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The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inc

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$2.8M
Granted FY2025still arriving
27
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$600k
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.

Education$1.8MEnvironment$1.4MPhilanthropy$1.3MRecreation & Sports$950kArts & Culture$780kHuman Services$550kHealth$471kFood & Nutrition$156kOther$0
02FY2025 · 27 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k1 grant · $5k
  • $10k–50k11 grants · $198k
  • $50k–250k10 grants · $930k
  • $250k+5 grants · $1.7M
$50,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$52M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NATIVITY JESUIT ACADEMY$600,000
FRIENDS OF PENINSULA STATE PARK INC$300,000
THE RIDGES SANCTUARY INC$265,000
DOOR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC$250,000
DOOR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC$250,000
AFAR INC$200,000
FRIENDS OF THE DOMES INC - MILWAUKEE DOMES ALLIANCE$200,000
UWM FOUNDATION INC$100,000
DOOR COUNTY BOOKMOBILE$85,000
PENINSULA SCHOOL OF ART INC$75,000
RADIO MILWAUKEE$70,000
ST JUDE THE APOSTLE SCHOOL$50,000
THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC$50,000
VILLAGE OF EGG HARBOR PEG EGAN PAC$50,000
REFLO INC$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 (FY24–25, $550k) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%AFAR INC: $350k → 17%AFAR INC: $200k → 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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 11% of The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inc’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 99% of the giving stays in WI; by stated purpose, 94%.

The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inclessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

87%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$5.3M · 22 repeat orgs$814k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +20% since the first grant, against +8% for those funded once.

22 repeat relationships: 19 still active in FY2025, 3 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
14

Total granted

$5.3M
$651k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+20%
+8%

Still filing today

86%
86%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $163k 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
EnvironmentEducationArts & CultureRecreation & SportsHealthYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • FO
    FRIENDS OF PENINSULA STATE PARK INC
    3× · 2023–2025 · $620k · revenue +260% · 49% of their budget
  • AI
    AFAR INC DBA THE ABILITY CENTER
    2× · 2024–2025 · $550k · revenue +62%
  • MD
    MILWAUKEE DOMES ALLIANCE INC
    2× · 2024–2025 · $300k · revenue +20%

Funded once

  • FEEDING AMERICA EASTERN WISCONSIN INC
    one grant, 2023 · $156k · revenue +17%
  • SC
    SOUTH CENTRAL LIBRARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2024 · $150k · revenue +39%
  • EH
    EGG HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
    one grant, 2023 · $75k
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
Landmark Conservancy Inc

Landmark conservancy is a nationally accredited, nonprofit conservation organization serving 20 counties across northwest wisconsin. their mission is to conserve wisconsin's natural legacy for everyone...forever.

Environment
2
Milwaukee Parks Foundation Inc

Engage our community in supporting milwaukee county parks to collectively steward a thriving park system.

Environment
3
Door County Land Trust Inc

The door county land trust is a local, non-governmental non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve door county's exceptional lands and waters forever.

Environment
4
Wisconsin Policy Forum Inc

We conduct impartial public policy research and analysis to drive informed debate and effective decision-making in the state of wisconsin.

Public Benefit
5
Wisconsin's Green Fire Incorporated

Advance science-informed analysis and policy solutions that address wisconsin's greatest conservation challenges.

Environment
6
Wisconsin Association of Lakes Inc

The mission of the wisconsin association of lakes is to conserve, enhance, and restore wisconsin's 15,000 lakes to ensure their sustainability for the benefit and collective use and enjoyment for this and future generations.

Environment
7
Fund for Lake Michigan Inc

Lake Michigan is one of Wisconsin's greatest assets, and its water is critical to the state's future. The Fund for Lake Michigan is here to help sustain the Lake on behalf of the people and places that depend on it. Our goal is to have a…

Environment
8
Friends of Wisconsin State Parks Inc

To preserve, promote, protect, and enhance wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas.

Recreation & Sports
9
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Inc

The wisconsin wildlife federation has a dual mission to engage in conservation education and to advocate for sound conservation policy.

Environment
10
Natural Resources Foundation of

To protect wisconsin's lands, waters, and wildlife by providing funding, leading partnerships, and connecting all people with nature.

—
11
Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association Inc

To protect, conserve, and enhance wisconsin's natural resources by advocating for and supporting county conservation efforts, for current and future generations.

Environment
12
Disability Rights Wisconsin Inc

Legal protection and advocacy to protect the rights of people with disabilities in wisconsin.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Educational Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Kipsongo Project Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

35 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. 35 of the 43 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.

