 | $175,920 | $293,912 | $280,000 | 12 | $280,000 | $300,955 | $282,522 |
| 2021 | $5,779,902 | $967,035 | $261,017 | $235,000 | 10 | $235,000 | $897,755 | $291,001 |
| 2020 | $5,073,884 | $962,825 | $279,833 | $270,012 | 13 | — | $950,471 | $238,086 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nikkel Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $391K 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
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants included general-fund support for schools, ministries, humanitarian organizations, and services for children with special needs.
Among its grantees, Kansas City Christian School says its mission is to provide an excellent Christ-centered education. Elam Ministries says it works to strengthen and expand the Persian-speaking church through leader training, resources, and evangelism. Christ for Humanity describes itself as a Christian humanitarian relief organization that enables churches to serve people in need. Little Light House says it provides tuition-free Christian education and therapeutic services for children with special needs and their families. Tabor College says it prepares people for learning, work, and service for Christ and his kingdom.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $270,157. Grant amounts ranged from $2 to $40,000, with a median of $20,000. Its largest listed grants included $40,000 each to Metro Christian Academy, Kansas City Christian School, Crossover Prep Academy, and Cristo Rey Kansas City. Other notable grants were $30,000 each to Elam Ministries and Christ for Humanity; $20,000 each to an individual recipient and Little Light House; and $5,000 each to Tabor College and She Brews Coffee & Transition Program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John G Nikkel, Carole A Nikkel, Robert E Nikkel, and Melody A McSparran as trustees.
Nikkel Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carole A. Nikkel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John G. Nikkel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Melody A. McSparran
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert E. Nikkel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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 Nikkel Family Foundation
How much does Nikkel Family Foundation give each year?
Nikkel Family Foundation gave $270K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $300K across 13 grants.
What is Nikkel Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Nikkel Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $19,297, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nikkel Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Nikkel Family Foundation give grants?
Nikkel Family Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kansas (17%) and Missouri (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (6 grants).
Does Nikkel Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Nikkel Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Nikkel Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Nikkel Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Metro Christian Academy ($40,000), Kansas City Christian School ($40,000) and Crossover Prep Academy ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Nikkel Family Foundation?
Nikkel Family Foundation reported $9.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $270K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $391K (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 Nikkel Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants included general-fund support for schools, ministries, humanitarian organizations, and services for children with special needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nikkel Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Nikkel Family Foundation's EIN?
Nikkel Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2033062. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Nikkel Family 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
Live grants for the work Nikkel Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Nikkel Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Nikkel Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nikkel-family-foundation-morg_69e8af31da0e415693507fb9b3ed0bbb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202033062_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Nikkel Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nikkel-family-foundation-morg_69e8af31da0e415693507fb9b3ed0bbb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Nikkel Family 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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