Jonathan M Nelson Family Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3.9M - $8.8M (varies annually)
Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $250 - $6,000,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts; also supports organizations in New Jersey, California, and Virginia

Contact Details

Address: C/O Providence Equity Partners Inc., 50 Kennedy Plaza, 18th Floor, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 751-1700 or (401) 751-0588
Email: Not publicly available
Website: No public website

Note: The foundation does not have a formal application process or public website. Contact information is provided for informational purposes only.

Overview

The Jonathan M Nelson Family Foundation was established in 1999 by Jonathan Nelson, founder and former CEO of Providence Equity Partners and Rhode Island's wealthiest individual. A signatory to The Giving Pledge, Nelson has committed to giving away at least half of his wealth to philanthropy. The foundation manages approximately $179-199 million in assets and distributes $3.9-8.8 million annually in grants.

The foundation's philanthropy is personally motivated, particularly in health-related causes—Nelson lost his first wife to cancer, which drives his consistent support of cancer research and treatment institutions. His giving has historically concentrated on Brown University (his alma mater) and Rhode Island-based organizations, though the foundation has expanded to support institutions across multiple states. The foundation is governed by three trustees with zero reported compensation: Jonathan M Nelson (Director), Jane S Nelson (Trustee), and David K Duffell (Trustee).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined parameters. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion and existing relationships. Grant sizes vary dramatically based on the organization and project:

Major institutional grants: $1M - $6M (primarily to universities and major medical centers)
Mid-level grants: $200K - $625K (research institutions, hospitals, scholarship funds)
Small to moderate grants: $250 - $100K (community organizations, arts, environment, youth services)
Median grant size: $23,000 (2023)

All grants are awarded on a discretionary basis with no fixed deadlines or rolling application process.

Priority Areas

Education (Primary Focus)

Higher education institutions, particularly Brown University (received $6M in 2022 and 2023)
Harvard Business School, Columbia University, Rockefeller University
Student support and scholarship funds, especially for disadvantaged students (Ruth J. Simmons Scholarship Fund at Brown)
K-12 Catholic education access
Youth development organizations (Year Up, Girls Inc.)
Arts education in underserved communities
Entrepreneurship education

Health and Medical Research (Personal Priority)

Cancer research and treatment (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Melanoma Research Foundation, American Cancer Society)
Transplantation research (Columbia University received $1.02M in 2023)
Major medical centers (Massachusetts General Hospital, NY Presbyterian Fund received $1M in 2023, South County Hospital)
Healthcare charitable purposes

Rhode Island Community Initiatives

Environmental conservation (Narrow River Preservation Association, Save the Bay, Rhode Island Zoological Society)
Human services organizations
Arts and culture (Newport Art Museum)

Other Areas

Organizations supporting disadvantaged and underserved communities
Community development and service

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions, grant patterns suggest:

Organizations outside their core focus areas (education, health, environment, youth services, arts)
Organizations without existing connections to the trustees or their networks
Purely national or international organizations without local Rhode Island, New York, or Massachusetts connections

Governance and Leadership

Jonathan M Nelson (Director)

Founder and former CEO of Providence Equity Partners (manages $40 billion in assets)
Brown University alumnus (BA Economics, 1977)
Harvard Business School (MBA, 1983)
Member of Brown's Board of Trustees (2000) and Board of Fellows (2011)
Campaign co-chair for Brown's BrownTogether comprehensive campaign
Giving Pledge signatory
Net worth estimated by Forbes at $3.4 billion (September 2023)
Executive Chairman of Providence Equity through 2024

Jane S Nelson (Trustee)

Role and background not publicly disclosed
Likely family member

David K Duffell (Trustee)

Senior Advisor of Providence Equity Partners (joined 2016)
Former partner in the corporate department of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Represented Providence Equity and its principals for over 30 years
Juris Doctor and Master of Taxation from Boston University School of Law
Bachelor of Arts from Brown University

All three trustees serve with zero reported compensation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Jonathan M Nelson Family Foundation operates as a private family foundation that awards grants through trustee discretion rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. According to Grantmakers.io, their application guidelines indicate "NO STANDARD FORMAT" and no specified deadlines.

