The Nichols Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Hollis, NH EIN: 04-6026880

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

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

6states

Share of all 29 itemized 2026 grant dollars.

Cities

BostonHollisMerrimackPlymouthConcordBrooklynCanterburyChestnut HillColchesterDurhamFitchburgGrotonHancockJamaica PlainManometNorthfieldSturbridgeWatertownWilliamsburgDuxbury

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K34 grants202032 grants202132 grants202231 grants202336 grants202432 grants202529 grants2026

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

Beaver Brook Association: $20KBeaver Brook Association$20KBerry College: $10KBerry College$10KBrimmer & May School: $10KBrimmer & May School$10KLawrence Academy: $10KLawrence Academy$10KBoston University's Wheelock College of Education & Human Development: $5KBoston University's WheelockCollege of Education & Human…$5KNew Hampshire Public Television: $3KNew Hampshire PublicTelevision$3KWGBH: $3KWGBH$3KApplewild School: $3KApplewild School$3KSociety for the Protection of NH Forests: $2KSociety for the Protection ofNH Forests$2KPlanned Parenthood of Nne: $1KPlanned Parenthood of Nne$1K

The largest 2026 recipient was Beaver Brook Association ($20K). Together the top 10 received $67K.

Grant Size Distribution

160 grants across all recorded years

160<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 160 grants of 160 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Beaver Brook Association Hollis, NHAnnual Fund/General$20,000
Berry College Berry, GAAnnual Fund/Scholarship$10,000
Brimmer & May School Chestnut Hill, MAAnnual Fund/Scholarship$10,000
Lawrence Academy Groton, MAAnnual Fund/General$10,000
Boston University's Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Boston, MAAnnual Fund/General$4,500
New Hampshire Public Television Durham, NHAnnual Fund/General$3,000
WGBH Boston, MAAnnual Fund/General$3,000
Applewild School Fitchburg, MAAnnual Fund/General$2,850
Society for the Protection of NH Forests Concord, NHAnnual Fund/General$2,250
Planned Parenthood of Nne Colchester, VTAnnual 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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K2020202120222023202420252026
Metric202620252024
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

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
  2. 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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