The Nicholas Foundation
The Nicholas Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Waterbury, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $523K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 13 grants totaling $30K. Net investment income was $10K.
Key facts about The Nicholas Foundation
In short: The Nicholas Foundation gave $30K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Nevada. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 06-6485716
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $30,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- Average grant
- $2,308
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025)
- Total assets
- $522,776
- Primary geography
- Nevada (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$523K
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$30K
+50.0% YoY
Grant Count
13
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+61.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nicholas Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Nicholas Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 13 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
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
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN Tampa, FL | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| MAYO FOUNDATION Scottsdale, AZ | SUPPORT PROGRAMS. | $4,000 |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS Staten Island, NY | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $4,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FDN Cleveland, OH | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $3,000 |
| DOUBLE H HOLE IN THE WOODS RANCH Lake Luzerne, NY | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $2,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC Hagerstown, MD | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $2,000 |
| SAFE HOUSE Henderson, NV | SUPPORT PROGRAMS. | $2,000 |
| SAFE NEST SHELTER Las Vegas, NV | SUPPORT PROGRAMS. | $2,000 |
| FAMILY PROMISE Las Vegas, NV | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $2,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY CLARK CITY Las Vegas, NV | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $1,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $522,776 | $550,041 | $372,276 |
| Revenue | $16,566 | $208,869 | $8,069 |
| Expenses | $44,270 | $28,920 | $38,435 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $32,099 | $22,164 | $32,067 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,016 | $201,869 | $6,486 |
| Distributable Amount | $27,767 | $24,424 | $24,880 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Nicholas Foundation is led by Markwardt J Nicholas, Co-Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Markwardt J Nicholas
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Webster Bank NA (2020–2022) — Co-Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
Frequently asked questions about The Nicholas Foundation
How much does The Nicholas Foundation give each year?
The Nicholas Foundation gave $30K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 14 grants.
What is The Nicholas Foundation's typical grant size?
The Nicholas Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,308, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Nicholas Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Nicholas Foundation give grants?
The Nicholas Foundation's top state is Nevada, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (20%) and Florida (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Las Vegas, NV (6 grants).
Does The Nicholas Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Nicholas Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Programs" (13 grants).
Who are The Nicholas Foundation's largest grantees?
The Nicholas Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Shriners Hospitals for Children ($5,000), Mayo Foundation ($4,000) and Tunnel to Towers ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Nicholas Foundation?
The Nicholas Foundation reported $523K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Nicholas Foundation?
The Nicholas Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Waterbury, CT. It holds $523K in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Nicholas Foundation's EIN?
The Nicholas Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6485716. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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