The Stephanie and Peter Nolan Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education and Catholic faith-based institutions, combining very large gifts to major universities with support for parish and parochial schooling. Giving is highly concentrated: a single beneficiary (Cornell University) receives the vast majority of funds, while a handful of Catholic schools and a church receive smaller but meaningful grants.
The Stephanie and Peter Nolan Foundation’s giving is defined by one dominant relationship: Cornell University received three of the largest grants in the recent record, including a $5,220,060 gift in 2025 and $5,795,110 in 2023. That concentration sits alongside a smaller circle of Catholic institutions and parish-based organizations, giving the foundation a clear institution-focused profile. Recent support includes Ave Maria University, American Martyrs School, St Louis de Montfort Church, and Roman Catholic Arc, each funded with as-needed grants. The pattern suggests a blend of major university support and selective faith-based giving, rather than a broad, issue-diverse portfolio. Grants also reached local education and community organizations in Southern California, including Hermosa Beach Education Foundation, YMCA, and St Joseph School, but the overall shape of the portfolio remains anchored by a single primary beneficiary. For nonprofit researchers, the key feature is not breadth but concentration: a large share of dollars flows to a small number of named institutions, with Cornell far ahead of the rest. The recent record also shows repeated support to some recipients across multiple years, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s portfolio. Cornell University received $2,097,381 in 2024, $5,795,110 in 2023, and $5,220,060 in 2025, all described as as-needed support. Catholic higher education also appears in grants to Ave Maria University, including $250,000 in 2025, $100,000 in 2023, and $75,000 in 2024. Faith-based K–8 and parish support is another visible thread. American Martyrs School in Manhattan Beach received $402,550 in 2023 and $33,150 in 2025, both as-needed grants. Parish and church-related support includes $350,000 to St Louis de Montfort Church in Santa Maria in 2024 and $215,000 to Roman Catholic Arc in Los Angeles in 2025. The foundation also made select gifts to other institutions, including $100,000 to Niagara University in 2025 and $100,000 to UCLA Foundation in 2025.
Typical gifts are modest relative to the largest awards: the grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $2,502, a median of $7,500, and a p75 of $25,000. The recent record is also highly concentrated, with a small number of institutions absorbing most dollars and Cornell University appearing across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That repeated support points to ongoing, relationship-based giving rather than one-off awards. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grant descriptions in the record are usually brief and often labeled “as needed,” with no application process indicated in the data.
$6.3M
$14.5M
$3.4M
$6.4M
Most grants fall between $3K and $25K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated, few large grants rather than many small ones; repeat, multi-year or multiple awards to a primary beneficiary (Cornell) alongside selective, mid-size gifts to Catholic education and parish organizations.
Notable grantees: Cornell University, American Martyrs School, Ave Maria University, St. Louis de Montfort Church
Giving is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, and 66% of grants go to recipients in California, the foundation’s top state by grant count. Within California, recent grants reached Manhattan Beach, Santa Maria, Los Angeles, Oakland, Torrance, Hawthorne, Solvang, and Hermosa Beach. Outside California, the foundation supported Ithaca, New York; Ave Maria, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts; Barrington, Rhode Island; Washington, DC; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. The pattern shows a California-heavy portfolio with a smaller set of national institutions elsewhere.
Its recent grants focus on higher education and Catholic faith-based institutions. Cornell University is the main beneficiary, and other recipients include Ave Maria University, American Martyrs School, St Louis de Montfort Church, and Roman Catholic Arc.
Very concentrated. Cornell University received $5,795,110 in 2023, $2,097,381 in 2024, and $5,220,060 in 2025. The summary data also identifies Cornell as the single beneficiary receiving the vast majority of funds.
Yes. California is the top state by grant count, and 66% of grants go to recipients in CA. Recent California recipients include Manhattan Beach, Santa Maria, Los Angeles, Oakland, Torrance, Hawthorne, Solvang, and Hermosa Beach.
The distribution is relatively small for most grants: p25 is $2,502, median grant size is $7,500, and p75 is $25,000. That sits alongside a handful of much larger institutional grants.
