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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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