Non-profit

Nau Foundation

Location:

Houston, TX

Tax ID:

20-8457303

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $2,090,846
Expenses: $6,590,994
Assets: $39,029,023

Formation:

2007

Type:

Private Foundation

General President:

John L. Nau III

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The Nau Foundation is a grantmaking organization that primarily focuses its actives on educational institutions and the study of American history. 1 2 3

The Nau Foundation was founded in 2007 by University of Virginia (UVA) graduate John L. Nau, III. Since then, the Nau Foundation has made grants of $27.7 million, 4 $16.6 million, 5 $15 million, 6 $11 million, 7 and others to support UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, Democracy Initiative, Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy, and Nau Center for Civil War History. 8

The Nau Foundation is funded by its founder, John L. Nau, III, who is CEO of Silver Eagle Beverages, the largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products in the United States. In 2019, he contributed $36,786,626 to the foundation. 9

History and Leadership

The Nau Foundation was founded in 2007 and received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service that same year. 10 11 12

John L. Nau, III is the president of the Nau Foundation. 13 He is CEO of Silver Eagle Beverages, the largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products in the United States. 14 Nau graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) in 1968 and served on UVA’s Board of Visitors from 2011 until 2015. 15 Nau has also been on the board of directors of the National Park Foundation, American Battlefield Trust, and others. 16

Activities and Funding

The Nau Foundation’s grantmaking activities are primarily focused on educational institutions and the study of American history. 17 18 19 20

In June 2022, the Nau Foundation made $17.6 million in grants to the University of Virginia. Of these grants, a $15 million grant will establish an endowment for the Karsh Institute of Democracy and a separate $2.6 million grant will fund a three-year project to digitize Civil War records. 21

In May 2022, the Nau Foundation gave a $27.7 million grant to UVA to support the university’s Democracy Initiative and its Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy. This grant will establish 10 new democracy professorships at UVA. 22 As of August 2022, this was the largest-ever gift to the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the time of its issuance. 23

The Nau Foundation has also issued $16.6 million grant to UVA to establish the John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History 24 and an $11 million grant for the construction of the building housing UVA’s department of history. 25

In 2020, the Nau Foundation gave $1,000,000 to the University of Texas-San Antonio history department. 26

In 2019, Nau Foundation issued a grant of $545,000 to the College Foundation of the University of Virginia and $150,000 to Sull Ross Borderland Research Institute. Nau Foundation also approved future payments of $1,410,000 to the College Foundation of UVA and $1,050,000 to Sull Ross Borderland Research in 2019. 27

Funding

The Nau Foundation is primarily funded by John L. Nau. In 2019, Nau contributed $36,766,626 to fund the organization. 28 John Nau and his wife Barbara Nau also contributed $500,000 to fund the foundation in 2017. 29

In 2020, the foundation reported revenue of $2,090,846 and expenses of $6,590,994. 30 In 2019, Nau Foundation reported revenue of $37,103,295 and expenses of $728,504. 31

References

  1. Carfagno, John. “Nau Foundation Gift Fuels $44 Million Investment in UVA Democracy Projects.” University of Virginia Today. May 20, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundation-gift-fuels-44-million-investment-uva-democracy-projects.
  2. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  3. “NAU Scholars Program Receives $1 Million Commitment.” UTSA. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.utsa.edu/giving/why-give/impact-stories/nau-foundation-awards-nau-scholars-program.html.
  4. [1] Carfagno, John. “Nau Foundation Gift Fuels $44 Million Investment in UVA Democracy Projects.” University of Virginia Today. May 20, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundation-gift-fuels-44-million-investment-uva-democracy-projects.
  5. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  6. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  7. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  8. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  9. “Nau Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. Schedule B. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208457303/202003219349101510/full.
  10. “Nau Foundation.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208457303.
  11. “Nau Foundation.” Candid. GuideStar. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-8457303.
  12. “The Nau Foundation.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-nau-foundation,208457303/.
  13. “Nau Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. Part VIII. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/208457303_201912_990PF_2021061418344820.pdf
  14. “John L. Nau, III.” Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://congressionalsportsmen.org/about/staff/john-l-nau-iii.
  15. “Nau, III, John L.” Texas Historical Commission. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.thc.texas.gov/about/commissioners/nau-iii-john-l.
  16. “NAU Scholars Program Receives $1 Million Commitment.” UTSA. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.utsa.edu/giving/why-give/impact-stories/nau-foundation-awards-nau-scholars-program.html.
  17. Carfagno, John. “Nau Foundation Gift Fuels $44 Million Investment in UVA Democracy Projects.” University of Virginia Today. May 20, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundation-gift-fuels-44-million-investment-uva-democracy-projects.
  18. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  19. “NAU Scholars Program Receives $1 Million Commitment.” UTSA. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.utsa.edu/giving/why-give/impact-stories/nau-foundation-awards-nau-scholars-program.html.
  20. Carfagno, John. “Nau Foundation Gift Fuels $44 Million Investment in UVA Democracy Projects.” University of Virginia Today. May 20, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundation-gift-fuels-44-million-investment-uva-democracy-projects.
  21. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  22. Ramspacher, Andrew. “Nau Foundation Supports Establishment of 10 New Democracy Professorships at UVA.” UVA Today. March 3, 2022. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundation-supports-establishment-10-new-democracy-professorships-uva.
  23. Carfagno, John. “Nau Foundation Gift Fuels $44 Million Investment in UVA Democracy Projects.” University of Virginia Today. May 20, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundation-gift-fuels-44-million-investment-uva-democracy-projects.
  24. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  25. Cocke, William. “NAU Foundation’s $17 Million Gift Supports Democracy Institute, Teaching of History.” University of Virginia Today. June 14, 2022. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://news.virginia.edu/content/nau-foundations-17-million-gift-supports-democracy-institute-teaching-history.
  26. “NAU Scholars Program Receives $1 Million Commitment.” UTSA. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://www.utsa.edu/giving/why-give/impact-stories/nau-foundation-awards-nau-scholars-program.html.
  27. “Nau Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. Part XV. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/208457303_201912_990PF_2021061418344820.pdf.
  28. “Nau Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. Schedule B. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208457303/202003219349101510/full.
  29. “Nau Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2017. Schedule B. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208457303/201833049349100103/full.
  30. “Nau Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. Part VIII. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/208457303_201912_990PF_2021061418344820.pdf.
  31. “Nau Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. Part I. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/208457303_201912_990PF_2021061418344820.pdf.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 2007

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form PF $2,090,846 $6,590,994 $39,029,023 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Dec Form PF $37,103,295 $728,504 $40,949,446 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form PF $336,601 $302,893 $3,548,613 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $892,354 $231,291 $3,743,595 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $1,496,814 $460,394 $3,125,413 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $541,689 $379,693 $1,964,108 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $529,553 $306,036 $1,656,153 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Nau Foundation

    2229 San Felipe Street Suite 1250
    Houston, TX