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.
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
The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected organizations only, suggesting a limited open application process.
Grant Range
$10,000–$40,000
How to Apply
**
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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
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 |
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 include Adirondack Land Trust ($400,000), American Swedish Institute ($375,000), North House Folk School ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRONDACK CENTER FOR LOON CONSERVA SARANAC LAKE, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ADIRONDACK COUNCIL ELIZABETHTOWN, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ADIRONDACK LAND TRUST KEENE, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP ASSN GREENWICH, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| ALL PEOPLES CHURCH TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE MINNEAPOLIS, MN | KAFFESTUGAN PROJECT | $375,000 |
| CAFFE LENA SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CAMP STOMPING GROUND MIDDLE GROVE, NY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $140,000 |
| GREAT CAMP SAGAMORE RAQUETTE LAKE, 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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Activity:** • Recent grant awards range from $1,500 to $400,000 • Median grant size: $10,000–$40,000 • The foundation made 14–25 grants in recent years, with approximately $237,000 in annual distributions **Recent Grantees (2023–2024):** • North House Folk School ($25,000) • Pitney Meadows Community Farm ($25,000) • Agricultural Stewardship Association ($10,000) • Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs ($25,000) **Application Process:** The foundation indicates it makes contribution…
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nordlys 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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