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Stephanie And Peter Nolan Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.0M
000

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,025,084 (2023); $6,500,000 (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only/discretionary)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Varies widely - average $100,836 (2023), $325,000 (2022)
  • Geographic Focus: Southern California and national (strong Cornell University focus)
  • Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Stephanie And Peter Nolan Foundation 338 Pier Ave (or 58 11th St) Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-3617 Phone: 424-675-7607

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and operates through trustee discretion.

Overview

The Stephanie And Peter Nolan Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2014 (tax-exempt since June 2014) and based in Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2024, the foundation holds approximately $14.5 million in assets. The foundation distributed $3,025,084 through 30 grants in 2023 and $6,500,000 through 20 grants in 2022, demonstrating significant philanthropic commitment with year-to-year variation in grant amounts. Founded by Peter J. Nolan, founder and chairman of Nolan Capital Inc. and former Managing Partner at Leonard Green & Partners, and his wife Stephanie Nolan, who worked for the L'Ermitage Hotel Group and as resident manager of the Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas, the foundation focuses on education (particularly Catholic education and their mutual alma mater Cornell University), child welfare services, medical research, and organizations serving Southern California communities. The couple's philanthropic approach reflects their personal values rooted in Catholic faith, educational access, and early childhood development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed amounts. Instead, grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. Based on recent tax filings:

  • 2023: 30 awards totaling $3,025,084 (average: ~$100,836 per grant)
  • 2022: 20 awards totaling $6,500,000 (average: ~$325,000 per grant)
  • 2021: 23 awards
  • 2020: 52 awards
  • 2017: $600,000 in total grants

The wide variation in average grant sizes suggests the foundation makes both smaller community grants and larger institutional gifts.

Priority Areas

Education

  • Cornell University (major benefactor - $50 million gift to establish the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration in 2021)
  • Catholic education institutions (Loyola High School, Marymount High School, Catholic Education Foundation)
  • Early childhood education programs
  • Scholarship funding, particularly for veterans

Catholic Institutions

  • Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
  • American Martyrs Catholic Church (Manhattan Beach, California)
  • Catholic secondary schools in Southern California

Child Welfare Services

  • CASA Foundation (addressing child abuse)
  • Children's Bureau (child welfare services)

Medical Research

  • St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
  • Lupus LA
  • Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research

Higher Education

  • The UCLA Foundation

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not publicly disclosed specific exclusions. However, based on their giving history, funding is concentrated in the areas listed above and primarily supports organizations with connections to Southern California or Cornell University.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team:

  • Peter J. Nolan - President and Trustee

    • Founder and Chairman of Nolan Capital Inc. (founded 2014)
    • Former Managing Partner at Leonard Green & Partners (1997-2014), where he helped grow assets under management from $500 million to over $75 billion
    • Former Managing Director and Co-Head of DLJ's Los Angeles Investment Banking Division
    • Cornell University graduate (BS in Agricultural Economics and Finance '80, MBA '82)
    • Board member of Limoneira Company

  • Stephanie J. Nolan - Vice President and Trustee

    • Former hospitality professional with L'Ermitage Hotel Group
    • Former resident manager of Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas (West Hollywood)
    • Grew up in Ithaca, NY; daughter of Dr. Robert S. Perry, an ophthalmologist
    • Active volunteer with American Martyrs Catholic Church community in Manhattan Beach

  • David J. Nolan - Secretary and Trustee

Compensation: No compensation is reported for any officers, indicating purely volunteer governance.

Philanthropic Philosophy:

Stephanie has stated that she and Peter are "passionate about funding programs in early childhood education to enhance enrollment and learning." Their major gift to Cornell was motivated by a desire to "provide scholarship funding to expand educational access for future generations of hospitality leaders."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Stephanie And Peter Nolan Foundation does not have a public application process. This is a private family foundation that awards grants at the discretion of its trustees, Peter, Stephanie, and David Nolan. Grants appear to be made to organizations with which the family has established relationships or personal connections.

The foundation operates with a low public profile and does not maintain a public website, application guidelines, or formal grant programs. Funding decisions are made internally by the trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and personal interests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than a formal review cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that may attract the Nolans' attention share these characteristics:

Alignment with Family Values:

  • Catholic education and faith-based institutions
  • Early childhood education and educational access
  • Child welfare and protection services
  • Medical research institutions with national reputations
  • Organizations serving Southern California communities

Connection Points:

  • Cornell University affiliations (the Nolans are major Cornell benefactors)
  • Hospitality industry connections (both Peter and Stephanie have backgrounds in hospitality)
  • Catholic institutions in the Los Angeles area
  • Organizations where the Nolans have personal involvement or volunteer connections (e.g., American Martyrs Catholic Church)

Institutional Characteristics:

  • Established, reputable organizations with clear track records
  • Organizations focusing on expanding access and opportunity
  • Institutions that align with scholarship funding and educational access
  • Organizations addressing child welfare and protection

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Cornell University (hospitality education, scholarships, educational access)
  • Catholic education institutions in Los Angeles (Loyola High School, Marymount High School)
  • Child welfare organizations (CASA Foundation, Children's Bureau)
  • Major medical research institutions (St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital)
  • Catholic social services (Catholic Charities of Los Angeles)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation operates entirely through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited proposals. It is not accessible through traditional grant-seeking methods.

  • Relationship-Driven Philanthropy: Grants appear to flow to organizations where the family has personal connections, volunteer involvement, or institutional loyalty (especially Cornell University).

  • Focus on Educational Access: The Nolans consistently support scholarship programs and initiatives that expand educational opportunities, particularly in hospitality education and Catholic schools.

  • Southern California and Cornell: Geographic focus is split between Southern California (where they reside) and Cornell University (their shared alma mater).

  • Catholic Faith Central: The family's Catholic faith significantly influences their giving, with consistent support for Catholic education, churches, and Catholic-affiliated social services.

  • Variable Grant Sizes: The foundation makes both large institutional gifts (like the $50 million to Cornell) and smaller community grants, showing flexibility in grant amounts based on the opportunity.

  • Low Public Profile: The foundation maintains minimal public presence - no website, no published guidelines, limited public information beyond IRS filings. This suggests they prefer to operate privately and manage their philanthropy internally.

References

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