Yes. Cornell University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Ave Maria University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and American Martyrs School appears in 2023 and 2025. That indicates recurring support rather than isolated awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $5,220,060 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY | AVE MARIA, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| ROMAN CATHOLIC ARC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $215,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| NIAGARA UNIVERSITY | NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| LOS ANGELES BALLET | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| USOPF | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| AMERICAN MARTYRS SCHOOL | MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | $33,150 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| ORDER OF MALTA | OAKLAND, CA | $31,773 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| YMCA | TORRANCE, CA | $28,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| COLLIS INC | ITHACA, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| HIRSHBERG FOUNDATION PANCREATIC CANCER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| ST LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| HERMOSA BEACH POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION | HERMOSA BEACH, CA | $14,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| GIVING FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,500 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| COLAB SANTA BARBARA | SANTA MARIA, CA | $10,100 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| USC CARUSO CATHOLIC CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| CHILDREN'S BUREAU | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| HILLEL AT CORNELL INC | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| WAIALUA HIGH & INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | WAIALUA, HI | $7,500 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| KISSICK FAMILY FOUNDATION | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| AF ISRAEL | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| LAZY L RANCH | GRASS VALLEY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | MAMMOTH LAKES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| CITY OF HOPE | DUARTE, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDLY SONS OF ST PATRICK | MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | $4,050 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| MOVEMBER | SANTA MONICA, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| LOS OLIVOS SCHOOL FOUNDATION | LOS OLIVOS, CA | $1,235 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| ST JOSEPH SCHOOL | HAWTHORNE, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| NAMI | BALTIMORE, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| KING FERRY FOOD PANTRY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| BOSTON CHILDREN | BOSTON, MA | $500 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| MYCHALS LEARNING PLACE | HAWTHORNE, CA | $500 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| PENINSULA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GENERAL FUND | HAMPTON, VA | $350 | 2025 | AS NEEDED |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $2,097,381 | 2024 | As needed |
| St Louis de Montfort Church | Santa Maria, CA | $350,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund | Boston, MA | $125,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Prostate Cancer Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Ave Maria University | Ave Maria, FL | $75,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| American Enterprise Institute | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Milken Institute | Santa Monica, CA | $40,000 | 2024 | As Needed |
| St Joseph School | Hawthorne, CA | $25,250 | 2024 | As needed |
| Collis Inc | Ithaca, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Hermosa Beach Education Foundation | Hermosa Beach, CA | $22,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation | Solvang, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Malteser International Americas | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | As needed |
| Catholic Charities of Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | As needed |
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$5,220,060AS NEEDED
AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY
$250,000AS NEEDED
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARC
$215,000AS NEEDED
UCLA FOUNDATION
$100,000AS NEEDED
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY
$100,000AS NEEDED
LOS ANGELES BALLET
$50,000AS NEEDED
USOPF
AS NEEDED
AMERICAN MARTYRS SCHOOL
$33,150AS NEEDED
ORDER OF MALTA
$31,773AS NEEDED
YMCA
$28,000AS NEEDED
COLLIS INC
$20,000AS NEEDED
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
$20,000AS NEEDED
HIRSHBERG FOUNDATION PANCREATIC CANCER
$15,000AS NEEDED
ST LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI
$15,000AS NEEDED
HERMOSA BEACH POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
$14,000AS NEEDED
GIVING FUND
$12,500AS NEEDED
COLAB SANTA BARBARA
$10,100AS NEEDED
USC CARUSO CATHOLIC CENTER
$10,000AS NEEDED
CHILDREN'S BUREAU
$10,000AS NEEDED
PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION
$10,000AS NEEDED
HILLEL AT CORNELL INC
$10,000AS NEEDED
WAIALUA HIGH & INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
$7,500AS NEEDED
KISSICK FAMILY FOUNDATION
$5,000AS NEEDED
AF ISRAEL
$5,000AS NEEDED
LAZY L RANCH
$5,000AS NEEDED
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000AS NEEDED
CITY OF HOPE
$5,000AS NEEDED
SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDLY SONS OF ST PATRICK
$4,050AS NEEDED
FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF ITHACA
$2,500AS NEEDED
MOVEMBER
$2,000AS NEEDED
LOS OLIVOS SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$1,235AS NEEDED
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL
$1,000AS NEEDED
NAMI
$1,000AS NEEDED
KING FERRY FOOD PANTRY
$1,000AS NEEDED
BOSTON CHILDREN
$500AS NEEDED
MYCHALS LEARNING PLACE
$500AS NEEDED
PENINSULA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GENERAL FUND
$350AS NEEDED
Cornell University
$2,097,381As needed
St Louis de Montfort Church
$350,000As needed
Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund
$125,000As needed
Prostate Cancer Foundation
$100,000As needed
Ave Maria University
$75,000As needed
American Enterprise Institute
$50,000As needed
Milken Institute
$40,000As Needed
St Joseph School
$25,250As needed
Collis Inc
$25,000As needed
Hermosa Beach Education Foundation
$22,000As needed
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation
$20,000As needed
Malteser International Americas
$10,000As needed
Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
$10,000As needed