Nesholm Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 94-3055422 · since 1987nesholmfamilyfoundation.org·Seattle·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$3.9M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The foundation's priority geographic focus is Seattle, so a project serving people there in health and human services, education or the performing arts is the clearest fit.
Only organisations tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) can apply, and the foundation does not fund private foundations (other than qualified private operating funds), conduit organisations, ongoing operations, debt, loans, scholarships or benefit to specific individuals.
The filing shows $3,909,104 paid out in its most recent year but gives no grant range, so set your request from your project's own budget rather than a figure you assume is typical.
Performing arts applicants email the requested materials to grants@nesholmfoundation.org, while health and human services applications are by invitation, with the foundation providing invited applicants the materials and deadline details.
If an application is accepted for further consideration, expect that foundation staff may schedule a site visit.

Overview

Nesholm Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Pennington, NJ.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation makes grants to qualifying organisations for programmes benefiting people in Seattle, in health and human services, education and the performing arts. It is concerned with community, public health and quality-of-life issues. In the performing arts, it particularly values projects that encourage the highest professional performance standards, improve the availability and accessibility of the arts, and support artistic and organisational development. Its education interests include developing the potential of underachieving students, expanding cultural education opportunities for public-school children, and bringing the community to public schools. Applicants must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and not private foundations, except qualified private operating funds.

Themes

Health and human services
Education
Performing arts

Geographic Focus

Priority: Seattle.

What They Don't Fund

Ongoing normal operations or operating deficits
Debt retirement or endowment funds
Loans of any kind
Contributions to general fund drives, annual appeals, federated campaigns
Scholarships and fellowships, or the benefit of specific individuals
Basic science research
Conduit organizations, i.e., tax-exempt organizations that pass funds on to organizations not tax-exempt in their own right
Organizations that carry on propaganda or attempt to influence legislation or elections
Institutions that in policy or practice unfairly discriminate against race, ethnic origin, sex, or creed
Activities of sectarian or religious organizations that principally benefit their own members or adherents
Organizations that are not tax-exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Private foundations as defined in Section 509(a) of the Code, other than qualified private operating funds

How to apply

For Performing Arts, applicants email the requested materials to grants@nesholmfoundation.org. Health and Human Services applications are by invitation; the Foundation provides invited applicants with the materials and deadline details.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

For the performing arts, the Foundation particularly values projects that encourage the highest professional performance standards.
For the performing arts, it particularly values projects that improve the availability and accessibility of the arts.
For the performing arts, it particularly values projects that support artistic and organisational development.
The Foundation is concerned with work addressing community, public health and quality-of-life issues.
In education, it particularly values projects that develop the potential of underachieving students.
In education, it particularly values projects that expand opportunities for cultural education for public-school children.
In education, it particularly values projects that bring the community to public schools.
Foundation staff may schedule a site visit when an application is accepted for further consideration.

Officers and directors

Joaquin Hernandez — Secretary
Maneesh Batra — Treasurer
Laurel Nesholm — Director
Carol Lewis — Vice President
Kirsten Nesholm — Director
Erika J Nesholm — Executive Director
John F Nesholm — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$4,152,568	$3,662,636	$80,709,161	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$4,353,278	$3,825,000	$83,076,733	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$4,454,419	$3,909,104	$77,579,676	Filing 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.