The Wayne And Marilyn Nelson
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to providing financial support primarily to religious and faith-based educational institutions. Its mission appears to focus on general support for organizations that align with its values, as evidenced by its funding of institutions like The Moody Bible Institute and Hillsdale College. The foundation serves the educational sector, particularly those with a religious affiliation, indicating a commitment to promoting faith-based education. While it is based in Florida, its funding activities have included recipients located in other states.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A religious or faith-based educational institution or college likely to be known to the foundation's directors and eligible for modest general operating support.
Good Fit
- • Institutional mission aligned with religious or faith-based higher education.
- • Ability to receive general operating support rather than project-restricted grants.
- • Existing relationship, introduction, or visibility to the foundation's directors or trustees.
- • Capacity to manage modest single-year awards in the low-thousands range.
Geography
Observed grants are concentrated in a single state in the latest year (Illinois) and a different single state in 2021 (Michigan), indicating a narrow, episodic geographic footprint rather than broad national giving.
Recipient Variety
In the latest year only one distinct recipient was funded and across four years the filings show only two distinct recipients total, so the observed recipient set is very small.
New Applicants
The foundation's filings and default application explicitly indicate it funds only preselected recipients and there is no public application or contact route; direct evidence of open entry is absent, so unfamiliar applicants are unlikely to break in.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
