The Lori and David Nicholas
The Lori and David Nicholas is a private foundation based in Mequon, Wisconsin. Its 2025 grants supported organizations and projects in Wisconsin and Florida, with 99% of grant dollars going to Wisconsin recipients.
The Lori and David Nicholas at a glance
In short: The Lori and David Nicholas gave $2.8M across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $104K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,798,000
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $103,630
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $52,376,788
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Lori and David Nicholas
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should contact Lori Nicholas with a typewritten letter describing the organization’s history and purpose. Awards are restricted to 501(c)(3) exempt organizations and government units.
- Contact
Application contact: Lori Nicholas
Mailing address: 11501 N Port Washington Rd Ste 220, Mequon, WI 53092
Phone: (414) 659-8348
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lori and David Nicholas funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nativity Jesuit Academy ($600K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 78 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 1% to recipients in Florida. Named Wisconsin recipients include organizations in Milwaukee, Door County, and Fish Creek.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Lori and David Nicholas gives
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 9227% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2022) to $2.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nativity Jesuit Academy Milwaukee, WI | Designated for the Nicholas Family Field | $600,000 |
| Friends of Peninsula State Park Inc Fish Creek, WI | Designated for the Mountain Bike Trail Project. | $300,000 |
| The Ridges Sanctuary Inc Baileys Harbor, WI | To support phase 0 of the master plan implementation and purchase of equipment to use in the research project with uw madison. | $265,000 |
| Door County Community Foundation Inc Sturgeon Bay, WI | To support the Door county winter commons campaign, sister bay ice rink | $250,000 |
| Door County Community Foundation Inc Sturgeon Bay, WI | To support the greenhouse, restoration and operational needs at horseshoe bay | $250,000 |
| Afar Inc Milwaukee, WI | To Support the Universal Park Project. | $200,000 |
| Friends of the Domes Inc - Milwaukee Domes Alliance Milwaukee, WI | Designated for the Restoration/Renovation Project | $200,000 |
| UWM Foundation Inc Milwaukee, WI | Designated to the center for water policy at the school of freshwater sciences. | $100,000 |
| Door County Bookmobile Egg Harbor, WI | To Support the Bookmobile Renovation and Operational Needs. | $85,000 |
| Peninsula School of Art Inc Fish Creek, WI | To support the artist in residence program and the director salary for the Door county plein air festival. | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lori and David Nicholas?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,376,788 | $4,803,840 | $2,939,550 | $2,798,000 | 27 | $2,798,000 | $4,717,223 | $2,745,247 |
| 2024 | $50,512,498 | $3,205,267 | $2,619,653 | $2,487,010 | 24 | $2,487,010 | $3,120,533 | $2,761,583 |
| 2023 | $49,926,884 | $2,417,804 | $2,235,768 | $2,142,340 | 26 | $2,142,340 | $2,359,558 | $2,473,062 |
| 2022 | $49,744,848 | $49,842,075 | $97,227 | $30,000 | 1 | $30,000 | $605,147 | $2,170,344 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lori and David Nicholas reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included support for education, parks and recreation, environmental stewardship and research, community projects, the arts, public media, and water management.
The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Friends of Peninsula State Park says it provides volunteer services and financial support for interpretive, educational, recreational, and visitor-service programs at the park. The Ridges Sanctuary says it protects natural areas in Door County and promotes stewardship through education, outreach, and research. Peninsula School of Art says it provides visual-arts educational experiences for participants of all ages and abilities. Reflo says it works to advance sustainable water use, green infrastructure, and equitable water-resource management.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $2,798,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $600,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Among the largest awards were $600,000 to Nativity Jesuit Academy for the Nicholas Family Field; $300,000 to Friends of Peninsula State Park for a mountain bike trail project; and $265,000 to The Ridges Sanctuary for phase 0 of its master plan implementation and equipment for a research project with UW Madison. Other awards included $250,000 to Door County Community Foundation for the Door County Winter Commons campaign and Sister Bay ice rink, and $200,000 to AFAR for the Universal Park Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lori Nicholas and David Nicholas as officers.
The Lori and David Nicholas's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Nicholas
Officer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lori Nicholas
Officer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Lori and David Nicholas
How much does The Lori and David Nicholas give each year?
The Lori and David Nicholas gave $2.8M across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 24 grants.
What is The Lori and David Nicholas's typical grant size?
The Lori and David Nicholas's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $103,630, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Lori and David Nicholas give grants?
The Lori and David Nicholas gives mostly in Wisconsin: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (10 grants), Sturgeon Bay, WI (2 grants), Fish Creek, WI (2 grants) and Baileys Harbor, WI (2 grants).
Does The Lori and David Nicholas give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of The Lori and David Nicholas's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Lori and David Nicholas's largest grantees?
The Lori and David Nicholas's largest 2025 grantees include Nativity Jesuit Academy ($600,000), Door County Community Foundation Inc ($500,000 across 2 grants) and Friends of Peninsula State Park Inc ($300,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Lori and David Nicholas?
The Lori and David Nicholas reported $52.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lori and David Nicholas fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included support for education, parks and recreation, environmental stewardship and research, community projects, the arts, public media, and water management. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lori and David Nicholas?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Lori and David Nicholas's EIN?
The Lori and David Nicholas's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1448344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Lori and David Nicholas funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lori and David Nicholas funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lori-and-david-nicholas-morg_988a77619eff49438bcf0a632ee1910f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_871448344_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lori and David Nicholas funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lori-and-david-nicholas-morg_988a77619eff49438bcf0a632ee1910f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Lori and David Nicholas's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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