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Nazareth & Nila Festekjian Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Nazareth & Nila Festekjian Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$91k
Granted FY2025still arriving
13
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$50k
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, FY2017 to 2024.

Membership Benefit$145kArts & Culture$144kInternational$93kEducation$35kReligion$30kPublic Safety & Disaster$15kHealth$5kCivil Rights$3kOther$0
02FY2025 · 13 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k10 grants · $21k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $20k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$2,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$2.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ARMENIAN GENERAL BENVOLENT UNION$50,000
ST THOMAS ARMENIAN CHURCH$10,000
CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND INC$10,000
VEM USA INC$8,000
DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF AMERICA$2,500
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY$2,500
CHARITYVEST INC$2,000
THE CARNEGIE HALL CORPORATION$2,000
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT$1,000
DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF AMERICA$1,000
ARMENIAN MISSIONARY ASSOC OF AMER INC$500
ST THOMAS ARMENIAN CHURCH$500
ARMENIAN AMERICAN HEALTHPROFESSIONALS ORGANIZATION$500
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 (FY20–20, $3k) land where the poverty rate runs at 7%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%BERGEN FAMILY CENTER INC: $3k → 7%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.

84%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$471k · 12 repeat orgs$91k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +40% since the first grant, against +33% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 3 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
9

Total granted

$471k
$89k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+40%
+33%

Still filing today

67%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 98% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureEducationInternationalPhilanthropyRecreation & SportsHuman ServicesOther
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

  • VU
    VEM USA
    5× · 2020–2025 · $32k · revenue +488%
  • CO
    CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND INC DBA CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND COAF
    3× · 2021–2025 · $22k · revenue +40%
  • Northwestern University
    5× · 2021–2025 · $13k · revenue +14%

Funded once

  • AG
    ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION
    one grant, 2021 · $50k · revenue -21%
  • DS
    DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD SCHOOLgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $20k · revenue +42%
  • TC
    TEKEYAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $5k · revenue +77%
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
Armenian Sports Hall of Fame
—
2
American University of Armenia Corporation

Support of the educational and research activities of the american university of armenia (aua).

Education
3
Armenian Center for Natl & Intlstudies

To provide an educational resource and research base for students, teachers, and policymakers on a comprehensive agenda of foreign and domestic issues mainly on achieving peace, stability and cooperation in the region and building…

International
4
Armenian National Institute Inc

To promote understanding of the armenian genocide through research, analysis, publication, and public forums; to collect and organize documentation attesting to and preserving the memory of the armenian genocide; and to increase public…

International
5
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research Inc

Founded in 1955, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) is an independent non-profit membership organization, and one of the world's leading Armenian Studies centers and rare book libraries. NAASR advances…

—
6
Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art Inc

To promote armenian contemporary experimental art

Arts & Culture
7
Armenian Relief Society of Eastern Usa Inc

Serves the humanitarian needs of the armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the armenian nation.

International
8
Armenian Film Society

Armenian film society celebrates armenian culture through year-round programming of film screenings, discussions, workshop, and lectures. it shines a spotlight on armenian films and filmmakers, as week as films that deal with armenian…

Arts & Culture
9
Armenian Professional Society Scholarship Fund

Further education

Arts & Culture
10
Armenian American Cultural Association Inc

To promote cultural & educational endeavors between the united states and armenia, and to sponsor humanitarian health projects for the people of armenia. aaca is the founder and main sponsor of the armenian american wellness center (aawc)…

Arts & Culture
11
Armenian National Committee of America Western Region

The anca-wr works in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the western united states to actively advance the concerns of the armenian american community on a range of issues. these issues include…

Civil Rights
12
Armenian Cultural & Educational Center Inc

Provide cultural and educational services to the armenian community

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Armenian General Benevolent Union; the most unlike its peers is Vem Usa. 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

19 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. 19 of the 23 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
19/19
Grantees still filing
13/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION: $163,000 · OtherARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNIONARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION: $50,000 · OtherARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNIONDIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF AMERICA: $19,500 · OtherDIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF AMERICAST THOMAS ARMENIAN CHURCH: $14,500 · OtherST THOMAS ARMENIAN CHURCHARMENIAN MISSIONARY ASSOC OF AMER INC: $9,000 · Other+2 more: $3,000 · OtherARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION GROUP: $118,000 · Arts & CultureARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNI…VEM USA: $32,000 · Arts & CultureVEM USA+2 more: $7,000 · Arts & CultureYERAZART INC: $69,000 · PhilanthropyYERAZART INCENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC: $2,500 · Philanthropy+1 more: $2,000 · PhilanthropyCHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND INC DBA CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND COAF: $22,000 · InternationalTHE HALO TRUST (USA) INC: $7,000 · InternationalARMENIAN AMERICAN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ORGANIZATION INC: $1,500 · InternationalDWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD SCHOOL: $20,000 · EducationHOVNANIAN SCHOOL INC: $5,000 · EducationAMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT: $3,000 · EducationNorthwestern University: $12,500 · Recreation & SportsBERGEN FAMILY CENTER: $2,500 · Human ServicesTHE ARMENIAN EYECARE PROJECT: $1,000 · Health
Other$259,000Arts & Culture$157,000Philanthropy$73,500International$30,500Education$28,000Recreation & Sports$12,500Human Services$2,500Health$1,000

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 budgetARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION GROUP: $118,000 over 2y, 11% of budgetYERAZART INC: $69,000 over 3y, 33% of budgetARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVEM USA: $32,000 over 5y, 2.1% of budgetCHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND INC DBA CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND COAF: $22,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetDWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD SCHOOL: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNorthwestern University: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HALO TRUST (USA) INC: $7,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTEKEYAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetHOVNANIAN SCHOOL INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBERGEN FAMILY CENTER: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CARNEGIE HALL CORPORATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCARNEGIE HALL INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetARMENIAN AMERICAN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ORGANIZATION INC: $1,500 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetST NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ARMENIAN EYECARE PROJECT: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

Nazarian Family Found…Afeyan Family Foundat…Armenia Empyrean Foun…Levon & Claudia Nazar…The Jirair S and Eliz…Ara & Edma Dumanian F…Charles Mosesian Fami…John Mirak FoundationThe James H and Marta…Balakian Family Found…Cherchian Family Foun…The Parsekian Foundat…
Nazarian Family FoundationNJ24.2× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Nazarian Family Foundation · Afeyan Family Foundation · Armenia Empyrean Foundation · Levon & Claudia Nazarian Family Foundation Inc (Levon Nazarian Fd'N) · The Jirair S and Elizabeth Hovnanian Family Foundation Inc · Ara & Edma Dumanian Foundation · Charles Mosesian Family Foundation · John Mirak Foundation · The James H and Marta T Batmasian Family Foundation Inc · Balakian Family Foundation · Cherchian Family Foundation Inc · The Parsekian Foundation Inc

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 Nazareth & Nila Festekjian Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Nazareth & Nila Festekjian Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 40%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 25%
  • Bergen Family Center: 25% of income from government
  • Hovnanian School Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
4get no government money at all
1report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
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 Nazareth & Nila Festekjian Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Nazareth & Nila Festekjian Family Foundation 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 23 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

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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