Nordlys Foundation
The Nordlys Foundation is a private foundation based in Saratoga Springs, New York, established in 2000. It operates as a grantmaking organization with a volunteer board and limited staffing, focusing on philanthropic support for arts, culture, and agricultural initiatives.
Key facts about Nordlys Foundation
- EIN
- 14-6205088
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,039,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- Average grant
- $81,580
- Median grant
- $40,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (11 of 25, 2024)
- Total assets
- $6,498,226
- Primary geography
- New York (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected organizations only, suggesting a limited open application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nordlys Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Nordlys Foundation's 25 itemized 2024 grants were New York (66%) and Minnesota (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saratoga Springs, NY (10 grants), Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and Raquette Lake, NY (2 grants). None of its 25 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (24 grants).
Is Nordlys Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 25 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $74K; repeat grants $87K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $43K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 697% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 587% 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 Nordlys Foundation
- How to evaluate Nordlys Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.5M
+493.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+760.5% YoY
Grant Count
25
+78.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$82K
+381.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nordlys Foundation reported a distributable amount of $348K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds program support in the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Agriculture, fishing, and forestry
- Community development
The foundation has supported notable initiatives including the kaffestugan project.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000–$40,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Nordlys Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects in:
- New York (including Albany, Ballston Spa, and Saratoga Springs)
- Minnesota (including Minneapolis)
- Vermont
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 25 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $1.1–$6.5 million (varying by reporting year)
- Annual revenue: $349,783 (2023)
- Annual expenses: $251,452 (2023)
- Expense ratio: 71.9% of total revenue spent on programs
Annual Distributions:
- Approximately $237,000 in recent grant distributions
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,498,226 | $1,094,677 | $996,346 |
| Revenue | $7,461,532 | $349,783 | $364,206 |
| Expenses | $2,057,983 | $251,452 | $287,194 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,039,750 | $237,000 | $277,380 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,091,946 | $322,797 | $356,656 |
| Distributable Amount | $347,598 | $119,811 | $112,022 |
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
95 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Adirondack Land Trust ($400,000), American Swedish Institute ($375,000), North House Folk School ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRONDACK LAND TRUST Keene, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE Minneapolis, MN | KAFFESTUGAN PROJECT | $375,000 |
| NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL Grand Marais, MN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| CAMP STOMPING GROUND Middle Grove, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $140,000 |
| PITNEY MEADOWS COMMUNITY Saratoga Springs, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| SOUTH COLONIE CSD Albany, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $123,000 |
| ADIRONDACK COUNCIL Elizabethtown, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Saratoga Springs, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| GREAT CAMP SAGAMORE Raquette Lake, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| SARATOGA ARTS CENTER Saratoga Springs, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's board consists of:
- Barbara Glaser – President/Director (5 hours per week, unpaid)
- Kimara Gustafson – Director (1 hour per week, unpaid)
- Susan Bokan – Treasurer/Director (1 hour per week, unpaid)
- Kenneth Glaser – Director (unpaid)
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Glaser | President | 5 | — |
| Kimara Gustafson | Director | 1 | — |
| Susan Bokan | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Kenneth Glaser | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains active grantmaking, with recent awards documented through 2024. It continues to support organizations in its focus areas across New York and Minnesota.
NORD Awards 2025 Seed Grants to Propel Breakthroughs in Rare Disease ResearchSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nordlys Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds program support in the following areas: • Arts and culture • Agriculture, fishing, and forestry • Community development The foundation has supported notable initiatives including the kaffestugan project.
How do I apply for a grant from Nordlys Foundation?
The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected organizations only, suggesting a limited open application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Nordlys Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects in: • New York (including Albany, Ballston Spa, and Saratoga Springs) • Minnesota (including Minneapolis) • Vermont
What size grants does Nordlys Foundation award?
In 2024, Nordlys Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $82K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Nordlys Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Nordlys Foundation reported a distributable amount of $348K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nordlys Foundation's EIN?
Nordlys Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-6205088. 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.