The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Mequon, Wisconsin. Established in 2021, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$50.5M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+16.1% YoY
Grant Count
24
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$104K
+25.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lori and David Nicholas reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus is on funding support for community and cultural initiatives. Recent grants indicate a commitment to supporting:
- Performing arts and cultural centers
- Environmental conservation and research
- Educational institutions and green space initiatives
- Accessibility and universal design projects
- Community development
Grantmaking
The foundation made 22 grants in 2024, with the three largest grants totaling $920,000 of the $2,487,010 in total giving.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in Wisconsin, with a particular emphasis on the Mequon area and Door County region (including Egg Harbor).
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total Assets: $50,512,498
- Total Revenue: $3,205,267
- Total Expenses: $2,619,653
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained substantial assets since its establishment in 2021, demonstrating significant financial capacity for grantmaking.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $50,512,498 | $49,926,884 | $49,744,848 |
| Revenue | $3,205,267 | $2,417,804 | $49,842,075 |
| Expenses | $2,619,653 | $2,235,768 | $97,227 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,487,010 | $2,142,340 | $30,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,120,533 | $2,359,558 | $605,147 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,761,583 | $2,473,062 | $2,170,344 |
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
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Afar Inc ($350,000), Nativity Jesuit Academy ($300,000), The Ridges Sanctuary Inc ($270,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFAR INC MILWAUKEE, WI | TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSAL PARK PROJECT. | $350,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREEN BAY GREEN BAY, WI | DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT THE DOOR COUNTY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB CHAPTER | $25,000 |
| BRECKENRIDGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CTR BRECKENRIDGE, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $10,000 |
| DCMC STURGEON BAY, WI | TO SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM. | $100,000 |
| DOOR COUNTY BOOKMOBILE EGG HARBOR, WI | GENERAL OPPERATING SUPPORT. | $75,000 |
| DOOR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION STURGEON BAY, WI | DESIGNATED FOR THE BAILEYS HARBOR OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION FUND. | $20,000 |
| DOOR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC STURGEON BAY, WI | DESIGNATED FOR THE HSB FARM PRESERVATION FUND. | $250,000 |
| DOOR SHAKESPEARE INC BAILEYS HARBOR, WI | DESIGNATED FOR THE EMPLOYEE HOUSING INITIATIVE. | $20,000 |
| FRIENDS OF PENINSULA STATE PARK INC FISH CREEK, WI | DESIGNATED FOR THE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL PROJECT. | $200,000 |
| FRIENDS OF SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER INC MILWAUKEE, WI | DESIGNATED FOR THE SCHLITZ AUDUBON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER. | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORI NICHOLAS | OFFICER | — | — |
| DAVID NICHOLAS | OFFICER | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation distributed over $2.4 million in grants across 22 organizations, indicating active and consistent grantmaking activity focused on community development, environmental conservation, education, and accessibility initiatives.
Nelson Family Fund Awards over $2.5 Million in Grants to Northeast WisconsinSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lori and David Nicholas fund?
The foundation's primary focus is on funding support for community and cultural initiatives. Recent grants indicate a commitment to supporting: • Performing arts and cultural centers • Environmental conservation and research • Educational institutions and green space initiatives • Accessibility and universal design projects • Community development
How do I apply for a grant from The Lori and David Nicholas?
**Financial Scale:** • Total giving: $2,487,010 (most recent year) • Total assets: $50,512,498 **Recent Grants (2024):** • The Ability Center: $350,000 (Universal Park Project) • Nativity Jesuit Academy: $300,000 (Green Space Initiative) • Ridges Sanctuary: $270,000 (Master Plan Implementation and research equipment) The foundation made 22 grants in 2024, with the three largest grants totaling $920,000 of the $2,487,010 in total giving.
Where does The Lori and David Nicholas make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in Wisconsin, with a particular emphasis on the Mequon area and Door County region (including Egg Harbor).
What size grants does The Lori and David Nicholas award?
In 2024, The Lori and David Nicholas awarded 24 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $104K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lori and David Nicholas required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lori and David Nicholas reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lori and David Nicholas'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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