Francis T & Louis T Nichols Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 01-0493311 · since 1995·Maine, Vermont·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.6M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$3,000 to $55,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$18,000
Typical grant (median)
88 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The foundation names Maine and Vermont as its priorities, and its recorded grants are concentrated in those two states, so work based there is the clearest fit.
  • Most of its grants are modest: half of its 90 grants to organisations were $16,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $3,000 and $55,000, so a request in that band is typical, though the largest grant was about $490,000 to Maine Community Foundation, an organisation that regrants to others.
  • The application is open, with a December 1 deadline, so the request should be ready well before then.
  • The filing shows less than 1% of grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests that a clear, self-contained request matters more here than an existing relationship.

Overview

Francis T & Louis T Nichols Foundation is a US private foundation based in Bangor, ME.

What they fund

Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation's recorded grants went to a varied group of charitable organisations, including community foundations, schools and student-assistance organisations, health and hospice services, housing and domestic-violence support, food assistance, youth and family services, libraries, museums and fire services. The filing describes every listed purpose simply as a donation, rather than naming a field of work. Maine and Vermont are stated priorities, and the recorded grants are concentrated in those two states. The recipient mix also includes community health providers, food banks, libraries, museums, youth organisations and emergency services, reflecting support across local and regional charitable work rather than one narrowly defined cause.

Geographic Focus

Priority: Maine; Vermont.

How to apply

The filing labels the process an open application.

Deadlines: Applications have a December 1 deadline.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, less than 1% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 90 grants to organisations were $16,000 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Maine50%
Vermont45%
Massachusetts2%
Virginia2%
Pennsylvania<1%
District of Columbia<1%

1 other state: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 19% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, <1% of grant dollars went to organisations Francis T & Louis T Nichols Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 22% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

88 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $18,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 88 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k1%
$1k–$2.5k2%
$2.5k–$5k13%
$5k–$10k15%
$10k–$25k33%
$25k–$50k22%
$50k–$100k13%
$100k–$250k1%
$250k–$500k1%

Median $18,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Maine Community Foundation · Donation
    $491,0002024 tax year
  • Vermont Student Assistance Corporation · Donation
    $100,0002024 tax year
  • George Stevens Academy · Donation
    $90,0002024 tax year
  • Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity · Donation
    $85,0002024 tax year
  • Hancock County Habitat for Humanity · Donation
    $85,0002024 tax year
  • Maine Children's Home · Donation
    $80,0002024 tax year
  • Lund Family Center · Donation
    $67,0002024 tax year
  • Partners For Peacespruce Run · Donation
    $65,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Susan Thibault — Trustee
  • Nathaniel S Putnam — Trustee
  • William Nichols — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$2,444,580$2,200,000$38,122,017Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$2,437,831$2,150,000$45,379,981Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$2,914,315$2,600,000$56,437,776Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

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