The Aksel Nielsen Foundation
The Aksel Nielsen Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1956 and based in Westport, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.0M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$200K
-0.3% YoY
Grant Count
37
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-0.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Aksel Nielsen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $234K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily in the areas of Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $1,962,057
- Total revenues: $140,105
- Total expenses: $253,806
- Investment income and dividends: $104,524
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $35,581
Tax Status:
- EIN: 84-6025711
- Tax-exempt since May 1959
- IRS filing requirement: Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,962,057 | $2,035,052 | $2,073,014 |
| Revenue | $140,105 | $102,907 | $510,875 |
| Expenses | $253,806 | $266,876 | $240,243 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $216,145 | $219,046 | $202,265 |
| Net Investment Income | $102,444 | $68,995 | $437,141 |
| Distributable Amount | $234,456 | $206,281 | $200,181 |
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
190 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Camp Avoda ($40,000), National Sports Center for the Disabled ($40,000), Greater Boston Food Bank ($8,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL SUPORT | $2,000 |
| CASA MYRNA VAZQUEZ BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER MONTGOMERY, AL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ADL NEW ENGLAND BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CAMP AVODA CANTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED WINTER PARK, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY LINCOLN, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| TIFERETH ISRAEL NEW BEDFORD, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,700 |
| JCRC JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUDITH M PEMSTEIN | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| ALAN B PEMSTEIN | SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| BENJAMIN PEMSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| MICHAEL PEMSTEIN | TREASURER | 4 | — |
| ROBERT PEMSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1148 Drift Road Westport, MA 02790-1653
Telephone: 508-380-5829
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from The Aksel Nielsen Foundation?
The foundation makes grants primarily in the areas of Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$40,000 • Recent annual giving: $199,780 (2024) • Number of grants: 39 grants made in 2024 **Recent Grant Recipients (2024):** • National Sports Center for the Disabled: $40,000 (General Support) • Camp Avoda: $40,000 (General Support) • Greater Boston Food Bank: $8,000 (General Support)
Where does The Aksel Nielsen Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and California.
What size grants does The Aksel Nielsen Foundation award?
In 2024, The Aksel Nielsen Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $200K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Aksel Nielsen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Aksel Nielsen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $234K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Aksel Nielsen Foundation's EIN?
The Aksel Nielsen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6025711. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Aksel Nielsen 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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