The Nell Newman Foundation Inc
The Nell Newman Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Santa Cruz, California. Established in 2014, it operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation is affiliated with Newman's Own and focuses on philanthropic initiatives related to sustainable agriculture, food systems, and conservation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$206K
-62.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$73K
-46.9% YoY
Grant Count
9
-67.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+65.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nell Newman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $13K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Native agriculture and food systems programs
- General operations support for partner organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation made 9 grants totaling $73,000 in 2024.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, California, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $205,955
- Total Giving: $73,000
- Total Revenue: -$227,694
- Total Expenses: $108,642
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Number of Employees: 0
Contact Information: PO Box 3263, Santa Cruz, CA 95063-3263
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $205,955 | $542,291 | $705,217 |
| Revenue | $-227,694 | $280,056 | $3,886 |
| Expenses | $108,642 | $211,837 | $490,880 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $94,944 | $175,061 | $474,245 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $12,708 | $26,905 | $33,483 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($15,000), Redford Center Inc ($15,000), Josephy Center for Arts and Culture ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOSTON, MA | MIT PRESS, JOURNAL OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND CLIMATE JUSTICE | $15,000 |
| JOSEPHY CENTER FOR ARTS AND CULTURE JOSEPH, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT WITH CONDITION OF THE AGREEMENT TO KEEP GRANT ANONYMOUS | $10,000 |
| CROSS THE DIVIDE SILVERDALE, WA | DAN BOSTEDT - CTD LODGE AND PROGRAMS, OREGON PROJECT WITH CONDITION OF THE AGREEMENT TO KEEP GRANT ANONYMOUS | $3,000 |
| YANKEE GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE INC HUDSON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| REDFORD CENTER INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | ENCOMPASS FILMS FOR THE PLANETWALKER DOCUMENTARY PROJECT | $15,000 |
| CORNER POST MEDIA ESCALANTE, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,000 |
| FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION INC MADISON, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FRACTURED ATLAS INC HARTSDALE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| GARDEN 31 COMMUNITY INITIATIVE INC ESCONDIDO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nell Newman, President — Co-founder of Newman's Own Organics: The Second Generation (established 1993). Nell is the daughter of actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. She holds a B.S. in human ecology from the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Her background includes roles as Executive Director of the Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary and Development Director for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group. She is recognized as an advocate for sustainable agriculture and organic foods.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELINOR T NEWMAN | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| EDWARD JAMES COX | SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 3 | — |
| EVELYN FASHEH | ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR | 3 | $13,943 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Nell Newman Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Native agriculture and food systems programs • General operations support for partner organizations
How do I apply for a grant from The Nell Newman Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $28,000. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - $15,000 for MIT Press Journal of Climate Resilience and Climate Justice • Redford Center - $15,000 for Encompass Films and the Planetwalker Documentary Project • Garden 31 Community Initiative - $10,000 for general support The foundation made 9 grants totaling $73,000 in 2024.
Where does The Nell Newman Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, California, and Wisconsin.
What size grants does The Nell Newman Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Nell Newman Foundation Inc awarded 9 grants totaling $73K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Nell Newman Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Nell Newman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $13K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Nell Newman Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Nell Newman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1972605. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Nell Newman Foundation Inc'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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