The Nicholson Family Foundation's mission is to champion organizations that create opportunities for local under-served youth in arts, education, and social services. Founded in 1996, it supports non-profit organizations from San Francisco to Santa Cruz in Northern California, aiming to make a meaningful impact with small grants. It emphasizes strengthening philanthropic involvement within communities through a multi-generational board that supports local under-served youth.
The Foundation's grant program is guided by principles aiming to learn about and work with new organizations, ensure grants are proportional to an organization's budget to create a larger impact, believe in operational support for non-profit organizations, and foster community relationships through an invitational multi-year grant program. This approach is designed to support the foundation's mission of assisting under-served youth in arts, education, and social services.