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Todd And Shari Nelson Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$10.1M
Grant Range
$4500K - $10.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,087,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly ($4.5M - $10M+ annually)
  • Geographic Focus: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas (Kalahari Resort communities)

Contact Details

  • Website: nelson-foundation.org
  • Phone: 608-254-5320
  • Email: Not publicly available
  • Address: PO Box 590, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965-0590
  • Contact Person: Mary Bonte Spath (c/o)

Overview

The Todd And Shari Nelson Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 2015 by Todd R. Nelson, President of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, and his wife Shari. With annual giving ranging from $4.5 million to over $10 million in recent years, the foundation focuses on improving quality of life through health and education initiatives in communities where Kalahari Resorts operates. The foundation has made significant grants to preselected organizations, including international water access projects in Africa. Operating with volunteer leadership and no paid staff, the foundation channels substantial resources through a trustee-directed grant-making approach without accepting unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes large, strategic grants through trustee discretion:

  • Annual grant totals: $4.5M - $10M+
  • Recent grants: 3 awards totaling $10,087,500 (2023), 1 award of $4,500,000 (2022)
  • Application method: Invitation only/trustee selection

Priority Areas

  • Health initiatives in served communities
  • Education programs and institutions
  • International water access projects (50 boreholes drilled in Zimbabwe and Eastern Cape, Africa)
  • Community quality of life improvements

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
  • Projects unrelated to health and education

Governance and Leadership

President: Todd R. Nelson (President of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions)

Vice President: Shari L. Nelson

Board Members/Officers:

  • Travis Nelson
  • Mary Bonte Spath (Treasurer/Board Member, CFO of Kalahari Resorts, CPA)
  • Alissa Gander
  • Natasha Lucke
  • Steve Pine

All leadership positions are voluntary with no compensation provided.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to their most recent IRS filing, they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations identified by the foundation.

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations cannot apply directly, but potential beneficiaries should note:

  • The foundation primarily supports organizations in communities where Kalahari Resorts operates (Wisconsin Dells, WI; Sandusky, OH; Pocono Mountains, PA; Round Rock, TX)
  • Strong alignment with health and education initiatives is essential
  • Existing relationships with foundation trustees or Kalahari Resorts leadership may facilitate consideration

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

As this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. Organizations that receive funding typically:

  • Operate in Kalahari Resort communities
  • Have established relationships with foundation leadership
  • Demonstrate clear alignment with health and education priorities
  • Show capacity to manage large grants ($1M+)
  • Have track records of community impact in the foundation's geographic areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public applications accepted - this foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application channels
  • Geographic focus is tightly aligned with Kalahari Resorts locations
  • Grant sizes are substantial, often exceeding $1 million per award
  • The foundation operates with all-volunteer leadership, suggesting personal involvement in grant decisions
  • Health and education are the consistent thematic priorities
  • International projects (particularly water access) have been supported despite domestic geographic focus
  • Organizations in Wisconsin Dells/Baraboo area may have best positioning given foundation's home base

References

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