Nok Foundation Inc

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.

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 $1.4M (77%)

California $199K (11%)

Massachusetts $76K (4%)

Michigan $65K (4%)

Pennsylvania $35K (2%)

Minnesota $25K (1%)

District of Columbia $20K (1%)

Texas $1K (0%)

States

California District of Columbia Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New York Pennsylvania Texas

Cities

DallasEast RockawayElmhurstKalamazooKingstonLos AngelesNew YorkNewtonPittsburghSaint PaulSan JoseSan RamonSanta CruzSanta MonicaScarsdaleWashingtonWassaicWest 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

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 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
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
OM PRAKASH TIWARI	SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON YOGA PRACTICES.	$45,070
THE GILLEN BREWER SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$50,000
ROGER GOSSELIN	GENERAL SUPPORT	$5,000
ALFANAR INC NEWTON, MA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$76,246
MA CENTER SAN RAMON, CA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$10,008
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,900

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 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.