Church Of The Good Shepherd

Church Of The Good Shepherd is a small private family foundation headquartered in Stuart, Florida (Martin County), with a secondary geographic focus on the New Hampshire Lakes Region (particularly the Sunapee/New London area). The foundation was established by the Nichol family — led by James S. Nichol (President/Treasurer) and Kathryn Nichol (Vice President/Secretary) — and operates as a faith-inspired philanthropic vehicle channeling investment income into charitable grants each year. Neither officer draws compensation, consistent with a closely-held family foundation model.

The foundation's NTEE code (X21Z — Religion) reflects its Protestant Episcopal church origins, but grantmaking spans well beyond religious programming into youth education, healthcare, mental health treatment, domestic violence services, and environmental conservation. This breadth signals a family with wide community interests and long-standing ties to both Florida's Treasure Coast and New Hampshire's Lakes Region.

The dual-state footprint — approximately 82% of grant dollars flowing to Florida organizations and 12% to New Hampshire — suggests the Nichol family divides time between Stuart, FL and the Sunapee/New London, NH area. The NH connections include the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, NEHSA (New England Handicapped Sports Association, based in Newbury NH), The Fells (historic estate on Lake Sunapee), New London Hospital, Integrare (Hanover NH), Whaleback Mountain (Enfield NH ski area), and Ausbon Sargent Land Foundation (New London NH land trust). This pattern is consistent with a Florida-primary, New Hampshire-summer family with 30+ year community roots in both regions.

Assets have declined from a peak of ~$2.1M (2012) to ~$1.1M (2023), a trend attributable to consistent annual distributions exceeding investment income in recent years. Total giving from 2019-2023 averaged approximately $181,000/year, while net investment income averaged approximately $105,000/year — meaning the foundation is drawing down principal at a rate of roughly $75,000/year. At this trajectory, assets could reach the $700-800K range by 2027-2028 unless investment returns improve or distribution rates are reduced.

From 2022-2023 IRS 990-PF data (89 total grant records, partially duplicated across years), the foundation's giving patterns reveal distinct priorities:

By Category (2022-2023 combined): - Religious Education: $212,500 (30.6%) — largest category, dominated by Hope Rural School (Indiantown FL), Palm City Presbyterian Church, National Christian Foundation of South Florida, and St. Labre Indian School - Youth Education: $160,200 (23.1%) — Boys & Girls Club of Martin County, Young Life Martin County, USSCMC, Sailfish Point Foundation, Ausbon Sargent, NEHSA, The Fells - Medical/Healthcare: $83,000 (12.0%) — Light of the World, Volunteers in Medicine, Christian Community Dental, Barstow Reed Society, Cancer Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Dartmouth - Environmental Education & Preservation: $73,100 (10.5%) — Florida Oceanographic Society, Lake Sunapee Protective Association, Ausbon Sargent, The Fells - Mental Health Treatment: $70,000 (10.1%) — Project Lyft (Palm City FL) is the sole recipient; received $25,000 in both 2022 and 2023 - Children & Family Services: $35,000 (5.0%) — Community Foundation Martin-St Lucie ($25K in 2023), Place of Hope TC - Domestic Violence/Women's Shelter: $30,000 (4.3%) — SafeSpace Inc and Mary's Shelter (both Stuart FL), consistent annual grants of ~$5,000 each

Grant size distribution: Most grants cluster between $3,000-$10,000, with $5,000 being the most common size. Larger grants ($15,000-$25,000) go to repeat, high-priority recipients (Hope Rural School, Project Lyft, Palm City Presbyterian Church, USSCMC, Young Life Martin County, Whaleback Mountain). The $34,000 maximum recorded likely reflects a split-year or combined disbursement.

Geographic concentration: Stuart, FL organizations receive the majority of grants — particularly nonprofits within a 15-mile radius of downtown Stuart (Hobe Sound, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Indiantown). Out-of-state grants go almost exclusively to NH organizations the Nichols know personally, plus two national organizations (Cancer Research Institute, NY; St. Labre Indian School, MT; Mother Caroline Academy, MA).

Repeat grantees signal highest-priority relationships: Hope Rural School (5+ grants), Project Lyft (4+ grants), Young Life Martin County (4+ grants), Boys & Girls Club Martin County (3+ grants), Florida Oceanographic Society (3+ grants), SafeSpace Inc (3+ grants), Mary's Shelter (3+ grants), and Lake Sunapee Protective Association (3+ grants) are the core portfolio.

Church Of The Good Shepherd Foundation occupies a distinctive niche in Martin County, Florida's philanthropic landscape. With ~$1.1M in assets, it is a small-to-mid family foundation by national standards, but meaningful within Martin County's relatively modest nonprofit ecosystem.

Martin County philanthropic context: Martin County (population ~165,000) is an affluent coastal community anchored by Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, and Hobe Sound. The county's philanthropic ecosystem includes the Community Foundation for Martin and St. Lucie Counties (the county's primary community foundation, which the Good Shepherd Foundation has itself supported with a $25,000 grant), United Way of Martin County, and a network of church-affiliated charities. The Good Shepherd Foundation is one of a handful of private foundations based in Stuart, consistent with its status as a small affluent coastal market.

