The Great Island Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City, established in 1994 in Delaware. It operates as a family foundation with a focus on supporting cultural institutions and community-based organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$99.0M
+225.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.3M
+110.0% YoY
Grant Count
5
-28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.3M
+194.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Great Island Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides giving primarily for art museums and the performing arts, with some funding directed toward education and human services. Recent grantmaking activity indicates expanded focus areas including environmental conservation, renewable energy, marine protection, water resources, and community gardens.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes substantial annual grants, with total giving of $6,300,000 reported in recent filings. Typical award amounts range from $5,000 to $3,000,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple regions, with documented activity in Texas, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $99,033,449
- Total Annual Giving: $6,300,000
- EIN: 13-4049061
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $99,033,449 | $30,460,077 | $32,098,117 |
| Revenue | $83,108,364 | $3,016,233 | $1,016,055 |
| Expenses | $9,086,603 | $3,363,181 | $2,334,305 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,300,000 | $3,000,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,671,820 | $2,250,270 | $619,166 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,472,588 | $1,992,614 | $2,055,729 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
109 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ocean Research & Conservation Association (orca) ($3,000,000), Blue Forest Finance Inc ($1,500,000), New Venture Fund ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLUE FOREST FINANCE INC SACRAMENTO, CA | TO ACCELERATE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION THROUGH CONSERVATION FINANCE, ENABLING CLIMATE RESILIENCE FOR ECOSYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES. | $1,500,000 |
| NEW VENTURE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | ALASKA'S TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST: LAND, CLIMATE, AND THE FUTURE | $1,000,000 |
| OCEAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION (ORCA) VERO BEACH, FL | DEDICATED TO PROTECT AND RESTORE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES SUSTAIN THROUGH SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION ACTION. | $3,000,000 |
| REWILD AUSTIN, TX | COLLABORATING FOR CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE IN THE APPALACHIANS | $50,000 |
| THE STICHTING EUROPEAN CLIMATE FOUNDATION | PIE AMERICAS PROGRAM - TRANSITION TO RENEWABLES AND PHASE OUT OF COAL, OIL & GAS | $750,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Christian Nolen serves as President of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIOT NOLEN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MALCOLM C NOLEN | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CHRISTIAN NOLEN | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 115 E 69th St, New York City, NY 10021-5004
Telephone: 212-794-6060
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Great Island Foundation fund?
The foundation provides giving primarily for art museums and the performing arts, with some funding directed toward education and human services. Recent grantmaking activity indicates expanded focus areas including environmental conservation, renewable energy, marine protection, water resources, and community gardens.
How do I apply for a grant from The Great Island Foundation?
The foundation distributes substantial annual grants, with total giving of $6,300,000 reported in recent filings. Typical award amounts range from $5,000 to $3,000,000. Recent grants documented include: • $500,000 to New Venture Fund for Alaska's Tongass National Forest: Land, Climate, and the Future • $250,000 to Conservation International Foundation for Blue Carbon Positive Business Model Activator (BC+) • $150,000 to Blue Forest Finance for ecological restoration through conservation finance
Where does The Great Island Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple regions, with documented activity in Texas, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Great Island Foundation award?
In 2024, The Great Island Foundation awarded 5 grants totaling $6.3M — an average of about $1.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Great Island Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Great Island Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Great Island Foundation's EIN?
The Great Island Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4049061. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Great Island 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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