Nahikian Family Foundation

Mission

Throughout their lives, Edwin and Joan Nahikian showed a commitment to child welfare, foster care services and a shared belief that the bond between animals and humans can support mental health, improve healing and enable independent living.

It is with these convictions in mind that they created the Nahikian Family Foundation (NFF). Over a decade later the current NFF board continues Edwin and Joan’s legacy with annual grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving the above stated mission in the United States or abroad.

Annual application deadlines

July 31

Program areas

Environment, animals
Health
Human services

States served

All

Program limitations

There are no program limitations; however, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting Capital Projects.

The Foundation does not typically provide grants for operating expenses.

Geographic limitations

There are no geographic limitations; however, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting organizations located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and South Carolina.

Types of support

Capital projects

Population served

Children, service and assistance dogs, companion animals

Trustees

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

With a shared belief that the bond between animals and humans can support mental health, improve healing, and enable independent living, the following areas follow the convictions of Edwin and Joan Nahikian.

Child welfare and short-term foster care

The Nahikian Family Foundation supports organizations that have a proven track record of child and family services.

Specifically, we seek to help fund projects that enable organizations that serve the emotional, mental and social development of children at risk.

Depending on the organizational profile and expressed need, the foundation also gives consideration to organizations that provide food for disadvantaged children and their families.

Development and placement of service and assistance dogs

The Nahikian Family Foundation has a commitment to help fund the training and development of therapy, service and search/rescue dogs.

The foundation also provides grants for the placement of these service animals that help in the support of disabled children, families and veterans so these individuals can reach their goals of mental stability and independent living.

Companion animal placement through no-kill animal shelters

The Nahikian Family Foundation seeks to enable organizations that have a proven track record of working with their local community to place adoptable animals with human companions. The foundation prefers to provide grants to these organizations for capital initiatives.

Medical support for children and their families

The Nahikian Family Foundation supports special funding for projects that provide direct medical care to communities with limited or no medical facilities. This can include funding disaster relief or establishment of medical care facilities that are located where community needs are greatest.

Requirements

• To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Limitations

The foundation typically does not fund requests for:

• Operating expenses
• There are no geographic limitations; however, the foundation primarily supports the states of Alabama, Florida, Michigan and South Carolina.

Grantmaking priorities

Preference may be given to requests for the following:

• Capital projects in communities where Nahikian family members live, specifically in Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and South Carolina.

Annual application period and deadlines

Applications must be submitted by July 31 to be reviewed at the annual grant meeting that occurs in the Fall.

Communications

Applicants will receive an email confirming their submission. Grant decisions are generally communicated by December for applications received by the deadline.

Required agreements and reports

Periodic progress reports and final reports may be required for funded projects.

About the Foundation

Throughout their lives, Edwin and Joan Nahikian showed a commitment to child welfare, foster care services and a shared belief that the bond between animals and humans can support mental health, improve healing and enable independent living.

It is with these convictions in mind that they created the Nahikian Family Foundation (NFF). Over a decade later the current NFF board continues Edwin and Joan’s legacy with annual grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving the above stated mission in the United States or abroad.