Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Established in 1997 upon Nina Mason Pulliam’s death, it was created to support charitable causes in Arizona and Indiana for 50 years. Its mission is to help people in need, especially women, children, and families; protect animals and nature; and enrich community life in metropolitan Indianapolis and Phoenix.
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust gave $22.7M across 328 grants in 2024 (avg $69K), mostly in Arizona. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,690,217
- +1.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 328
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $69,177
- -6.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $441,084,433
- +3.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (65 of 255, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (52% 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 Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Trust’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and considers proposals by invitation. Prospective applicants should first review the Trust’s priorities and geographic criteria, then speak with a program officer. If staff determine a request may be a fit, the organization will be invited to submit an application. The Trust generally requires a post-grant evaluation report to be received and reviewed before a prior grantee is eligible to apply again. It does not consider requests for international activities, academic research, sectarian purposes or programs promoting religious doctrine or political campaigns. It also excludes health programs except those related to people with visual impairments, and programs targeting people currently incarcerated, exiting the criminal justice system, or recently released. Programs for children of incarcerated individuals or addressing youth in foster care may be considered.
- Review Cycle
- The Trust advises making contact as early as possible and at least two months before the application deadline posted on its website. No specific deadline is stated here.
- Deadline
- The Trust advises making contact as early as possible and at least two months before the application deadline posted…
- Contact
Application contact: Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Mailing address: One American Square, Indianapolis, IN 46282
Phone: (312) 231-6075
Website: https://ninapulliamtrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Grants (Environmental Requests)
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Grants (Non-Environment Requests)
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Amount
Up to US $250,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UMOM New Day Centers ($1.5M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $7.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($40,470), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,414 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 727 grants of 1,414 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For most requests, the Trust accepts requests from charitable organizations located in and serving Marion County, Indiana, or Maricopa County, Arizona. For environmental requests, it will consider applications from local and national nonprofit organizations working in Arizona and Indiana, with priority for organizations that have local staff and board representation in the respective state.
In 2024, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona and 42% to recipients in Indiana. The remaining reported shares went to recipients in Washington, DC (5%), Virginia (1%), and Georgia (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 328 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 65 of 255 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $15.5M (2021) to $22.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 328 grants totaling $22.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UMOM New Day Centers Phoenix, AZ | Capital and programmatic support to renovate 16 emergency shelter units for large families at risk of experiencing homelessness and to provide essential services to such families. | $1,500,000 |
| American Journalism Project Washington, DC | Support to build a new model for local news in Central Indiana that utilizes a community reporting model and acts as a trusted source of information resulting in a more informed and engaged public. | $1,000,000 |
| Friends of Indy Animals Indianapolis, IN | Capital support to construct a modern facility for Indianapolis Animal Care Services to provide safe and humane shelter for approximately 15,000 animals per year. | $1,000,000 |
| Arizona State University Foundation for New American University Tempe, AZ | Support for the Nina Scholars program. | $725,769 |
| Alliance for Companion Animals Phoenix, AZ | Provide no-cost spay/neuter and wellness services to approximately 6,800 animals through veterinary clinics, including mobile veterinary units, across Maricopa County. | $600,000 |
| Indianapolis Zoo Indianapolis, IN | Support for the Global Center for Species Survival, which will serve as a headquarters connecting a team of conservation scientists to 10,000 scientists around the globe, and will provide an immersive visitor experience in a new exhibit space. | $500,000 |
| Society of St Vincent de Paul - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ | Capital support to create a 71-bed transitional housing community that would reduce the number of unhoused individuals while providing safe housing and wraparound services. | $500,000 |
| White River Alliance aka Upper White River Watershed Alliance Inc Indianapolis, IN | Continued support to advance the Indiana Water Roadmap, improve the appreciation of the White River and facilitate solutions to challenges facing the watershed. | $500,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy - Indiana Indianapolis, IN | Continued support to improve the White River watershed's water quality and habitat through activities that include cultivating relationships with stakeholders in watershed management efforts and building an edge-of-field best practices farming demonstration project. | $475,000 |
| Maricopa County Community College District Foundation Tempe, AZ | Support for the Nina Scholars program. | $452,914 |
Ready to take the next step with Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Trust reports that since 1998 it has distributed more than $403 million in grants to 1,131 organizations.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $441,084,433 | $9,475,912 | $29,339,032 | $22,690,217 | 328 | $27,021,890 | $39,991,928 | $20,678,479 |
| 2023 | $427,643,046 | $8,473,111 | $28,487,458 | $22,430,347 | 304 | $26,716,967 | $29,344,722 | $20,538,849 |
| 2022 | $423,869,792 | $-455,517 | $24,838,128 | $18,244,319 | 239 | $21,973,832 | $4,463,564 | $22,702,149 |
| 2021 | $513,484,211 | $27,103,020 | $23,199,919 | $15,515,485 | 242 | $19,039,086 | $50,345,332 | $23,267,998 |
| 2020 | $441,154,581 | $63,463,582 | $24,511,662 | $16,967,964 | 301 | — | $28,093,604 | $19,079,148 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $20.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s stated mission is to help people in need, especially women, children, youth, and families; protect animals and nature; and enrich community life, primarily in metropolitan Indianapolis and Phoenix.
