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Lynn S Nicholas Family Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Lynn S Nicholas Family Foundation Inc

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$2.0M
Granted FY2025still arriving
9
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$500k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2022 to 2025.

Health$5.1MEducation$2.5MAnimals$730kYouth Development$100kPublic Safety & Disaster$100kEnvironment$25kArts & Culture$15kFood & Nutrition$15kOther$0
02FY2025 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $50k–250k5 grants · $450k
  • $250k+4 grants · $1.6M
$200,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$49M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION$500,000
ROGERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOUNDATION$400,000
UWM FOUNDATION$400,000
MACC FUND$300,000
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN$200,000
WATERTOWN HUMANE SOCIETY$100,000
PASADENA HUMANE$50,000
LAFD FOUNDATION$50,000
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN$50,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY22–22, $15k) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%MILWAUKEE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE: $15k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$7.9M · 8 repeat orgs$710k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +46% since the first grant, against +23% for those funded once.

8 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 2 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

8
17

Total granted

$7.9M
$560k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+46%
+23%

Still filing today

88%
76%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $150k went to new ones.

50%100%’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’22’23’24’25
AnimalsHealthEducationHuman ServicesPhilanthropyRecreation & SportsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • CH
    CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $2.0M · revenue +114%
  • TM
    THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $800k · revenue +9%
  • WH
    WATERTOWN HUMANE SOCIETY INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $400k · revenue +106%

Funded once

  • DG
    DELTA GAMMA FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2022 · $100k
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $100k · revenue +39%
  • ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $50k · revenue +59%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County Inc

The humane animal welfare society of waukesha county leads the community in animal welfare and assures sanctuary for animals in need.

Animals
2
Wisconsin Humane Society

The mission of the Wisconsin Humane Society is to make a difference for animals and the people who love them.

Animals
3
Michigan Humane Society

To improve and save lives through compassionate care, community engagement and advocacy for animals.

Animals
4
Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin Inc

Underdog pet rescue is an all-breed companion animal rescue and vet clinic based out of dane county, wisconsin. our mission is to find permanent homes for animals in need and to enrich lives by strengthening the connection between animals…

Animals
5
Wisconsin Hospital Association Inc

The wisconsin hospital association, inc.'s (wha) mission is advocating for the ability of its members to provide high quality health care services to wisconsin communities.the association fulfills this mission through the following values:…

—
6
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Inc

The purpose of the association shall be to restore and conserve wisconsin's waterfowl and wetland resources; to educate state waterfowlers during their progression from natural resource consumer to steward; and to promote governmental…

Environment
7
Washington Humane Society

The washington humane society protects animals, supports families, and advocates for positive change to create a world where all animals can thrive. we enrich the humanity of our communities by promoting compassion and encouraging people…

Animals
8
Wisconsin Medical Society Inc

To improve the health of the people of wisconsin by supporting and strengthening physicians' ability to practice high quality patient care in a changing environment.

—
9
Angel's Wish Incorporated

Angel's wish is dedicated to reducing animal overpopulation, rehoming companion animals, and raising awareness of animal welfare issues in south central wisconsin.

Animals
10
The Humane Society for Seattleking County

Seattle humane promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need, regardless of age, ability, circumstance or geography.

Animals
11
Missaukee Humane Society

Humane treatement of animals

Animals
12
University of Wisconsin - River Falls Foundation Inc

An independent, not for profit wisconsin corporation, the uwrf foundation is organized solely for the benefit of the university of wisconsin-river falls. private giving to the foundation is essential in raising the level of excellence at…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Elmbrook Humane Society Inc; the most unlike its peers is Loveleo Rescue. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

23 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 23 of the 28 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/23
Grantees still filing
15/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION INC: $2,000,000 · HealthCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION INCROGERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $1,600,000 · HealthROGERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC+2 more: $60,000 · HealthTHE UWM FOUNDATION INC: $1,600,000 · EducationTHE UWM FOUNDATION INCTHE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC: $800,000 · EducationTHE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN…UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION: $100,000 · EducationMACC FUND: $1,200,000 · OtherMACC FUNDDELTA GAMMA FOUNDATION: $100,000 · OtherDELTA GAMMA FOUNDA…+8 more: $135,000 · Other+8 moreWATERTOWN HUMANE SOCIETY INC: $400,000 · AnimalsWATERTOWN…Wags and Walks: $100,000 · AnimalsWags and …PASADENA HUMANE: $50,000 · AnimalsPASADENA …The Labelle Foundation Inc: $50,000 · AnimalsThe Label…LOVELEO RESCUE: $50,000 · AnimalsLOVELEO R…OSHKOSH AREA HUMANE SOCIETY: $25,000 · AnimalsTHE RIDGES SANCTUARY INC: $25,000 · Animals+1 more: $15,000 · AnimalsAURORA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC: $200,000 · PhilanthropyWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $50,000 · InternationalLOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUNDATION: $50,000 · Public Safety & Disaster
Health$3,660,000Education$2,500,000Other$1,435,000Animals$715,000Philanthropy$200,000International$50,000Public Safety & Disaster$50,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION INC: $2,000,000 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetTHE UWM FOUNDATION INC: $1,600,000 over 4y, 1.5% of budgetROGERS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $1,600,000 over 4y, 8.3% of budgetTHE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC: $800,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWATERTOWN HUMANE SOCIETY INC: $400,000 over 4y, 21% of budgetAURORA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC: $200,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetWags and Walks: $100,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Labelle Foundation Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 3.6% of budgetLOVELEO RESCUE: $50,000 over 1y, 6.3% of budgetLOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE RIDGES SANCTUARY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetELMBROOK HUMANE SOCIETY INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetMILWAUKEE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUNGER TASK FORCE INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION: $15,000 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetWAUNAKEE HOOPS CLUB INC: $15,000 over 1y, 17% of budgetCENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PERSONS INC: $10,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Nicholas Family Found…Herbert H Kohl Charit…Greater Milwaukee Fou…Green Bay Packers Fou…Ge Aerospace Foundati…Ralph Evinrude Founda…Evan & Marion Helfaer…Baird Foundation IncNational Philanthropi…The Blackbaud Giving …American Online Givin…Vanguard Charitable E…
Nicholas Family Foundation TrustWI22.1× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Nicholas Family Foundation Trust · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc · Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc · Green Bay Packers Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation · Ralph Evinrude Foundation Inc · Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation · Baird Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Lynn S Nicholas Family Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Lynn S Nicholas Family Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%4%8%11%15%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Lynn S Nicholas Family Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to Lynn S Nicholas Family Foundation Inc through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 28 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Lynn S Nicholas Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home