Nikolaus Family Foundation
Nikolaus Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Silver Spring, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $97K. Net investment income was $125K.
Nikolaus Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Nikolaus Family Foundation gave $97K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $32K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $97,089
- -18.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,363
- +8.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,039
- Total assets
- $2,742,034
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Nikolaus Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Holy Trinity Catholic Church ($16K). Together the top 2 received $26K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($71,050), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 42 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Nikolaus Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 62% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $97K (2025) to $171K (2021). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $97K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $71,050 |
| Holy Trinity Catholic Church Columbia, PA | Cherry Street Property Project and Vacation Bible School | $16,039 |
| Diocese of Harrisburg Harrisburg, PA | General Contribution | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,742,034 | $129,176 | $108,016 | $97,089 | 3 | $97,089 | $124,862 | $157,131 |
| 2024 | $2,730,600 | $124,004 | $130,334 | $119,450 | 4 | $119,450 | $124,004 | $132,141 |
| 2023 | $2,746,222 | $121,842 | $142,097 | $136,680 | 6 | $136,680 | $121,842 | $127,843 |
| 2022 | $2,827,128 | $119,106 | $164,162 | $150,500 | 15 | $150,500 | $118,106 | $128,758 |
| 2021 | $2,874,423 | $229,674 | $177,288 | $170,750 | 14 | $170,750 | $113,874 | $125,514 |
| 2020 | $2,712,037 | $165,919 | $163,646 | $157,564 | 8 | — | $107,019 | $127,386 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nikolaus Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $157K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Nikolaus Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John M. Nikolaus
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul J. Nikolaus III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Nikolaus
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Zink
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Donald H. Nikolaus (2020–2021) — Trustee
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 Nikolaus Family Foundation
How much does Nikolaus Family Foundation give each year?
Nikolaus Family Foundation gave $97K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $119K across 4 grants.
What is Nikolaus Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Nikolaus Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $16,039, and its average grant was $32,363, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Nikolaus Family Foundation give grants?
Nikolaus Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Nikolaus Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Nikolaus Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Nikolaus Family Foundation?
Nikolaus Family Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $157K (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 is Nikolaus Family Foundation's EIN?
Nikolaus Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6823641. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
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