Claire L Helsing Foundation
The Claire L Helsing Foundation is a private foundation based in Stamford, Connecticut. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations in Connecticut, including organizations working in food assistance, immigrant services, legal services, libraries, education, and community support.
Claire L Helsing Foundation at a glance
In short: Claire L Helsing Foundation gave $147K across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Connecticut. 3% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $147,000
- +11.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,069
- +11.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,500
- Total assets
- $2,398,900
- -2.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Claire L Helsing Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 600 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06901-1490
Phone: (203) 327-2300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Claire L Helsing Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Connecticut Food Bank ($14K). Together the top 10 received $90K.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 147 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in 2024 went to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Claire L Helsing Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 29 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 97% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $132K (2023) to $152K (2021). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $147K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Food Bank Wallingford, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $14,000 |
| Building One Community Stamford, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $12,000 |
| New Covenant House of Hospitality Stamford, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $11,000 |
| ACLU of Connecticut Foundation Hartford, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $10,000 |
| Campaign for Justice Connecticut Legal Services Inc Middletown, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $10,000 |
| United Way of Western Connecticut Danbury, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $7,500 |
| Ferguson Library Stamford, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $7,000 |
| Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants Bridgeport, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $6,500 |
| Stamford High School- Strawberry Hill Players Stamford, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $6,500 |
| Domus Foundation Stamford, CT | As per Recipient's Designated Purpose | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,398,900 | $123,928 | $191,992 | $147,000 | 29 | $155,501 | $89,437 | $151,926 |
| 2023 | $2,466,964 | $166,403 | $174,578 | $131,500 | 29 | $138,800 | $133,625 | $141,350 |
| 2022 | $2,475,139 | $169,613 | $178,771 | $145,000 | 30 | $148,540 | $140,882 | $146,448 |
| 2021 | $2,484,297 | $269,006 | $206,313 | $151,500 | 30 | $159,771 | $229,301 | $162,225 |
| 2020 | $2,421,604 | $171,109 | $189,564 | $139,500 | 29 | — | $132,454 | $142,117 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Claire L Helsing Foundation reported a distributable amount of $152K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
A mission statement for the foundation is not provided. Its 2024 grantees describe work that includes supporting immigrants and the broader community: Building One Community says it provides services to educate, employ, empower, and engage them. Future 5 says it connects under-resourced Stamford students with resources for educational, career, and life goals. Other grantees describe work in youth development, energy assistance, mentoring, and social services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $147,000 through 29 grants. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $14,000, with a median of $4,500. The largest awards included $14,000 to Connecticut Food Bank, $12,000 to Building One Community, $11,000 to New Covenant House of Hospitality, and $10,000 each to ACLU of Connecticut Foundation and Campaign for Justice Connecticut Legal Services Inc.
Other 2024 grants included $7,500 to United Way of Western Connecticut; $7,000 to Ferguson Library; $6,500 each to Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants and Stamford High School–Strawberry Hill Players; and $5,000 each to Domus Foundation, Fairgate Farm, and Jewish Family Service of Stamford. Jewish Family Service describes its work as providing social services to promote community well-being. Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, which received $4,500, says it serves youth from disadvantaged circumstances. Additional grants included $3,000 each to buildOn and Operation Fuel Incorporated, $2,500 to Future 5, and $2,000 to Women’s Mentoring Network.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Daniel Young and David Cohen as trustees.
Claire L Helsing Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Daniel Young
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Cohen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Claire L Helsing Foundation
How much does Claire L Helsing Foundation give each year?
Claire L Helsing Foundation gave $147K across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $132K across 29 grants.
What is Claire L Helsing Foundation's typical grant size?
Claire L Helsing Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,500, and its average grant was $5,069, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Claire L Helsing Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Claire L Helsing Foundation give grants?
Claire L Helsing Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Stamford, CT (21 grants) and Hartford, CT (3 grants).
Does Claire L Helsing Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Claire L Helsing Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "As per Recipient's Designated Purpose" (29 grants).
Who are Claire L Helsing Foundation's largest grantees?
Claire L Helsing Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Connecticut Food Bank ($14,000), Building One Community ($12,000) and New Covenant House of Hospitality ($11,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Claire L Helsing Foundation?
Claire L Helsing Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $156K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $152K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Claire L Helsing Foundation fund?
A mission statement for the foundation is not provided. Its 2024 grantees describe work that includes supporting immigrants and the broader community: Building One Community says it provides services to educate, employ, empower, and engage them. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Claire L Helsing Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Claire L Helsing Foundation's EIN?
Claire L Helsing Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1865899. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Claire L Helsing Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Claire L Helsing Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/claire-l-helsing-foundation-morg_72ee8f0f313947cba42ad9f2a6de177e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471865899_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Claire L Helsing Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/claire-l-helsing-foundation-morg_72ee8f0f313947cba42ad9f2a6de177e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Claire L Helsing Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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