New Hampshire Lakes Region context: The Sunapee/New London, NH philanthropic community is a tight-knit seasonal community, with organizations like Lake Sunapee Protective Association, The Fells, Ausbon Sargent Land Foundation, New London Hospital, NEHSA, and Whaleback Mountain forming an interconnected network of local conservation, culture, and community service. The Nichol family's consistent giving to this cluster over multiple years marks them as a recognized community supporter in this region.

Peer foundations: Similar-profile private family foundations in Martin County and Treasure Coast Florida include the Cummings Foundation, various unnamed church-sponsored foundations, and donor-advised funds held at Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie. The Good Shepherd Foundation's consistent double-digit giving since at least 2011 sets it apart from many smaller foundations that give sporadically.

Distinctive feature — dual community roots: Few foundations of this asset size maintain genuine philanthropic depth in two distinct geographic communities (Stuart FL and Sunapee/New London NH). This reflects a family with 30+ year ties to both regions, giving the foundation unusual breadth for its size.

Recent giving trajectory (2019-2023): - FY2019: $150,943 total giving | $1,490,062 assets - FY2020: $141,095 total giving | $1,421,220 assets (COVID year — minimal reduction in giving) - FY2021: $155,785 total giving | $1,494,185 assets (assets partially recovered via investment gains) - FY2022: $265,740 total giving | $1,201,238 assets (spike in giving — highest on record; assets declined ~$293K) - FY2023: $192,104 total giving | $1,118,616 assets (moderated after FY2022 spike; still above average)

The FY2022 distribution spike ($265,740) is notable — nearly 75% above the prior-year level. This may reflect a one-time distribution decision, accumulated income from a strong investment year (FY2021 saw $228,750 in revenue), or a family milestone event. The FY2023 return to $192,104 suggests normalization.

New grantees in FY2023 (vs. FY2022): Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie received a new $25,000 grant — the largest new entrant in 2023. This pass-through to the county community foundation may reflect the Nichols' interest in broadening community impact or creating a donor-advised fund within CFMSL.

Whaleback Mountain (Enfield NH): Received $15,000 in FY2022 — a significant new NH grantee, suggesting an expanded relationship with the Enfield/Sunapee area ski community, consistent with family recreational interests.

Asset trajectory concern: Total assets have declined from $2.1M (2012) to $1.1M (2023) — a 47% reduction over 11 years. Net investment income in FY2023 was $106,252 against total giving of $192,104 — a gap of ~$86,000 funded from principal. At this rate, the foundation's grantmaking capacity will decline materially within 5-10 years unless the Nichol family injects new capital or reduces distribution rates. This is a meaningful consideration for organizations seeking long-term partnership.

Foundation status: Currently active and filing annually (most recent 990-PF filed for fiscal year 2023, tax period December 2023). No signs of dissolution or reduced activity.

For Stuart, FL-based nonprofits:

Church Of The Good Shepherd is a preselected private foundation — it does not publish an open RFP or accept unsolicited grant applications. Grants are made entirely at the discretion of James S. Nichol and Kathryn Nichol, the family trustees. However, several patterns suggest practical pathways for relationship building:

1. Be visible in the Stuart community. The foundation's core grantees — Boys & Girls Club of Martin County, Young Life Martin County, SafeSpace Inc, Mary's Shelter, Volunteers in Medicine, Christian Community Dental, Florida Oceanographic Society — are all community institutions the Nichol family would naturally encounter through church attendance, civic life, and community events in Stuart/Palm City/Jensen Beach. Presence at community events, board service, and church-affiliated activities increases visibility.

2. Align with demonstrated priorities. The strongest fit areas based on grantmaking history: (a) faith-based or faith-adjacent programming, (b) youth education and development, (c) accessible healthcare or dental services for underserved populations, (d) mental health services, (e) domestic violence/women's shelter services, (f) environmental education. Organizations in these categories operating in Martin County should ensure the Nichol family is aware of their work.

3. Grant size expectations. Realistic ask range for a new grantee is $3,000-$10,000. Repeat grantees with strong relationships have reached $15,000-$25,000. The foundation's asset trajectory suggests keeping asks conservative.

4. New Hampshire connection. Organizations in the Sunapee/New London NH area serving youth development, land conservation, environmental education, adaptive sports, or community healthcare may have a pathway via the Nichols' well-documented NH philanthropic network. Referrals from Lake Sunapee Protective Association, Ausbon Sargent Land Foundation, or New London Hospital leadership would carry weight.

5. Timing. The foundation distributes annually (December fiscal year-end). Based on the filing cadence, outreach in spring or early summer gives the most lead time for consideration in a given grant year.

6. Contact approach. The foundation's listed phone is (603) 387-9142 — a New Hampshire area code, consistent with the Sunapee/New London area (603 is statewide NH). The website https://churchofthegoodshepherd.org/ appears to be a church website rather than a foundation-specific site. No foundation-specific contact form exists. The most effective approach is through community relationships and warm introductions from existing grantees or mutual community contacts in Stuart, FL or the NH Lakes Region.