Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation
The Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayland, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing lists a giving restriction for minorities and women living in the inner city of Chicago, and reports grants to organizations in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
Key facts about Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation
In short: Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation gave $261K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in Illinois. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 86-2580241
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $261,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- Average grant
- $26,100
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (4 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $8,081,251
- Primary geography
- Illinois (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing describes an application requiring a high school counselor’s recommendation and a student statement of goals and aspirations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- April 1; the filing does not specify a year for this deadline.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.1M
+12.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$261K
-1.6% YoY
Grant Count
10
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+8.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation reported a distributable amount of $375K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 10 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 12632% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general operating support for organizations working in education, mathematics, workforce development, and mentoring, as well as support for an Israel-in-crisis appeal.
Among its grantees, Evanston Scholars describes its work as improving college access and success for first-generation and low-income Evanston students. Math Circles of Chicago says it creates opportunities for children across Chicago to develop a passion for mathematics. HFS Chicago Scholars describes supporting the educational aspirations of economically disadvantaged, academically motivated Chicago inner-city youth. Growing Home describes providing paid employment training and affordable produce in Greater Englewood, while Revolution Workshop describes providing carpentry and woodworking workforce development for unemployed or underemployed people.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $261,000. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $36,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed grant was $36,000 to AID Coalition in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, for the Brothers and Sisters Israel in Crisis Appeal. Other 2024 grants included $25,000 each to Growing Home, Industrial Council for Nearwest Chicago, West Town Bikes, Revolution Workshop, Evanston Scholars, Math Circles of Chicago, HFS Chicago Scholars, CHAMPS Male Mentoring, and Chabad Center of Sudbury.
Review Cycle
April 1; the filing does not specify a year for this deadline.
How to Apply
requiring a recommendation from a high school counselor and a statement from the student about their goals and aspirations. The filing lists restrictions for minorities and women living in the inner city of Chicago.
Ready to take the next step with Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (77%), Pennsylvania (14%), and Massachusetts (10%). The filing lists a restriction for minorities and women living in the inner city of Chicago.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2021) to $265K (2023). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $261K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was AID Coalition ($36K). Together the top 10 received $261K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 27 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AID Coalition Bryn Mawr, PA | Brothers and Sisters Israel in Crisis Appeal | $36,000 |
| Growing Home Inc Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Industrial Council for Nearwest Chi Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| West Town Bikes Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Revolution Workshop Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Evanston Scholars Evanston, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Math Circles of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| HFS Chicago Scholars Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| CHAMPS Male Mentoring Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Chabad Center of Sudbury INC Sudbury, MA | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,081,251 | $671,253 | $347,259 | $261,000 (10 grants) |
| 2023 | $7,188,465 | $4,279,739 | $307,704 | $265,336 (11 grants) |
| 2022 | $2,787,174 | $1,896,723 | $29,911 | $20,500 (3 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,081,251 | $7,188,465 | $2,787,174 |
| Revenue | $671,253 | $4,279,739 | $1,896,723 |
| Expenses | $347,259 | $307,704 | $29,911 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $310,565 | $306,203 | $21,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $633,508 | $491,112 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $374,913 | $163,803 | $39,368 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Adam Strauss as President, Joshua Strauss as Treasurer/Secretary, and Kalman Strauss as Director.
Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation is led by Adam Strauss, President since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adam Strauss
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kalman Strauss
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Strauss
Treasurer & Sect'y
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Treasurer & Sect'y, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundatio
Mailing address: 2 Kelley Lane, Wayland, MA 01778
Phone: (847) 859-6880
Email: n/a
Frequently asked questions about Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation
How much does Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation give each year?
Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation gave $261K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $265K across 11 grants.
What is Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation's typical grant size?
Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,100, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation give grants?
Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (14%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).
Does Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation's largest grantees?
Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include AID Coalition ($36,000), Growing Home Inc ($25,000) and Industrial Council for Nearwest Chi ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation?
Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $311K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $375K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general operating support for organizations working in education, mathematics, workforce development, and mentoring, as well as support for an Israel-in-crisis appeal. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation?
The filing describes an application requiring a high school counselor’s recommendation and a student statement of goals and aspirations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation's EIN?
Helaine Edgar Opportunity Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-2580241. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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