Its animal and nature program supports humane and wellness services for domestic animals, conservation of natural habitats and ecosystems, and environmental awareness. The Trust’s 2024 grants illustrate the range of supported work: UMOM New Day Centers received support for emergency shelter units and services for large families at risk of homelessness; Friends of Indy Animals received capital support for an animal-care facility; and the White River Alliance received support for the Indiana Water Roadmap and watershed work.
Some grantees’ own missions offer additional context about the organizations supported. UMOM New Day Centers describes its mission as ending family homelessness and ensuring that no child has to sleep on the streets. The Alliance for Companion Animals describes its mission as ending homelessness and needless euthanasia of companion animals. The American Journalism Project describes itself as a venture philanthropy supporting local news organizations and launching new ones.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Trust reported 328 grants totaling $22,690,217. Individual grants ranged from $100 to $1,500,000, with a median of $35,000. The Trust’s FAQ says there is no set grant-size range and that most grants are under $250,000. It considers operating support and immediate capital improvements; capital campaign grants are rare and generally limited to organizations that have received multiple Trust grants. Most grants are for one year, though multiyear grants are also possible.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $1,500,000 to UMOM New Day Centers for shelter renovation and family services; $1,000,000 to the American Journalism Project for a local-news model in an individual recipient; and $1,000,000 to Friends of Indy Animals for a modern Indianapolis Animal Care Services facility. Other awards included $725,769 to Arizona State University Foundation for New American University, $600,000 to the Alliance for Companion Animals, and $500,000 each to the Indianapolis Zoo, Society of St Vincent de Paul - Phoenix, and White River Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Trust’s website identifies a three-person board of trustees: Carol Peden Schilling, chair; Kent E. Agness; and Lisa Shover Kackley. Its executive team includes Gene D’Adamo, president and CEO, and Jeff Small, incoming president and CEO. Ryan Hammons is chief financial officer.
The 2024 filing lists Carol P. Schilling as trustee and chair, Kent E. Agness and Lisa Shover Kackley as trustees, Eugene P. D’Adamo as president and CEO, and Ryan C. Hammons as CFO.
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is led by Eugene P D'Adamo, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Eugene P D'Adamo
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$377K (2020) → $460K (2024)
Carol P Schilling
Trustee & Chair
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$68K (2020) → $79K (2024)
Kent E Agness
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $74K (2024)
Lisa Shover Kackley
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $74K (2024)
Ryan C. Hammons
CFO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$212K (2022) → $240K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert L Lowry (2020–2022) — CIO
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $460K, to Eugene P D'Adamo (President & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
How much does Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust give each year?
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust gave $22.7M across 328 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $22.4M across 304 grants.
What is Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $69,177, across 328 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust that year got $62K on average.
Where does Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust give grants?
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust gives mostly in Arizona: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Indiana (42%). The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (162 grants), Phoenix, AZ (97 grants), Mesa, AZ (7 grants) and Bloomington, IN (6 grants).
Does Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 23% of Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (76 of 328) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Employee Matching Gift Program" (58 grants), "Support for Summer Youth Program Fund programming." (32 grants) and "Support for the Nina Scholars program." (4 grants).
Who are Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include UMOM New Day Centers ($1,503,000 across 2 grants), Friends of Indy Animals ($1,088,340 across 4 grants) and American Journalism Project ($1,050,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($40,470), which are not listed by name. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust?
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust reported $441.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $27.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust’s stated mission is to help people in need, especially women, children, youth, and families; protect animals and nature; and enrich community life, primarily in metropolitan Indianapolis and Phoenix. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust?
The Trust’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and considers proposals by invitation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's EIN?
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6644088. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nina-mason-pulliam-charitable-trust-morg_fe104dc9ca984564a305871646769db2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_356644088_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nina-mason-pulliam-charitable-trust-morg_fe104dc9ca984564a305871646769db2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust'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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