Nok Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 02-0654795

NOK Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) private foundation headquartered in New York, New York. The organization was granted tax-exempt status in February 2004. The foundation aims to make yoga, meditation, eastern medicine, and alternative healing modalities more accessible to individuals through modern scientific research, testing, teaching, and supporting practitioners. The foundation focuses on presenting proven and tested healing modalities that can improve quality of life and help people achieve long, healthy lives.

Key facts about Nok Foundation Inc

EIN: 02-0654795
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $539,594
Grants made (2024): 13
Average grant: $41,507
Median grant: $50,000
New grantees (estimate): 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2024)
Total assets: $8,096,937
Primary geography: New York (63% 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 Nok Foundation Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Nok Foundation Inc's 13 itemized 2024 grants were New York (63%), Massachusetts (14%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants). 69% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Nok Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

55%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $48K. How we count

Medians: $30K first-time, $50K repeat.

45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving grew 94% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out 168% 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.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$8.1M

-5.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$540K

+11.0% YoY

Grant Count

-13.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$42K

+28.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nok Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $370K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary focus areas include:

Education
Science and scientific research
Yoga and meditation practices
Eastern medicine
Alternative healing modalities
Human services

The foundation's work emphasizes making these practices more accessible through modern scientific research and evidence-based approaches.

Grantmaking

Based on the most recent financial data available, the foundation made grants totaling $539,594. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $175,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

New York
California
Michigan

Grant Distribution by State

New York $338K (63%)

Massachusetts $76K (14%)

California $60K (11%)

Michigan $15K (3%)

All other $50K (9%)

Share of all 13 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California District of Columbia Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New York Pennsylvania Texas

Cities

New YorkKalamazooPittsburghSan JoseSanta MonicaLos AngelesWashingtonDallasEast RockawayElmhurstKingstonNewtonSaint PaulSan RamonSanta CruzScarsdaleWassaicWest Hollywood

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:

Total Assets: $8,088,057
Total Revenue: $233,723
Total Expenses: $683,936
Net Income: -$450,213
Total Liabilities: $8,880
Contributions Received: $300,000
Interest Revenue: $0

The foundation maintains significant assets relative to its annual giving, with total assets of approximately $8.1 million as of the most recent filing.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$8,096,937	$8,544,136	$7,624,121
Revenue	$233,723	$2,187,371	$367,647
Expenses	$683,936	$586,135	$598,112
Qualifying Distributions	$623,736	$561,019	$563,635
Net Investment Income	$65,567	$1,912,255	$8,170
Distributable Amount	$370,479	$333,614	$342,645

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

February 28, 2026 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

76 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Armenian General Benevolent Union (Agbu) ($103,200), Alfanar Inc ($76,246), David Lynch Foundation ($74,020).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION (AGBU) New York, NY	TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL,CULTURAL, & HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON UPHOLDING ARMENIAN HERITAGE.	$103,200
ALFANAR INC Newton, MA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$76,246
DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION New York, NY	SPONSOR FOR TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION INSTRUCTIONS.	$74,020
LYCEE FRANCAIS DE NEW YORK (LFNY) New York, NY	ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND.	$50,000
MAPS San Jose, CA	TO FUND PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCH, DRUG POLICY REFORM, PUBLIC EDUCATION,HEALTH EQUITY,HARM REDUCTION INTITIATIVES AND GENERAL OPERATIONS.	$50,000
THE GILLEN BREWER SCHOOL New York, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$50,000
SEAL New York, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$50,000
OM PRAKASH TIWARI	SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON YOGA PRACTICES.	$45,070
THE SAMBODH SOCIETY Kalamazoo, MI	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$15,000
MA CENTER San Ramon, CA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$10,008

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
Nigol Koulajian	Pres./Founder	1	—
Carla Koulajian	Treasurer	—	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nok Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Education • Science and scientific research • Yoga and meditation practices • Eastern medicine • Alternative healing modalities • Human services The foundation's work emphasizes making these practices more accessible through modern scientific research and evidence-based approaches.

How do I apply for a grant from Nok Foundation Inc?

Based on the most recent financial data available, the foundation made grants totaling $539,594. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $175,000. The foundation's grant-making priorities include education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, with primary geographic focus in New York, California, and Michigan.

Where does Nok Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • California • Michigan

What size grants does Nok Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Nok Foundation Inc awarded 13 grants totaling $540K — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Nok Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Nok Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $370K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.