The Aksel Nielsen Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on recreation and youth development, with a particular emphasis on summer camp experiences and adaptive sports. Giving is highly concentrated: across six grants the foundation consistently funded the same two organizations, suggesting long-term relationships with hands-on program providers rather than broad grantmaking. The foundation appears to prioritize inclusive outdoor and recreational programming that serves youth and people with disabilities.
Concentrated and repeat giving: a small number of mid‑sized grants directed repeatedly to the same two grantees (multi‑grant relationships rather than one‑off donations), indicating focused, relationship‑based support for program continuity.
The Aksel Nielsen Foundation’s clearest pattern is sustained support for two program providers: Camp Avoda and the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Both received $40,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and both were funded as general support rather than for a single project. That repeated backing points to a funder that stays with organizations over time and favors programs already serving its interests. The foundation’s giving centers on recreation and youth development, especially summer camp experiences and adaptive sports for people with disabilities. Its recent grants also include support for Jewish communal organizations, environmental conservation groups, civil liberties advocates, and food access nonprofits, but the recurring relationship grants suggest a narrower core than the full list of recipients might imply. Several recipients are based in Massachusetts, including Camp Avoda in Canton and organizations in Boston, Beverly, Needham, Lincoln, and Westport. The foundation’s profile is not built around a wide array of one-time awards; instead, the grant record shows repeated general-support gifts to a small set of organizations across multiple years.
In youth and recreation work, the foundation gave $40,000 to Camp Avoda in 2025 for general support, after similar gifts in 2023 and 2024. That pattern fits its emphasis on summer camp experiences and outdoor youth development. Adaptive sports is another clear thread. The National Sports Center for the Disabled received $40,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, again as general support. The repeated funding aligns with inclusive recreation for people with disabilities. The foundation also backs Jewish communal life and affiliated education. Temple Beth Shalom in Needham received $9,775 in 2024 and $5,080 in 2025 for general support, while JCRC Jewish Community Relations Council in Boston received grants in 2024 and 2025. Those awards sit alongside support for organizations such as ADL New England and other community-serving nonprofits.
Typical grants cluster in a small band: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $3,000, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. Against that baseline, the $40,000 awards to two long-term grantees stand out as relationship grants rather than the norm. The record shows repeated giving to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which indicates continuity rather than one-off project funding. Grants are described as general support, suggesting flexible funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$598K
$2M
$140K
$254K
Most grants fall between $2K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 69% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Notable grantees: Camp Avoda, National Sports Center for the Disabled, Other regional summer camps and adaptive recreation nonprofits
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, and Massachusetts is the main receiving state, accounting for 69% of grants. Boston appears repeatedly in the record, alongside Canton, Beverly, Needham, Lincoln, and Westport. Outside Massachusetts, grants also land in New York, Colorado, and Alabama, including recipients in New York and Montgomery.
Its recent grants center on recreation and youth development, especially summer camp experiences and adaptive sports for people with disabilities. The record also includes Jewish communal organizations, environmental conservation groups, civil liberties groups, and food access nonprofits, but the repeated grants point to recreation and youth programming as the core pattern.
The grant-size distribution is small to modest for most awards: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $3,000, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. A few relationship grants are much larger, including repeated $40,000 awards to long-term grantees.
Yes. The same organizations appear across multiple years, including three consecutive years of general-support funding to both Camp Avoda and the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Other recipients, such as Boston-based and Massachusetts-based nonprofits, also reappear in more than one year.
Giving is regional, with 69% of grants going to recipients in Massachusetts. Boston is a recurring city in the grant list, and other Massachusetts recipients include Canton, Beverly, Needham, Lincoln, and Westport. The remainder of the grants go to recipients in New York, Colorado, and Alabama.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED | WINTER PARK, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMP AVODA | CANTON, MA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK | BOSTON, MA | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | NEEDHAM, MA | $5,080 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTPORT RIVER WATERSHED ALLIANCE | WESTPORT, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACLU | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY | LINCOLN, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JCRC JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADL NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRUSTEES OF THE RESERVATION | BEVERLY, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE TREVOR PROJECT | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTPORT LAND CONSERVATION TRUST | WESTPORT, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA MYRNA VAZQUEZ | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH HEALTH CARE CENTER | WORCESTER, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTON LIBRARY | WESTON, MA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORCESTER ACADEMY | WORCESTER, MA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TIFERETH ISRAEL | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $2,700 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS ASSN FOR MENTAL HEALTH | BOSTON, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| USC GOULD SCHOOL OF LAW | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VETERAN'S INC | WORCESTER, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHALOM AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| K-9'S FOR WARRIORS | PONTE VEDRA, FL | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WGBH | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WBUR-PUBLIC RADIO | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPORT |
| WESTON FOREST AND TRAIL ASSOC | WESTON, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAND SAKE FARMS | WESTON, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EXPERIENCE CAMPS | WESTPORT, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTPORT FOOD PANTRY | WESTPORT, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WUMB RADIO | BOSTON, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE NEEDHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEEDHAM, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WERS - EMERSON COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED | WINTER PARK, CO | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMP AVODA | CANTON, MA | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | NEEDHAM, MA | $9,775 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK | BOSTON, MA | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRUSTEES OF THE RESERVATION | BEVERLY, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADL NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA MYRNA VAZQUEZ | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JCRC JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACLU | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMP AVODA
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK
$8,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM
$5,080GENERAL SUPPORT
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESTPORT RIVER WATERSHED ALLIANCE
GENERAL SUPPORT
ACLU
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JCRC JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ADL NEW ENGLAND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROSIE'S PLACE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TRUSTEES OF THE RESERVATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE TREVOR PROJECT
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESTPORT LAND CONSERVATION TRUST
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CASA MYRNA VAZQUEZ
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH HEALTH CARE CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESTON LIBRARY
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WORCESTER ACADEMY
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TIFERETH ISRAEL
$2,700GENERAL SUPPORT
MASSACHUSETTS ASSN FOR MENTAL HEALTH
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
USC GOULD SCHOOL OF LAW
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
VETERAN'S INC
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SHALOM AUSTIN
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
K-9'S FOR WARRIORS
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WGBH
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WBUR-PUBLIC RADIO
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT
$2,000GENERAL SUPORT
WESTON FOREST AND TRAIL ASSOC
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LAND SAKE FARMS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EXPERIENCE CAMPS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESTPORT FOOD PANTRY
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
WUMB RADIO
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE NEEDHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
WERS - EMERSON COLLEGE
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL SPORTS CENTER FOR THE DISABLED
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMP AVODA
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM
$9,775GENERAL SUPPORT
GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK
$8,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TRUSTEES OF THE RESERVATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ADL NEW ENGLAND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CASA MYRNA VAZQUEZ
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JCRC JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACLU
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT