The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc
The Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation (NBO Foundation) is a private 501(c)(3) family foundation established in 1968 and based in New York City. The foundation is committed to improving communities and impacting lives through strategic philanthropic giving across three distinct funding committees.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.2M
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$592K
-6.7% YoY
Grant Count
36
+5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-11.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc reported a distributable amount of $549K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve communities and impact lives through three unique philanthropic committees:
Education Committee Supports education programs or institutions at all levels that provide educational opportunities for the economically disadvantaged. The committee prioritizes programs that continue to monitor and provide support for students after they begin college, with a focus on reducing dropout rates among disadvantaged first-generation college students.
Journalism Committee Funds journalism programs or projects that improve the quality of journalism in all forms, with primary focus on domestic journalism within local news deserts. The committee also supports efforts to defend freedom of the press.
Community Impact Fund Makes contributions to programs benefiting underserved or disadvantaged communities in the following areas:
- Disaster Relief
- LGBTQ+ Programs and Sexual Abuse Prevention
- Visual Impairment Services
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $3,000 to $53,460.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds programs in New York, California, and New Jersey, with particular emphasis on domestic initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending May 2025:
- Total Assets: $10,234,801
- Total Revenue: $490,474
- Total Expenses: $673,803
- Net Income: -$183,329
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,234,801 | $10,398,082 | $10,501,971 |
| Revenue | $490,474 | $642,188 | $275,811 |
| Expenses | $673,803 | $701,410 | $716,204 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $595,272 | $637,226 | $646,015 |
| Net Investment Income | $367,275 | $557,485 | $209,908 |
| Distributable Amount | $549,294 | $520,776 | $527,092 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
166 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc
NBO Foundation - Community Impact Fund Grants
THE NICHOLAS B OTTAWAY FDN INC
Amount
US $3,000 - US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
NBO Foundation - Education Committee Grants
THE NICHOLAS B OTTAWAY FDN INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
NBO Foundation: Journalism Committee Grants
THE NICHOLAS B OTTAWAY FDN INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Avid Escondido ($38,814), Urban Arts ($25,000), LATINO U COLLEGE ACCESS Inc (LUCA) ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MARCO PATRIOTS INC MARCO ISLAND, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT & EDUCATION DANBURY, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| STONEWALL INN GIVES BACK NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $24,000 |
| HITOPS INC PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SAM & DEVORAH FOUNDATION CHATHAM, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| FILOMEN M D AGOSTINO GREENBERG SCH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| SAFE TODDLES INC FISHKILL, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| NEW EYES FOR THE NEEDY INC SHORT HILLS, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| KID NUZ ALAMO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| FOSTERING MEDIA CONNECTIONS LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER H OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID B OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARINA S OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ALEXANDRA OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ROBIN H OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINE SHERER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RUTH O SHERER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| AUDRA OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| AFRIME OTTAWAY | PRESIDENT (THRU 5/31/2025) | 1 | — |
| RICHARD SHERER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KAILAN OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TORIN OTTAWAY | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER SHERER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ERIC B OTTAWAY | TREASURER/ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| ALEX SHERER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JILLIAN OTTAWAY | PRESIDENT (AS OF JUNE 2025) | 1 | — |
| JILLIAN OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BROOKE OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JIM OTTAWAY JR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ERIC B OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TORIN OTTAWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BROOKE OTTAWAY | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting journalism through the Ottaway Award for the Promotion of International Literature. Recent award recipients have included Christopher Merrill (2025) and Daniel Hahn (2023). The foundation has also provided grants to journalism centers, including support for the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism.
Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation presents more than $1.5 millionContact Information
- Email: nbofoundation@brownadvisory.com
- Telephone: 845-467-4989
- Address: 12 E 49th St Fl 35, New York City, NY 10017-8276
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve communities and impact lives through three unique philanthropic committees: **Education Committee** Supports education programs or institutions at all levels that provide educational opportunities for the economically disadvantaged. The committee prioritizes programs that continue to monitor and provide support for students after they begin college, with a focus on reducing dropout rates among disadvantaged first-generation college students. **Journalism C…
How do I apply for a grant from The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc?
**Grant Amounts** Typical awards range from $3,000 to $53,460. **Recent Activity** As of the most recent filing (fiscal year ending May 2025), the foundation distributed $591,814 in total giving. **Application Process** The foundation strongly suggests that applicants review the grant requirements for each committee and clarify any questions before submitting a letter of intent.
Where does The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds programs in New York, California, and New Jersey, with particular emphasis on domestic initiatives.
What size grants does The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc award?
In 2025, The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc awarded 36 grants totaling $592K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc reported a distributable amount of $549K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc's EIN?
The Nicholas B Ottaway Fdn Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-1505939. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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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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