NLT Foundation Inc, also known as the Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation, is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1997, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on arts education and environmental education initiatives.
Key facts about NLT Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 04-3361704
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $273,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- Average grant
- $8,806
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (16 of 31, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,467,104
- Primary geography
- Ohio (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who NLT Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for NLT Foundation Inc's 31 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (58%), California (21%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (14 grants), Long Beach, CA (2 grants) and Concord, MA (2 grants). None of its 31 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts/Arts Education" (18 grants), "Trustee Match" (7 grants) and "Environmental" (5 grants).
Is NLT Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 31 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 26% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with NLT Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate NLT Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$273K
+31.9% YoY
Grant Count
31
+10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+19.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, NLT Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $272K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports Arts Education and Environmental Education programs serving specific geographic areas important to the foundation's namesake and her family.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and arts education
- Environmental education
- Arts access and participation
Grantmaking
The foundation has specific eligibility and preference criteria:
Grant Range
$100–$27,500
Average Grant
approximately $207,000 (2024)
Review Cycle
(9:00 PM EST)
Ready to take the next step with NLT Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports programs in the following geographic areas:
- Greater Cincinnati, Ohio
- Los Angeles County, California
- Boston, Massachusetts (inside the Route 495 beltway)
- Mid-Coast Maine (Bath, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick, Camden, Cushing, Damariscotta, Lincolnville, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Searsport, Thomaston, Topsham, and Union)
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 31 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $3,413,168
- Total revenue: $333,587
- Total expenses: $269,799
- Investment income and dividends: $145,321
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $188,266
- Expense ratio: 80.9% of total revenue spent on programs
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $3,467,104
- Total giving: $273,000
- Assets increased 2.6% from previous year
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,467,104 | $3,413,168 | $3,349,380 |
| Revenue | $394,706 | $333,587 | $437,583 |
| Expenses | $340,770 | $269,799 | $288,773 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $295,919 | $227,565 | $249,111 |
| Net Investment Income | $353,331 | $297,774 | $407,779 |
| Distributable Amount | $271,881 | $243,086 | $251,656 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center ($27,500), Boy & Girls Clubs of Dorchester ($15,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MANIFEST CREATIVE RESEARCH GALLERY AND DRAWING CENTER Cincinnati, OH | ARTS/ARTS EDUCATION | $27,500 |
| BOY & GIRLS CLUBS OF DORCHESTER Dorchester, MA | ARTS/ARTS EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER CINCINNATI Cincinnati, OH | TRUSTEE MATCH | $15,000 |
| COASTAL MOUNTAINS LAND TRUST Camden, ME | ENVIRONMENTAL | $15,000 |
| CROWN CINCINNATI Cincinnati, OH | ENVIRONMENTAL | $15,000 |
| KIDSINGERS Santa Ana, CA | ARTS/ARTS EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| LINTON INCORPORATED Cincinnati, OH | ARTS/ARTS EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| ORANGE COUNTY COASTKEEPER Costa Mesa, CA | ENVIRONMENTAL | $15,000 |
| CINCINNATI BOYCHOIR Cincinnati, OH | ARTS/ARTS EDUCATION | $12,500 |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CINCINNATI Cincinnati, OH | ARTS/ARTS EDUCATION | $11,750 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas W Taft | President | 0.5 | — |
| Lucy Rosborough | Clerk | 0.5 | — |
| Dudley S Taft Sr | Treasurer | 0.5 | — |
| Perin Mahler | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Dudley S Taft Jr | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Ken Mahler | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NLT Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation supports Arts Education and Environmental Education programs serving specific geographic areas important to the foundation's namesake and her family. Primary funding areas include: • Arts and arts education • Environmental education • Arts access and participation
How do I apply for a grant from NLT Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $273,000 across 28 grants • Total giving in 2023: $231,250 across 23 grants • Typical grant range: $100–$27,500 • Average grant size: approximately $207,000 (2024) • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: $18,750 • Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati: $15,000 • ArtWorks / Art Opportunities Inc: $15,000 **Application Guidelines:** The foundation has specific eligibility and preference…
Where does NLT Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports programs in the following geographic areas: • Greater Cincinnati, Ohio • Los Angeles County, California • Boston, Massachusetts (inside the Route 495 beltway) • Mid-Coast Maine (Bath, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick, Camden, Cushing, Damariscotta, Lincolnville, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Searsport, Thomaston, Topsham, and Union)
What size grants does NLT Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, NLT Foundation Inc awarded 31 grants totaling $273K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is NLT Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, NLT Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $272K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is NLT Foundation Inc's EIN?
NLT Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3361704. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.