The Nelson Family Foundation Inc
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Prescott, Wisconsin. Its filing describes the Ruth Nelson Family Foundation as an independent grantmaking institution established in 1995 to support organizations serving the Tulsa community, with a commitment to spend all its assets by 2038.
Key facts about The Nelson Family Foundation Inc
In short: The Nelson Family Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $101K), mostly in Minnesota. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 39-1868979
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,709,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $100,559
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $50,703,584
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (54% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$50.7M
+18.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+4.8% YoY
Grant Count
17
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$101K
+4.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nelson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Nelson Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $103K; repeat grants $100K. How we count
Medians: $80K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 74% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support organizations serving the Tulsa community, rooted in the belief that no person should be denied dignity, opportunity, or care because of their circumstances. It identifies affordable housing, women’s health, and youth development as its three core areas. It says it uses flexible funding, including general operating support, program support, capital campaigns, and capacity building.
Examples of supported organizations include Rivertree School, whose mission is to provide education for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, and St. Cloud State University Foundation, which says it supports the university’s mission, programs, and goals. Some grantees describe explicitly Christian missions: Ambleside Schools International says it fosters educational renewal based on Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and practice, while Joni and Friends says it communicates the Gospel and mobilizes the global church to serve people living with disability.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 17 grants totaling $1,709,500. Awards ranged from $10,000 to $270,000, with a median of $100,000. Its largest grants included $270,000 to Rivertree School, $210,000 to Church of the Cross for building debt retirement, $200,000 to ELIC, and $200,000 to Joni and Friends. Other recipients included Ambleside Schools International ($150,000), Living Word Bible Camp ($130,000), GoodWord Partnership ($100,000), and St. Cloud State University Foundation ($100,000).
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Nelson Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Minnesota (54%), Colorado (20%), California (15%), Texas (9%), and Wisconsin (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2023) to $2.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rivertree School ($270K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 90 (47%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rivertree School Crystal, MN | Education-Operating Expense | $270,000 |
| Church of the Cross Hopkins, MN | Building - Debt Retirement | $210,000 |
| Elic Fort Collins, CO | Educational Organization-General Fund | $200,000 |
| Joni and Friends Agoura Hills, CA | Religious Organization-General Fund | $200,000 |
| Ambleside Schools International Fredericksburg, TX | Educational Organization-General Fund | $150,000 |
| Living Word Bible Camp Grand Rapids, MN | Religious Organization-General Fund | $130,000 |
| Goodword Partnership Minneapolis, MN | Religious Organization - Partnership Operation | $100,000 |
| St Cloud State University Foundation St Cloud, MN | Educational Organization - General Fund | $100,000 |
| Ambleside School Colorado Lone Tree, CO | Educational Organization - Building Fund | $100,000 |
| Bethel University St. Paul, MN | Educational Organization - Athletic | $60,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $50,703,584 | $3,379,466 | $1,824,189 | $1,709,500 |
| 2023 | $42,815,108 | $2,146,256 | $1,700,477 | $1,630,500 |
| 2022 | $43,686,959 | $2,641,897 | $1,777,219 | $1,674,500 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $50,703,584 | $42,815,108 | $43,686,959 |
| Revenue | $3,379,466 | $2,146,256 | $2,641,897 |
| Expenses | $1,824,189 | $1,700,477 | $1,777,219 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,709,500 | $1,630,500 | $1,674,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,264,777 | $2,076,279 | $2,539,178 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,312,843 | $2,142,656 | $2,135,325 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 22, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Grant E Nelson as president; Carol J Nelson as executive vice president; Rodney G Nelson as vice president, treasurer, and secretary; and Marybeth Nelson and Curtis D Curtis as directors.
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc is led by Grant E. Nelson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Grant E. Nelson
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Curtis D. Curtis
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marybeth Nelson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Carol J. Nelson
Executive V.p.
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rodney G. Nelson
V.p., Treasurer & Secretary
V.p. & Treasurer → V.p., Treasurer & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sarah Curtis (2020–2022) — V.p. & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 365, Prescott, WI 54021
Frequently asked questions about The Nelson Family Foundation Inc
How much does The Nelson Family Foundation Inc give each year?
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 17 grants.
What is The Nelson Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $100,559, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Nelson Family Foundation Inc that year got $103K on average.
Where does The Nelson Family Foundation Inc give grants?
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (20%) and California (15%).
Does The Nelson Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of The Nelson Family Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Nelson Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Rivertree School ($270,000), Church of the Cross ($210,000) and Elic ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Nelson Family Foundation Inc?
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc reported $50.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Nelson Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support organizations serving the Tulsa community, rooted in the belief that no person should be denied dignity, opportunity, or care because of their circumstances. It identifies affordable housing, women’s health, and youth development as its three core areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Nelson Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Nelson Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Nelson Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1868979. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Nelson Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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