Grants are typically awarded to:

Organizations with existing relationships to the trustees
Institutions where the family has historical connections (particularly Brown University)
Organizations introduced through trusted networks
Causes personally meaningful to the Nelson family

The foundation has no website and does not actively solicit grant applications from unknown organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on grant patterns, the most viable pathway to Nelson family philanthropy involves:

Brown University Connection: The vast majority of the foundation's largest grants go to Brown University, where Jonathan Nelson is deeply involved as a trustee, fellow, and campaign co-chair. Organizations collaborating with Brown University programs—particularly the Jonathan M. Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship or programs supporting disadvantaged students—may have indirect access to Nelson family attention.

Providence Equity Partners Network: David Duffell's role as both trustee and senior advisor to Providence Equity Partners suggests that organizations with connections to the firm's network or portfolio companies may have better positioning.

Rhode Island Presence: Organizations with strong Rhode Island credentials, particularly those addressing environmental conservation, healthcare, or community development in the state, align with the family's demonstrated commitment to their home state.

Major Medical Research Institutions: The family's consistent support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, and other premier medical centers indicates openness to relationship-building with leading research institutions, particularly in oncology and transplantation research.

Personal Introductions: Given the foundation's small trustee board and lack of professional staff, personal introductions from individuals known to the family or their professional networks represent the most viable approach.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with only three trustees and no formal application cycles, decisions likely occur on an ad-hoc basis throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation, traditional success rate metrics are not applicable.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private nature, the following factors appear most critical based on grant patterns:

Institutional Prestige and Capacity: The largest grants consistently go to elite institutions—Brown University, Harvard Business School, Columbia University, Rockefeller University, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Organizations must demonstrate exceptional credibility and capacity to manage significant funding.

Rhode Island Connection: Despite supporting organizations across multiple states, Rhode Island-based organizations receive consistent attention, including smaller community-focused grants. Geographic proximity to the foundation's base appears advantageous.

Alignment with Personal Priorities: Health-related causes, particularly cancer research, receive sustained support driven by Jonathan Nelson's personal loss. Organizations addressing causes with personal meaning to the family have clear advantages.

Brown University Affiliation: Direct or indirect connection to Brown University represents perhaps the most significant success factor. The university received $36 million from Nelson personally, plus additional foundation grants of $6 million in both 2022 and 2023.

Long-term Relationship Approach: Grant recipients show patterns of repeat funding (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute receives "consistent support"; Brown receives annual major gifts). The foundation appears to build lasting relationships rather than making one-time grants to many organizations.

Demonstrable Impact on Disadvantaged Populations: Organizations serving disadvantaged students, underserved communities, and populations facing barriers (Year Up, Girls Inc., Ruth J. Simmons Scholarship Fund) align with stated priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals—traditional grant writing will not be effective. Focus instead on relationship-building and network development.
Brown University connection is paramount—if your organization has any potential collaboration or partnership with Brown, particularly through the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship or programs serving disadvantaged students, this represents your strongest pathway.
Rhode Island presence matters—local organizations, especially in education, health, environment, and human services, receive consistent attention despite smaller grant sizes.
Think institutional partnership, not individual grants—the foundation favors elite institutions with proven track records. If you're a smaller organization, consider how you might partner with or be championed by institutions already in the Nelson network.
Cancer research and treatment organizations should explore whether leadership connections exist with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or other Nelson-supported medical centers, which could facilitate introductions.
Be patient and relationship-focused—this is a family foundation with three trustees and no professional staff. Quick decisions and transactional grants are not the operating model.
Geographic expansion is selective—while grants reach nine states, expansion beyond Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts appears tied to specific institutional relationships rather than open geographic mandates.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.