The Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation

The Henry T. Nicholas, III Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation associated with American businessman and Broadcom co-founder Henry Thompson Nicholas III. It was established in 2003 by Henry Nicholas and his then-wife, Stacey Nicholas, under the name Henry T. and Stacey Nicholas Foundation. The foundation was created to support a range of charitable priorities, including education, youth sports, technology, medical research, victims' rights, and national defense. Following the couple's separation in 2006, the organization was renamed The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation. Its most visible education initiative was the Nicholas Academic Center, developed in downtown Santa Ana, California, in partnership with retired Orange County judge Jack Mandel. The first center opened in 2008 and was designed to provide academic support and related opportunities for students. A second center opened in 2009 at Valley High School in Santa Ana. These initiatives reflected the foundation's emphasis on educational access and youth development in Orange County. The foundation's education-related philanthropy also included a $10 million donation in 2004 to St. Margaret's Episcopal School in Orange County. The contribution supported the school and the creation of a partnership with the University of California, Irvine's Henry Samueli School of Engineering to investigate how technology could improve learning. Nicholas also supported scholarships at St. Margaret's for students from Santa Ana and provided financial support to the Oakland Military Institute. Beyond education, Nicholas-backed charitable activity included support for cultural and performing-arts institutions in Southern California, including South Coast Repertory, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center. These activities positioned the foundation and its founder as contributors to education, arts, community development, and youth opportunity rather than as a consumer-facing commercial brand. The available reference material does not establish the foundation's current operating status, assets, leadership, grant totals, or present program portfolio. It also does not document a separate corporate parent, public listing, or international operating structure. The foundation should therefore be understood primarily as a private U.S. philanthropic organization whose documented public profile is concentrated in Southern California education and community giving.

The foundation was created in 2003 by Henry T. Nicholas III and Stacey Nicholas as the Henry T. and Stacey Nicholas Foundation. Its initial charitable remit was broad, covering education, youth sports, technology, medical research, victims' rights, and national defense. The organization emerged during the period when Henry Nicholas was stepping away from his executive role at Broadcom, the semiconductor company he had co-founded with Henry Samueli. Education became the clearest documented area of activity. In 2004, Nicholas gave $10 million to St. Margaret's Episcopal School in Orange County. The gift was also connected with a partnership involving the University of California, Irvine's Henry Samueli School of Engineering, intended to explore the use of technology in education. Nicholas further supported scholarships at St. Margaret's for students from Santa Ana, extending the benefit beyond the school's immediate community. The foundation's most distinctive program was the Nicholas Academic Center. Developed with retired Orange County judge Jack Mandel, the program was based on an academic-support model associated with Mandel's work. The first center opened in downtown Santa Ana in 2008. Its purpose was to provide students with structured academic assistance and opportunities intended to strengthen educational attainment. A second center opened in 2009 at Valley High School in Santa Ana, expanding the initiative's local reach. The organization changed its name after Henry and Stacey Nicholas separated in 2006, becoming The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation. The name change marked a shift from a jointly named family foundation to one identified principally with Henry Nicholas. The reference material does not provide details about the foundation's legal governance, grant-making procedures, staff, or subsequent reorganization. Nicholas's wider philanthropy also included support for the Oakland Military Institute and for arts and cultural organizations in Orange County. Recorded beneficiaries included South Coast Repertory, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center. These contributions broadened the foundation's public association beyond schooling to cultural institutions and regional civic life. The foundation's public identity is closely linked to Nicholas's personal philanthropy. Nicholas is known primarily as a semiconductor entrepreneur and Broadcom co-founder, while the foundation represents the charitable component of his public activities. The available materials do not provide reliable information about current officers, current grant programs, annual giving, assets, or whether the website remains actively maintained. Accordingly, the historical record supports a profile centered on its 2003 establishment, 2006 renaming, education initiatives in Santa Ana, and wider support for community and cultural organizations, but not a definitive assessment of its present operations.

• 2009

  Second Nicholas Academic Center opened

  [1]Henry Nicholasen.wikipedia.org

  A second academic center opened at Valley High School in Santa Ana.

• 2008

  First Nicholas Academic Center opened

  [1]Henry Nicholasen.wikipedia.org

  The first Nicholas Academic Center opened in downtown Santa Ana in partnership with retired Orange County judge Jack Mandel.

• 2006

  Foundation renamed

  [1]Henry Nicholasen.wikipedia.org

  After Henry and Stacey Nicholas separated, the organization adopted the name The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation.

• 2004

  Major education gift to St. Margaret's Episcopal School

  [1]Henry Nicholasen.wikipedia.org

  Nicholas donated $10 million to St. Margaret's Episcopal School in Orange County and supported a technology-and-learning partnership involving the University of California, Irvine's Henry Samueli School of Engineering.

• 2003

  Foundation established

  [1]Henry Nicholasen.wikipedia.org

  Henry Nicholas and Stacey Nicholas established the Henry T. and Stacey Nicholas Foundation as a private nonprofit organization.

Private philanthropy focused on education, youth opportunity, technology-enabled learning, and selected community, cultural, medical, and public-interest causes.

• 2008Nicholas Academic Center

  Santa Ana · Orange County · California

  The foundation supported the creation of an academic center in downtown Santa Ana with retired Orange County judge Jack Mandel. The initiative was intended to provide academic support and expanded educational opportunities for local students.

  Outcome. A second center opened at Valley High School in 2009, indicating that the program expanded beyond its initial location.

  Source
• 2004St. Margaret's education and technology partnership

  Orange County · California

  A $10 million donation to St. Margaret's Episcopal School supported the school and a partnership with the University of California, Irvine's Henry Samueli School of Engineering to examine technology's role in learning. The associated philanthropy also included scholarships for students from Santa Ana.

  Outcome. The gift established one of the foundation's most substantial documented education commitments.

  Source

• 2006

  Change from a jointly named family foundationStrategy

  Background

  The organization was originally named for both Henry and Stacey Nicholas. Their separation created the context for a change in the foundation's public name.

  Action taken

  The foundation was renamed The Henry T. Nicholas III Foundation.

  Aftermath

  The organization became publicly identified primarily with Henry Nicholas, although the available material does not describe any change in its charitable objectives or governance.

  Source

1. 1Henry Nicholasen.wikipedia.org