3
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
35/35
Grantees still filing
23/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NATIVITY JESUIT ACADEMY INC: $1,170,634 · OtherNATIVITY JESUIT ACADEMY INCDCMC: $200,000 · OtherDCMCGRAND AVENUE CLUB INC: $185,706 · OtherGRAND AVENUE CLUB INCVILLAGE OF EGG HARBOR PEG EGAN PAC: $150,000 · OtherVILLAGE OF EGG HARBOR PEG EGAN PACREFLO INC: $175,000 · OtherREFLO INCFRIENDS OF SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER INC: $115,000 · OtherFEEDING AMERICA EASTERN WISCONSIN INC: $156,000 · OtherFEEDING AMERICA EASTERN WISCONSIN INC+18 more: $572,010 · Other+18 moreDOOR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $1,320,000 · PhilanthropyDOOR COUNTY COMMUNIT…FRIENDS OF PENINSULA STATE PARK INC: $620,000 · Recreation & SportsFRIENDS OF PEN…MILWAUKEE DOMES ALLIANCE INC: $300,000 · Recreation & SportsMILWAUKEE DOME…+1 more: $20,000 · Recreation & SportsTHE RIDGES SANCTUARY INC: $835,000 · AnimalsTHE RIDGES S…AFAR INC DBA THE ABILITY CENTER: $550,000 · Human ServicesTHE UWM FOUNDATION INC: $300,000 · EducationSOUTH CENTRAL LIBRARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION INC: $150,000 · EducationTHE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC: $50,000 · EducationDOOR COMMUNITY AUDITORIUM CORP: $20,000 · EducationTOSA TONIGHT INC: $20,000 · Education+1 more: $10,000 · EducationDOOR COUNTY BOOKMOBILE INC: $160,000 · Arts & CulturePENINSULA SCHOOL OF ART INC: $150,000 · Arts & CultureRADIO MILWAUKEE INC: $95,000 · Arts & CultureDOOR SHAKESPEARE INC: $60,000 · Arts & CultureWRITE ON DOOR COUNTY INC: $50,000 · Arts & CultureGUMBO LIMBO COASTAL STEWARDS INC: $23,000 · Arts & Culture
Other$2,724,350Philanthropy$1,320,000Recreation & Sports$940,000Animals$835,000Human Services$550,000Education$550,000Arts & Culture$538,000

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetDOOR COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $1,320,000 over 3y, 5.4% of budgetTHE RIDGES SANCTUARY INC: $835,000 over 3y, 15% of budgetFRIENDS OF PENINSULA STATE PARK INC: $620,000 over 3y, 49% of budgetAFAR INC DBA THE ABILITY CENTER: $550,000 over 2y, 24% of budgetMILWAUKEE DOMES ALLIANCE INC: $300,000 over 2y, 13% of budgetTHE UWM FOUNDATION INC: $300,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetGRAND AVENUE CLUB INC: $185,706 over 2y, 7.3% of budgetREFLO INC: $175,000 over 2y, 9.1% of budgetDOOR COUNTY BOOKMOBILE INC: $160,000 over 2y, 83% of budgetFEEDING AMERICA EASTERN WISCONSIN INC: $156,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetPENINSULA SCHOOL OF ART INC: $150,000 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetFRIENDS OF SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER INC: $115,000 over 3y, 1.6% of budgetRADIO MILWAUKEE INC: $95,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetGATHERING WATERS INC: $70,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN INC: $60,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDOOR SHAKESPEARE INC: $60,000 over 3y, 8.7% of budgetTHE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWRITE ON DOOR COUNTY INC: $50,000 over 1y, 8.3% of budgetTALL PINES CONSERVANCY: $45,000 over 2y, 5.3% of budgetNORTHWOODS LAND TRUST INC: $40,000 over 2y, 2.7% of budgetRESTORING LANDS INC: $40,000 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE BAY AND LAKES REGION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIAS: $25,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetGUMBO LIMBO COASTAL STEWARDS INC: $23,000 over 1y, 8.4% of budgetTHE AEMILIAN PRESCHOOL INC: $22,010 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetBreckenridge Outdoor Education Center: $20,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetCROSSROADS AT BIG CREEK INC: $20,000 over 1y, 4.3% of budgetDOOR COMMUNITY AUDITORIUM CORP: $20,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetTOSA TONIGHT INC: $20,000 over 2y, 39% of budgetBICYCLE FEDERATION OF WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - GREEN BAY FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMILWAUKEE KICKERS SOCCER CLUB INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWHEELS FOR WINNERS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 7.6% 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.

Green Bay Packers Fou…Greater Milwaukee Fou…Herbert H Kohl Charit…Door County Community…Baird Foundation IncGreater Green Bay Com…Ellsworth and Carla P…Curt and Sue Culver F…Lutsey Family Foundat…Maihaugen Foundation …Hislop Family Foundat…Mmg Foundation Inc
Green Bay Packers FoundationWI31.8× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Green Bay Packers Foundation · Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc · Door County Community Foundation Inc · Baird Foundation Inc · Greater Green Bay Community Foundation Inc · Ellsworth and Carla Peterson Charitable Foundation · Curt and Sue Culver Family Foundation Inc · Lutsey Family Foundation · Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency Xxxxxx2262 · Hislop Family Foundation · Mmg 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 The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    9report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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 The Lori and David Nicholas Family Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to The Lori and David 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 43 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 Lori and David 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