The C J Heilig Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 1997, located in Cooperstown, New York. It operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking to support charitable causes in its community.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.5M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$646K
+3.9% YoY
Grant Count
19
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+9.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, C J Heilig Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $692K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Cooperstown, New York area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2025):
- Total Assets: $14 million
- Annual Distributions: $646,000
- Contributions: $23,000
Historical Financial Data (2025):
- Revenue: $830,000
- Expenses: $763,000
- Total Assets: $8.55 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,548,440 | $8,458,987 | $8,088,350 |
| Revenue | $829,930 | $1,081,238 | $447,259 |
| Expenses | $762,977 | $710,601 | $755,571 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $645,600 | $621,276 | $647,120 |
| Net Investment Income | $714,587 | $996,167 | $354,216 |
| Distributable Amount | $691,774 | $620,812 | $609,798 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Amherst College ($175,000), All Souls Community Churc ($87,000), Clinton Cudas Swim Team ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFGHAN STRAY ANIMAL LEAGU FAIRFAX, VA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| ALL SOULS COMMUNITY CHURC SUFFREN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $87,000 |
| AMHERST COLLEGE AMHERST, MA | GENERAL PURPOSES | $175,000 |
| COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOO COOPERSTOWN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $3,600 |
| COOPERSTOWN FOOD PANTRY COOPERSTOWN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $7,500 |
| CLINTON CUDAS SWIM TEAM NEW HARTFORD, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| COOPERSTOWN FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLEN COOPERSTOWN, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $17,000 |
| GRACE COTTAGE FOUNDATION TOWNSHEND, VT | GENERAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| PATHFINDER VILLAGE FOUNDATION EDMESTON, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dr. William Lecates – President
- Paul Roy – Director
- Deborah Lecates – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR WILLIAM LECATES | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| PAUL ROY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DEBORAH LECATES | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In September 2016, the C.J. Heilig Foundation announced a $100,000 dollar-for-dollar matching challenge grant to the Susquehanna SPCA to support its "Shelter Us" capital campaign for building a new animal shelter. The community exceeded the matching goal, raising $129,000 in donations and pledges by the November deadline, bringing the organization $229,000 closer to its campaign target with the foundation's match included.
November Grantees Announced totaling $459,526 \u2014 MARTHA HOLDEN JENNINGS\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from C J Heilig Foundation Inc?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics: • **Grant Median:** $25,000 • **Grant Maximum:** $175,000 • **Number of Grants:** 19 grants in recent year • **Total Giving:** $645,600 (annual) The foundation makes grants to support charitable purposes within its community.
Where does C J Heilig Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Cooperstown, New York area and surrounding communities.
What size grants does C J Heilig Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, C J Heilig Foundation Inc awarded 19 grants totaling $646K — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is C J Heilig Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, C J Heilig Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $692K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is C J Heilig Foundation Inc's EIN?
C J Heilig Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1483018. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in C J Heilig Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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