Nesholm Family Foundation
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $3,825,000 (2023)
- Total Assets: $33.2 million
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly specified
- Geographic Focus: Seattle, Washington
Contact Details
- Mailing Address: PO Box 3586, Seattle, WA 98124-0000
- Phone: Not publicly available
- Email: Not publicly available
- Website: No public website identified
Overview
The Nesholm Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1987 and based in Seattle, Washington. With total assets of approximately $33.2 million and annual charitable disbursements of $3.8-4.3 million, the foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on supporting organizations that benefit the people of Seattle. As a private non-operating foundation, it maintains a low public profile with no dedicated website or publicly available application process. The foundation operates with an all-volunteer board of directors, primarily composed of Nesholm family members, who receive no compensation for their service.
Funding Priorities
Priority Areas
The foundation focuses on three primary areas:
- Health and human services
- Education
- Performing arts
All grants are restricted to organizations benefiting the people of Seattle.
What They Don't Fund
While not explicitly stated, as a private family foundation focused on Seattle-area organizations, they likely do not fund:
- Organizations outside the Seattle area
- Individual requests
- For-profit ventures
Governance and Leadership
The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors consisting primarily of family members:
- John F. Nesholm - President
- Erika J. Nesholm - Executive Director
- Carol Lewis - Vice President
- Maneesh Batra - Treasurer
- Joaquin Hernandez - Secretary
- Kirsten Nesholm - Director
- Laurel Nesholm - Director
All board members serve without compensation, demonstrating the family's commitment to maximizing charitable impact.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees based on their identified priorities and existing relationships with Seattle-area organizations.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly available. As a private foundation without a public application process, grant decisions are likely made during regular board meetings.
Application Success Factors
Given the private nature of this foundation and lack of public application process, organizations seeking support should:
- Demonstrate clear benefit to Seattle residents
- Align with one of the three focus areas (health/human services, education, performing arts)
- Have established credibility and track record in the Seattle nonprofit community
- Consider building relationships through board member networks and connections
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The Nesholm Family Foundation is a significant funder in the Seattle philanthropic landscape with nearly $4 million in annual giving
- Without a public application process, relationship building and network connections are essential
- Strong geographic restriction to Seattle-area beneficiaries
- Focus on established organizations in health, education, and arts sectors
- The foundation maintains a very low public profile with minimal online presence
- All governance is handled by family members serving without compensation
- Consider identifying board member affiliations and connections as pathways to introduction
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Nesholm Family Foundation (EIN: 943055422) - Accessed December 2024
- CauseIQ Foundation Directory - Nesholm Family Foundation Profile - Accessed December 2024
- Charity Navigator - Nesholm Family Foundation (EIN: 94-3055422) - Accessed December 2024