The Richard and Barbara Nelson
The Richard and Barbara Nelson is a private foundation based in Spring Lake, New Jersey. It reported giving $72,000 through 15 grants in 2025 to organizations in New Jersey, New York, and Colorado.
The Richard and Barbara Nelson at a glance
In short: The Richard and Barbara Nelson gave $72K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in New Jersey. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $72,000
- +26.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +15.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,800
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $752,713
- -5.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Richard and Barbara Nelson
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its 2025 filing lists Barbara Nelson as the contact; application form and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions are listed as N/A.
- Contact
Application contact: Barbara Nelson
Mailing address: 115 Passaic Avenue, Spring Lake, NJ 07762
Phone: (877) 829-5500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Richard and Barbara Nelson funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jersey Shore University Medical Center ($25K). Together the top 10 received $67K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey, 18% to recipients in New York, and 3% to recipients in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Richard and Barbara Nelson open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 92% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 123% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2021) to $72K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $72K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey Shore University Medical Center Neptune City, NJ | Support of Community | $25,000 |
| Sisters Academy Asbury Park, NJ | Support of Community | $15,000 |
| Make a Wish Foundation Monroe Township, NJ | Make wishes come true for kids with life-threatening medical conditions | $5,000 |
| Spring Lake Memorial Community House Spring Lake, NJ | Support of Community | $5,000 |
| Trinity Church New York, NY | Support of Community | $5,000 |
| Expand Ed Schools New York, NY | Support of Community | $4,000 |
| Home Front Lawrenceville, NJ | Support of Community | $2,000 |
| Lighthouse Guild New York, NY | Support of Community | $2,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital New York, NY | Support of Community | $2,000 |
| St Catherine's Catholic Church Denver, CO | Support of Community | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Richard and Barbara Nelson?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $752,713 | $34,250 | $89,016 | $72,000 | 15 | $74,888 | $20,121 | $60,790 |
| 2024 | $793,194 | $40,808 | $73,395 | $57,000 | 13 | $59,860 | $27,273 | $57,342 |
| 2023 | $826,303 | $32,142 | $49,331 | $40,000 | 9 | $40,000 | $22,811 | $51,057 |
| 2022 | $842,664 | $24,451 | $48,084 | $37,500 | 7 | $37,500 | $17,169 | $52,535 |
| 2021 | $866,021 | $74,960 | $45,727 | $35,250 | 6 | $35,250 | $64,040 | $55,520 |
| 2020 | $847,023 | $112,447 | $57,677 | $50,250 | 9 | — | $12,259 | $46,685 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Richard and Barbara Nelson reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a medical center, schools, churches, arts and community organizations, and organizations serving children and families.
Spring Lake Memorial Community House, which received $5,000 in 2025, describes its mission as furthering appreciation of theater, music, and art while providing classes for educational needs and other community purposes. This is the grantee’s stated mission, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $72,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $2,000.
The largest grants included $25,000 to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, $15,000 to Sisters Academy, $5,000 each to Make-A-Wish Foundation, Spring Lake Memorial Community House, and Trinity Church, and $4,000 to Expand Ed Schools. Other listed awards included $2,000 each to Home Front, Lighthouse Guild, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and St. Catherine’s Catholic Church; $1,500 to Monmouth Arts; and $1,000 to Fulfill NJ.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Barbara Nelson is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
The Richard and Barbara Nelson is led by Barbara Nelson, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara Nelson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Richard and Barbara Nelson
How much does The Richard and Barbara Nelson give each year?
The Richard and Barbara Nelson gave $72K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $57K across 13 grants.
What is The Richard and Barbara Nelson's typical grant size?
The Richard and Barbara Nelson's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $4,800, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Richard and Barbara Nelson that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Richard and Barbara Nelson give grants?
The Richard and Barbara Nelson gives mostly in New Jersey: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Spring Lake, NJ (3 grants).
Does The Richard and Barbara Nelson give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Richard and Barbara Nelson's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support of Community" (14 grants).
Who are The Richard and Barbara Nelson's largest grantees?
The Richard and Barbara Nelson's largest 2025 grantees include Jersey Shore University Medical Center ($25,000), Sisters Academy ($15,000) and Make a Wish Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Richard and Barbara Nelson?
The Richard and Barbara Nelson reported $753K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $75K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Richard and Barbara Nelson fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a medical center, schools, churches, arts and community organizations, and organizations serving children and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Richard and Barbara Nelson?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Richard and Barbara Nelson's EIN?
The Richard and Barbara Nelson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6547620. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Richard and Barbara Nelson accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Richard and Barbara Nelson funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Richard and Barbara Nelson's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Ernst & Young Foundation
New York, NY
Ernst & Young Foundation supports higher education through employee and partner matching gifts, as well as educational and special-project grants, including research, education forums, and programs that expand educational opportunity. In 2025, it made 637 grants ranging from $5,056 to $316,005, with a median of $13,525, to recipients across multiple states; the largest shares went to New York, Texas, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$47.6M
Grants
637
Total Given
$16.7M
The Greater New Orleans Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Greater New Orleans Foundation funds arts and culture, education, youth development, health, social services, and other regional priorities across the 13 parishes of Southeast Louisiana. Its stated average grant is about $20,000; its IMPACT grants are invitation-only, while the Foundation encourages nonprofits to share information about their work through a form.
Assets
$513.0M
Grants
623
Total Given
$34.6M
Northern New York Community Foundation Inc
Watertown, NY
The Foundation supports nonprofits and community projects that improve quality of life, including basic needs, education, health, and arts and culture, in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties, New York. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $173,125, with a median of $11,022. It accepts unsolicited applications through its Grants for Good program, with rolling applications reviewed quarterly.
Assets
$172.9M
Grants
112
Total Given
$2.7M
Licking County Foundation Inc
Newark, OH
The Licking County Foundation supports eligible nonprofits and public agencies working to improve quality of life in Licking County, across areas such as education, health and human services, arts, parks, and the environment. Its 2024 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $1.44 million. For its Community Grant Program, organizations may submit an initial inquiry; only selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal.
Assets
$163.6M
Grants
100
Total Given
$4.6M
Dun Foundation
Middleburg, VA
Dun Foundation’s 2025 grants supported varied charitable organizations, including those connected with outdoor activities, wildlife and habitat, equestrian events, and education. It made 103 grants totaling $470,000, ranging from $25 to $44,500, with a median of $1,873; half of grant dollars went to Virginia, with others reaching several states. The available information does not clearly state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
103
Total Given
$470K
More similar funders
More Funders in New Jersey
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Richard and Barbara Nelson funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-and-barbara-nelson-morg_959381eed6404fb7b1248520c5d9d4b4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_376547620_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Richard and Barbara Nelson funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-and-barbara-nelson-morg_959381eed6404fb7b1248520c5d9d4b4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Richard and Barbara Nelson'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.
The Richard and Barbara Nelson down — hundreds of funders to go?