The Nicholson Foundation
The Nicholson Foundation is a private foundation based in Littleton, Colorado. It reported 13 grants totaling $40,380 in 2024, supporting charitable organizations including churches and Catholic institutions.
The Nicholson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Nicholson Foundation gave $40K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Virginia. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $40,380
- -49.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -43.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,106
- -10.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $494,140
- -1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (4 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Nicholson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 270630, Littleton, CO 80127
Phone: (303) 972-7200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Nicholson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Luke Catholic Church ($21K). Together the top 10 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 62 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Virginia (55%) and Massachusetts (25%), followed by the District of Columbia (9%) and Maryland (2%). A further 7% is listed with the recipient state shown as “?”.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Nicholson Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 13 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 20% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 149% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2022) to $80K (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $40K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Luke Catholic Church McLean, VA | Charitable Donation | $21,200 |
| St Mary Our Lady of the Isle Nantucket, MA | Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Sovereign Military Order of Malta | Charitable Donation | $2,805 |
| Archdiocese Military SRVS Washington, DC | Charitable Donation | $1,500 |
| Catholic Diocese of Arlington Arlington, VA | Charitable Donation | $1,000 |
| Mt St Mary's Seminary Emmitsburg, MD | Charitable Donation | $1,000 |
| Blair House Foundation Washington, DC | Charitable Donation | $1,000 |
| Focus Genesee, CO | Charitable donation | $500 |
| Catholic University of America Washington, DC | Charitable Donation | $500 |
| Catholic Information Center Washington, DC | Charitable Donation | $250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $494,140 | $35,087 | $42,075 | $40,380 | 13 | $40,380 | $19,082 | $27,046 |
| 2023 | $501,128 | $73,331 | $94,093 | $80,175 | 23 | $80,175 | $62,737 | — |
| 2022 | $521,890 | $25,330 | $34,144 | $21,950 | 10 | $27,556 | $1,603 | $28,474 |
| 2021 | $505,503 | $113,674 | $54,967 | $50,500 | 8 | $50,500 | $4,707 | $24,299 |
| 2020 | $469,320 | $-11,885 | $28,798 | $27,050 | 8 | — | $8,779 | $24,412 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nicholson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for churches, Catholic organizations, a seminary, and other charitable organizations. The Blair House Foundation describes its mission as “renovating and refurbishing the Blair House for the U.S. Government.” The Catholic University of America describes itself as a comprehensive Catholic and American institution, founded and sponsored by the country’s bishops with the approval of the Holy See.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $40,380. Grant amounts ranged from $175 to $21,200, with a median grant of $1,000.
The largest 2024 grants included $21,200 to St Luke Catholic Church in McLean, Virginia, and $10,000 to St Mary Our Lady of the Isle in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Other grants included $2,805 to Sovereign Military Order of Malta; $1,500 to Archdiocese Military Services; and $1,000 each to Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Mt St Mary’s Seminary, and Blair House Foundation. The Catholic University of America received $500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these trustees: R James Nicholson, Suzanne M Nicholson, Katie Millice, Nick Nicholson, and R Scott Burrows.
The Nicholson Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Katie Millice
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nick Nicholson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
R James Nicholson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R Scott Burrows
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Suzanne M Nicholson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Nicholson Foundation
How much does The Nicholson Foundation give each year?
The Nicholson Foundation gave $40K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $80K across 23 grants.
What is The Nicholson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Nicholson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,106, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Nicholson Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Nicholson Foundation give grants?
The Nicholson Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (25%) and District of Columbia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (6 grants).
Does The Nicholson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Nicholson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Donation" (11 grants).
Who are The Nicholson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Nicholson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include St Luke Catholic Church ($21,200), St Mary Our Lady of the Isle ($10,000) and Sovereign Military Order of Malta ($2,805), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Nicholson Foundation?
The Nicholson Foundation reported $494K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $27K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Nicholson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for churches, Catholic organizations, a seminary, and other charitable organizations. The Blair House Foundation describes its mission as “renovating and refurbishing the Blair House for the U.S. Government.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Nicholson Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Nicholson Foundation's EIN?
The Nicholson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-0991501. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Nicholson Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Nicholson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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