The Nivison Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2004 in North Carolina and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in March 2005. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, the foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation focused on supporting charitable organizations through strategic philanthropic giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.6M
-18.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$665K
-26.6% YoY
Grant Count
62
+1.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-27.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nivison Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities center on:
- Higher education institutions, particularly theological seminaries
- Religious organizations
- Community-based charitable institutions
- Education and human services
The foundation generates income primarily through investment activities, with revenue sources including investment dividends (44.2%), interest (26.9%), and sales of assets (28.8%).
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model and does not accept unsolicited funding requests. All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's management to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles or designated funding streams, and does not maintain a public website or email address for grant inquiries.
Grant Range
$8,800
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports North Carolina and U.S.-based organizations, with limited international giving.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $18,638,185
- Total revenue: $517,275
- Total expenses: $953,822
- Net income: -$436,547
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation's expenses exceeded revenues in 2024, reflecting significant grant distributions relative to investment income that year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,638,185 | $22,763,347 | $22,507,609 |
| Revenue | $517,275 | $359,971 | $372,474 |
| Expenses | $953,822 | $1,104,856 | $668,303 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $665,425 | $906,660 | $644,421 |
| Net Investment Income | $80,004 | $134,647 | $352,190 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,195,027 | $1,262,117 | $1,277,628 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Samaritan's Purse ($22,500), Nc State University ($18,750), Southeastern Baptist Theological ($18,750).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION - WASHINGTON, DC | CONTRIBUTION WHERE MOST NEEDED | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATIO DALLAS, TX | CONTRIBUTION WHERE MOST NEEDED | $2,500 |
| BEYOND IMAGINATION RALEIGH, NC | CONTRIBUTION TO GENERAL FUND | $3,000 |
| BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC CHARLOTTE, NC | CONTRIBUTION WHERE MOST NEEDED | $8,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF RALE RALEIGH, NC | CONTRIBUTION WHERE MOST NEEDED | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | CONTRIBUTION WHERE MOST NEEDED | $2,500 |
| CHILDREN'S HOPE ALLIANCE BARIUM SPRINGS, NC | CONTRIBUTION WHERE MOST NEEDED | $5,000 |
| BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOME OF NC THOMASVILLE, NC | CONTRIBUTION WHERE MOST NEEDED | $3,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS HOME OF NC LAKE WACCAMAW, NC | CONTRIBUTION WHERE NEEDED | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES RALEIGH, NC | CONTRIBUTION WHERE NEEDED | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Arthur E. Nivison serves as the foundation's manager.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTHUR E NIVISON | MANAGER | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 4104 Atlantic Ave, Raleigh, NC 27604-1802
Phone: 919-872-8885
EIN: 81-0657168
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Nivison Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities center on: • Higher education institutions, particularly theological seminaries • Religious organizations • Community-based charitable institutions • Education and human services The foundation generates income primarily through investment activities, with revenue sources including investment dividends (44.2%), interest (26.9%), and sales of assets (28.8%).
How do I apply for a grant from The Nivison Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total grants distributed: $665,425 • Number of grants: 62 • Median grant size: $8,800 • Grant range: $5,000 - $119,425 • Most grants fall between $5,000 - $25,000 **Notable 2024 Recipients:** • Union Presbyterian Seminary: $119,425 • Samaritan's Purse: $22,500 • Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary: $18,750 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model and does not accept unsolicited funding requests. All grants are made at the…
Where does The Nivison Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports North Carolina and U.S.-based organizations, with limited international giving.
What size grants does The Nivison Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Nivison Family Foundation awarded 62 grants totaling $665K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Nivison Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Nivison Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Nivison Family Foundation's EIN?
The Nivison Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0657168. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Nivison Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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