The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Longwood, FL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $114K. Net investment income was $191K.
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation gave $114K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $114,000
- -18.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,500
- +22.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $5,935,264
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Calvary Baptist Church & Day School ($100K). Together the top 4 received $114K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 41 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation gives
- Giving fell 91% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 64% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $114K (2025) to $1.3M (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $114K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calvary Baptist Church & Day School Winston-Salem, NC | General Fund | $100,000 |
| Saint Andrew's Chapel Inc Sanford, FL | General Fund | $9,000 |
| Marshall County Humane Society Plymouth, IN | General Fund | $3,000 |
| Ecclesia Cell Church Citrus Heights, CA | General Fund | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,935,264 | $228,657 | $217,033 | $114,000 | 4 | $178,535 | $191,223 | $279,768 |
| 2024 | $5,662,473 | $284,868 | $269,757 | $139,208 | 6 | $230,880 | $245,767 | $273,874 |
| 2023 | $5,647,242 | $-1,351,072 | $559,118 | $443,325 | 9 | $524,877 | $187,635 | $296,935 |
| 2022 | $7,626,198 | $-3,002,057 | $1,352,837 | $1,269,950 | 11 | $1,282,197 | — | $470,335 |
| 2021 | $11,872,348 | $-317,923 | $800,177 | $601,250 | 11 | $617,663 | — | $575,333 |
| 2020 | $12,048,033 | $3,800,650 | $395,978 | $198,800 | 13 | — | $3,676,158 | $481,024 |
| 2019 | $8,631,648 | $3,859,910 | $327,472 | $190,670 | 10 | — | $3,776,118 | $329,788 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $280K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marilyn L. Nelson
Director
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$77K (2023) → $58K (2025)
Christine Ratledge
Director
On filings since 2019
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wayne R Nelson
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $58K, to Marilyn Nelson (Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation
How much does The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation give each year?
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation gave $114K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $139K across 6 grants.
What is The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $28,500, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation give grants?
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (8%).
Does The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation?
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $179K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $280K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation's EIN?
The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5319663. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 1, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wayne and Marilyn Nelson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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