Jane Nicol Trust

## Approach Strategy

The Jane Nicol Trust is a private foundation established under Missouri law and headquartered in Saint Louis (PO Box 66916, St. Louis, MO 63166). It received IRS tax-exempt recognition in March 2020 under section 501(c)(3), classifying as a private non-operating foundation (foundation code 4, NTEE code T20 – Private Grantmaking Foundations).

With approximately $1.18 million in total assets (as of fiscal year 2024) and annual income near $223,000, the Trust operates as a small family or legacy grantmaking vehicle. Its investment portfolio — largely dividend-generating and other investment income — fuels annual charitable distributions. The Trust made roughly $75,000 in charitable contributions in fiscal year 2023 against total expenses of ~$93,600.

Key strategic considerations for applicants: - As a private foundation, unsolicited grant applications are rarely accepted; introductions through trustees or known advisors are strongly preferred. - The Trust's small asset base (~$1.18M) and payout requirements (~5% of assets annually) imply a grant budget in the range of $50,000–$65,000 per year. - Saint Louis-based and Missouri-based nonprofits are the most likely beneficiaries given the Trust's local address and typical private foundation behavior. - No public RFP, website, or application portal has been identified; direct outreach to the Trust's administrator (care of PO Box 66916) or a known trustee is the recommended pathway.

## Funding Patterns

Based on IRS 990-PF filings and available data:

• Total assets (FY2024): ~$1,183,153
• Total assets (FY2023): ~$781,942
• Investment income (FY2023): $92,627 net investment income
• Charitable distributions (FY2023): $75,000 in contributions paid; $75,600 in exempt-purpose expenditures
• Minimum distribution requirement (FY2023): ~$44,660 (5% of assets)
• Annual income (FY2024 estimate): ~$223,618
• Officer compensation: $14,924 (FY2023) — suggests a small, family-run operation

Typical grant profile: - Grant range: likely $5,000–$25,000 per recipient, with 3–10 grants per year - Grantee type: 501(c)(3) nonprofits, likely in Missouri with Saint Louis focus - Focus areas: Not publicly disclosed; likely general charitable purposes aligned with the donor's legacy (arts, community, education, or human services)

The Trust's asset base grew significantly from ~$782K (FY2023) to ~$1.18M (FY2024), suggesting strong investment performance or a new contribution, which may lead to higher grant payouts in coming years.

## Peer Comparison

The Jane Nicol Trust is positioned among small Missouri private foundations. Below is a comparison with similar-sized Saint Louis–area private foundations:

Takeaways: - The Jane Nicol Trust is at the smaller end of St. Louis private foundations, with giving capacity similar to Kranzberg-scale arts or community funders. - Unlike larger community foundations, it lacks a public application portal, making relationship-based outreach essential. - Its NTEE T20 classification aligns it with general-purpose private grantmaking, not a specific programmatic focus — meaning grant criteria may be broad or discretionary.

## Recent Activity

IRS Filing History: - Most recent tax period on record: December 2024 (FY2024) - Latest 990-PF filing object ID: 202511259349101301 (filed approximately 2025) - FY2023 990-PF filed June 2024: reflected $75,000 in charitable giving, $93,632 in total expenses

Asset Growth: The Trust's assets grew from ~$782K (end of FY2023) to ~$1.18M (end of FY2024), a 51% increase. This growth likely reflects a combination of realized capital gains and possible new contributions, suggesting the Trust is in an active accumulation or transition phase.

No Public Grants Database Listings: The Trust does not appear in Candid/GuideStar grants databases with specific grantee-level detail, which is typical for small private foundations that file 990-PF Part XV with limited public disclosure of individual grants below reporting thresholds.

Website Status: The domain janenicol.com resolves to an unrelated Australian artist's website, indicating the Trust either has no web presence or previously registered/linked an incorrect domain. There is no verified public contact page or application portal.

## Application Tips

Given the Jane Nicol Trust's profile as a small, private, non-operating foundation with no public application process, the following tips apply:

1. Do not expect an open application portal. The Trust has no website, no published RFP, and no identified application form URL. Cold online applications are unlikely to succeed.

2. Pursue relationship-first outreach. Identify the trustees or administrators through Missouri Secretary of State filings, IRS 990-PF Part VIII (trustee list), or local nonprofit networks in Saint Louis. A warm introduction dramatically increases chances.

3. Target Missouri-based nonprofits. The Trust's Saint Louis address and typical private foundation behavior strongly suggest a geographic preference for Missouri, especially the Saint Louis metropolitan area.

4. Keep asks modest. With a total grant budget estimated at $50,000–$75,000 annually and likely 3–10 recipients, individual grant requests of $5,000–$20,000 are most realistic.

5. Align with general charitable purposes. Since the Trust's focus areas are not publicly disclosed, present a compelling, broadly appealing charitable mission — community benefit, human services, education, or arts are all plausible fits.

6. Monitor IRS filings for grantee data. The 990-PF Part XV lists grants paid to each recipient. Reviewing the Trust's most recent 990-PF via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN 37-6663546) or the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search may reveal past grantees who can provide insight into the Trust's priorities.

7. Time outreach appropriately. The Trust's fiscal year ends in December. Trustees typically make grant decisions in Q3–Q4 (July–December), so outreach in spring or early summer is advisable.