William J Nicholson Foundation
The William J Nicholson Foundation is a private foundation based in New Hudson, Michigan. Its 2024 filing reports 10 grants totaling $115,219 to charitable organizations in Michigan and Ohio.
William J Nicholson Foundation at a glance
In short: William J Nicholson Foundation gave $115K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in Michigan. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $115,219
- +26.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,522
- +26.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,567,045
- -3.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (74% 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 William J Nicholson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 158, New Hudson, MI 48165
Phone: (313) 965-8300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William J Nicholson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kids Read Now ($30K). Together the top 10 received $115K.
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
The 2024 filing reports that 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 26% to recipients in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is William J Nicholson Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 10 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% 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 $91K (2023) to $122K (2021). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $115K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kids Read Now Troy, OH | Book kits for each school distriect in Oakland county | $30,000 |
| Michigan Parkinson Foundation Bingham Farms, MI | Respite Care Program | $20,000 |
| Six Feet Over Detroit, MI | Lemon Aid Program | $19,066 |
| Fishtown Preservation Society Leland, MI | Rubber Dock Bumpers, Brochures, Rack Card | $10,000 |
| Michigan Science Center Detroit, MI | Summer Scholarship for Mi-SCI Summer Sparklcamp | $10,000 |
| The Flint Children's Museum Flint, MI | Racetracks for STEM Education | $10,000 |
| Michael's Place Traverse City, MI | Program and Facility Needs | $6,244 |
| Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI | Indoor Facility Golf Equipment | $5,441 |
| Ele's Place Ann Arbor, MI | Technology Upgrades, Professional Development & Subscriptions | $3,663 |
| Peanut Gallery Players Rochester Hills, MI | Materials, tools, equipment to replace damaged stock set platforms | $805 |
Ready to take the next step with William J Nicholson Foundation?
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 | $1,567,045 | $59,583 | $121,302 | $115,219 | 10 | $116,106 | $56,466 | $111,937 |
| 2023 | $1,627,396 | $65,724 | $97,861 | $91,006 | 10 | $91,006 | $65,724 | $105,448 |
| 2022 | $1,660,569 | $47,102 | $122,992 | $114,549 | 9 | $115,783 | $43,058 | $113,277 |
| 2021 | $1,736,459 | $47,820 | $131,041 | $121,879 | 13 | $121,879 | $47,820 | $122,702 |
| 2020 | $1,819,654 | $52,686 | $126,277 | $99,304 | 8 | — | $44,653 | $117,293 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William J Nicholson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $112K 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 supported organizations whose stated missions include addressing the summer reading slide (Kids Read Now), supporting people affected by Parkinson’s and related movement disorders (Michigan Parkinson Foundation), and helping families with funeral costs after a suicide (Six Feet Over). Other recipients’ stated missions include preserving Fishtown’s historical integrity and public access (Fishtown Preservation Society), inspiring learning through hands-on play (The Flint Children’s Museum), and supporting grieving children and families (Michael’s Place and Ele’s Place).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $115,219. Grant amounts ranged from $805 to $30,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
The largest grants included $30,000 to Kids Read Now for book kits for school districts in Oakland County; $20,000 to Michigan Parkinson Foundation for its respite care program; and $19,066 to Six Feet Over for its Lemon Aid program. Other grants included $10,000 each to Fishtown Preservation Society, Michigan Science Center, and The Flint Children’s Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Katherine Moran Wagner as president, Amanda Ann Moran as secretary, and Madison Moran Cregar as treasurer.
William J Nicholson Foundation is led by Katherine Moran Wagner, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Katherine Moran Wagner
President
Secretary → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Madison Moran Cregar
Treasurer
Executive Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Ann Moran
Secretary
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Amanda Ann Moran Lapid (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Lynn Moran (2020) — President
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 William J Nicholson Foundation
How much does William J Nicholson Foundation give each year?
William J Nicholson Foundation gave $115K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $91K across 10 grants.
What is William J Nicholson Foundation's typical grant size?
William J Nicholson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,522, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does William J Nicholson Foundation give grants?
William J Nicholson Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (2 grants).
Does William J Nicholson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on William J Nicholson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are William J Nicholson Foundation's largest grantees?
William J Nicholson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Kids Read Now ($30,000), Michigan Parkinson Foundation ($20,000) and Six Feet Over ($19,066), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William J Nicholson Foundation?
William J Nicholson Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $116K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $112K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does William J Nicholson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William J Nicholson Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William J Nicholson Foundation's EIN?
William J Nicholson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0350937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does William J 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
Live grants for the work William J Nicholson Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in William J Nicholson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
United Way of Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor, MI
To connect people, organizations, and resources together to create a thriving community for everyone.
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$241K
Trinity Health - Michigan
Livonia, MI
Trinity Health - Michigan funds health care access and other community needs, including housing, food assistance, and social services, with grants going to Michigan organizations and local programs serving specified communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $593,286, with a median of $40,000; some local programs offer up to $50,000 per year. The profile describes application processes for specific local programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted generally.
Assets
$5.7B
Grants
58
Total Given
$3.5M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area Inc
Holland, MI
The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area funds charitable work across areas including education, health, housing, human services, arts, and community development, serving the greater Holland/Zeeland area of Michigan. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $23,300; responsive grants include capital awards up to $40,000 and eligible program expansions up to $60,000 over two years. Applicants are directed to contact foundation staff to begin the application process; whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.
Assets
$134.9M
Grants
217
Total Given
$12.6M
Detter Family Foundation Inc
Naples, FL
The foundation funds preselected charitable organizations across varied areas, with most of its giving going to Michigan and smaller shares to Florida and other states. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $19,200, with a median of $6,000; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.6M
Grants
41
Total Given
$249K
Michigan Health Endowment Fund
Brighton, MI
The Michigan Health Endowment Fund supports evidence-based work to improve Michigan residents’ health and wellness and reduce healthcare costs, with particular emphasis on children and older adults; projects must take place in Michigan. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to about $2.5 million, with a median award of $150,000. Application routes vary by program, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$589.1M
Grants
148
Total Given
$36.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William J Nicholson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-j-nicholson-foundation-morg_17409467bd6a4ae89eb7e5d1ca34d9ec
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_270350937_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William J Nicholson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-j-nicholson-foundation-morg_17409467bd6a4ae89eb7e5d1ca34d9ec},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-02. 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 William J 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.
William J Nicholson Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?