Nissan Foundation
The Nissan Foundation is a corporate foundation established in 1993 and based in Franklin, Tennessee. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in communities where Nissan has a presence. The foundation complements Nissan North America's direct corporate giving program.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.3M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Count
44
Avg Grant Size
$29K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nissan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $575K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports educational programs designed to promote diverse cultural heritage. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Historic preservation
The foundation emphasizes promoting respect and understanding among cultural and ethnic groups.
Grantmaking
The foundation also received a $25,000 grant from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition in 2023 to support organizational programs.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $75,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Nissan Foundation funds organizations in the following regions:
- Middle Tennessee
- New York City and north central New Jersey
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
- Southern California
- Central Mississippi
- Detroit, Michigan
- Atlanta, Georgia
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
- Total Assets: $12,275,860
- Total Revenue: $1,158,756
- Total Expenses: $1,279,069
- Net Income: -$120,313
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Sources:
- Contributions Received: $530,000
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,275,860 | $11,986,574 | $11,192,611 |
| Revenue | $1,158,756 | $349,827 | $1,585,499 |
| Expenses | $1,279,069 | $29,355 | $1,281,654 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,260,323 | $5,036 | $1,257,763 |
| Net Investment Income | $611,765 | $476,636 | $568,874 |
| Distributable Amount | $575,077 | $560,515 | $552,603 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Nissan Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Nashville Public Television ($75,000), Discovery Center ($70,000), Atlanta History Center ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARAB AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM DEARBORN, MI | 2024-25 PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING SERIES | $30,000 |
| ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER ATLANTA, GA | HARMONY OF LIBERATION: JUNETEENTH THROUGH RHYTHM | $50,000 |
| AUTRY MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST LOS ANGELES, CA | AUTRY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS FESTIVAL | $20,000 |
| BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM BROOKLYN, NY | CULTURAL FESTIVALS | $25,000 |
| BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY BROOKLYN, NY | CULTURE PASS BRANCH PROGRAMMING HUBS | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ATLANTA SMYRNA, GA | REFUGEE AND ENGAGEMENT PROJECT | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN NEW YORK, NY | GATEWAY TO WORLD CULTURES | $25,000 |
| CHINESE ARTS ALLIANCE OF NASHVILLE NASHVILLE, TN | CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR IN NASHVILLE | $10,000 |
| CONNECTING CULTURES MOBILE MUSEUM LOS ANGELES, CA | CONNECTING CULTURES MOBILE MUSEUM | $20,000 |
| DALLAS HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM DALLAS, TX | UPSTANDING SPEAKER SERIES | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANDREW J TAVI | PRESIDENT (AS OF 04/25)/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHANDRA VASSER | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR (THRU 04/25) | 1 | — |
| GLENN PLOSA | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JASON BARTLETT | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALI TONN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID ENGLEN | DIRECTOR (AS OF 01/25) | 1 | — |
| BRYAN HORN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SETH JACKSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK KACZYNSKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KERI KELLY | DIRECTOR (THRU 04/25) | 1 | — |
| ANDRE MEDEIROS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY MILLS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BROOKE NOONE | DIRECTOR (THRU 04/25) | 1 | — |
| TERENCE PORTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNA SERRA | DIRECTOR (AS OF 04/25) | 1 | — |
| ALLESANDRA THARP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CALANDRA TURNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TERRI WELCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Nissan Foundation has announced acceptance of Letters of Intent for its 2026 grant cycle. Recent grant announcements highlight the foundation's commitment to celebrating cultural diversity and community building, with awards distributed to nonprofits across its service areas.
Nissan Foundation accepting Letters of Intent for 2026 grant cycleFrequently Asked Questions
What does Nissan Foundation fund?
The foundation supports educational programs designed to promote diverse cultural heritage. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Historic preservation The foundation emphasizes promoting respect and understanding among cultural and ethnic groups.
How do I apply for a grant from Nissan Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $75,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** As of the 2025 fiscal year, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $1,255,200. Recent notable grants include: • Nashville Public Television: $75,000 (Next Door Neighbors: 2024-2025) • Discovery Center at Murfree Spring: $70,000 (Kids First) • Atlanta History Center: $50,000 (Harmony of Liberation: Juneteenth Through Rhythm) The foundation also received a $25,000 grant from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refuge…
Where does Nissan Foundation make grants?
The Nissan Foundation funds organizations in the following regions: • Middle Tennessee • New York City and north central New Jersey • Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas • Southern California • Central Mississippi • Detroit, Michigan • Atlanta, Georgia
What size grants does Nissan Foundation award?
In 2025, Nissan Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Nissan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Nissan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $575K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nissan Foundation's EIN?
Nissan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4413799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nissan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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