The Nichols Trust
THE NICHOLS TRUST is a private foundation located in Hollis, New Hampshire. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including educational institutions, conservation organizations, hospitals, and public media organizations.
Key facts about The Nichols Trust
In short: The Nichols Trust gave $71K across 29 grants in 2026 (avg $2K), top state Massachusetts. 0% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 04-6026880
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026
- Annual giving (2026)
- $71,400
- Grants made (2026)
- 29
- Average grant
- $2,462
- Median grant
- $250
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 29, 2026)
- Total assets
- $1,458,894
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (45% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The Trust accepts unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated September 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 2026 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
-2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$71K
-3.5% YoY
Grant Count
29
-9.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+6.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nichols Trust reported a distributable amount of $80K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Nichols Trust open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 0 of 29 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 100% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−6%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 93% 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 (2020–2026). 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 available information does not state a mission for the Trust. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations with a range of missions. For example, Beaver Brook Association describes its work as promoting understanding of the natural world and conservation through education and stewardship. Berry College describes its approach as combining academic study with work experience, personal growth, and service. Applewild School says it prepares children for further education and promotes educational opportunities for students, families, and the community.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust reported 32 grants totaling $74,000. Grants ranged from $100 to $13,500, with a median of $375. The largest awards included $13,500 to Beaver Brook Association for its annual fund/general support; $12,000 to Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development for its annual fund/general support; and $10,000 each to Berry College, Brimmer & May School, and Lawrence Academy. Berry College’s award was designated for its annual fund/scholarship; the other two were designated for annual fund/general support.
Review Cycle
None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Massachusetts (56%) and New Hampshire (29%), followed by Georgia (14%), Vermont (1%), and Virginia (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 29 itemized 2026 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $71K (2026) to $93K (2021). In 2026 it made 29 grants totaling $71K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Beaver Brook Association ($20K). Together the top 10 received $67K.
Grant Size Distribution
160 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 160 grants of 160 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Brook Association Hollis, NH | Annual Fund/General | $20,000 |
| Berry College Berry, GA | Annual Fund/Scholarship | $10,000 |
| Brimmer & May School Chestnut Hill, MA | Annual Fund/Scholarship | $10,000 |
| Lawrence Academy Groton, MA | Annual Fund/General | $10,000 |
| Boston University's Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Boston, MA | Annual Fund/General | $4,500 |
| New Hampshire Public Television Durham, NH | Annual Fund/General | $3,000 |
| WGBH Boston, MA | Annual Fund/General | $3,000 |
| Applewild School Fitchburg, MA | Annual Fund/General | $2,850 |
| Society for the Protection of NH Forests Concord, NH | Annual Fund/General | $2,250 |
| Planned Parenthood of Nne Colchester, VT | Annual Fund/General | $1,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,495,545 | $66,984 | $93,480 | $74,000 |
| 2024 | $1,528,134 | $64,944 | $89,088 | $73,250 |
| 2023 | $1,558,127 | $48,189 | $95,750 | $76,000 |
| Metric | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,458,894 | $1,495,545 | $1,528,134 |
| Revenue | $59,108 | $66,984 | $64,944 |
| Expenses | $89,996 | $93,480 | $89,088 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $74,200 | $80,695 | $73,337 |
| Net Investment Income | $44,108 | $54,484 | $49,944 |
| Distributable Amount | $80,147 | $78,117 | $74,865 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists four trustees: Frances F Nichols, Richard R Husk, Charles J Husk, and Monique M Graves.
The Nichols Trust's 2026 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Richard R. Husk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles J. Husk
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monique M. Graves
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Frances F. Nichols (2020–2025) — Trustee
- Former: Jane M. Porter (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Richard R Husk
Mailing address: 11 Merrill Lane, Hollis, NH 03049
Phone: (603) 465-3137
Frequently asked questions about The Nichols Trust
How much does The Nichols Trust give each year?
The Nichols Trust gave $71K across 29 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $74K across 32 grants.
What is The Nichols Trust's typical grant size?
The Nichols Trust's median grant in 2026 was $250, and its average grant was $2,462, across 29 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Nichols Trust give grants?
The Nichols Trust's top state is Massachusetts, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Hampshire (39%) and Georgia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hollis, NH (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Concord, NH (2 grants) and Merrimack, NH (2 grants).
Does The Nichols Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Nichols Trust's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (29 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Nichols Trust's largest grantees?
The Nichols Trust's largest 2026 grantees include Beaver Brook Association ($20,000), Berry College ($10,000) and Brimmer & May School ($10,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Nichols Trust?
The Nichols Trust reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $74K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $80K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Nichols Trust fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the Trust. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations with a range of missions. For example, Beaver Brook Association describes its work as promoting understanding of the natural world and conservation through education and stewardship. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Nichols Trust?
The Trust accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Nichols Trust's EIN?
The Nichols Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6026880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Does The Nichols Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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