Helen Close Charitable Foundation
The Helen Close Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Reno, Nevada, established in 1985. It operates as an independent grantmaking foundation serving the Reno area and surrounding regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.6M
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$288K
-6.4% YoY
Grant Count
20
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+3.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen Close Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $331K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports the following primary funding areas:
- Emergency services
- Animal welfare
- Outdoor recreation
- Human services
- Education
- Community development
- Wildlife and animal welfare
The foundation demonstrates particular interest in supporting children's needs and local emergency responders. Specific grant interests include police and fire departments, humane societies, animal cruelty prevention, boys and girls' clubs, museums, school district programs and scholarships, ranch experiences, summer camps, child nutrition, vehicle purchases, and pet partner programs.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Grants typically range between $3,000 and $20,000, with historical data showing awards between approximately $2,500 and $60,385.
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Applicants should submit a summary of the need and amount requested to Kenneth E. Stieha's attention via mail. There are no submission deadlines.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds efforts in Nevada and adjacent counties in California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $5,613,706 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $288,322 (2024)
Total Revenues: $404,339 (2024)
Total Expenses: $396,094 (2024)
Investment Income: $149,348 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,613,706 | $5,605,371 | $5,656,487 |
| Revenue | $404,339 | $354,322 | $398,696 |
| Expenses | $396,094 | $405,276 | $371,070 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $318,715 | $335,966 | $297,907 |
| Net Investment Income | $331,568 | $289,032 | $330,122 |
| Distributable Amount | $330,899 | $305,956 | $325,822 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
109 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Sierra Nevada Journeys ($53,250), University of Nevada-reno Foundation ($40,000), Sierra Nevada Journeys ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CANINE REHABILITATION CENTER AND CAT SANCTUARY CARSON CITY, NV | FENCE REPLACEMENT | $10,000 |
| CARE CHEST OF SIERRA NEVADA RENO, NV | MEDICAL RESOURCE PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| CHANNEL 5 PUBLIC BROADCASTING RENO, NV | PBS RENO CURIOSITY CLASSROOM | $10,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN NEVADA RENO, NV | EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS | $16,772 |
| DOUGLAS ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP GARDNERVILLE, NV | MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ANIMALS | $2,500 |
| EXPERIENCE EDUCATION DBA BRAIN HEALTH LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION RENO, NV | RENO FIRE DEPARTMENT PTSD ASSISTANCE | $20,000 |
| GREAT BASIN COLLEGE FOUNDATION ELKO, NV | SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,500 |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF TRUCKEE-TAHOE TRUCKEE, CA | HEALTHY PETS MEDICAL COSTS | $15,000 |
| LEAST RESISTANCE TRAINING CONCEPTS INC STAGECOACH, NV | EQUIPMENT | $8,300 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS RENO, NV | HURRICANE RELIEF | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kenneth E. Stieha, CPA, serves as President of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH E STIEHA JR | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 3 | $15,000 |
| CAROLE MATHISEN | SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 2 | $12,600 |
| BETTY VOGLER | TREASURER/TRUSTEE | 2 | $12,600 |
| DAVID M QUINN | V PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 2 | $12,600 |
Contact Information
Address: 100 West Liberty Street, Suite 1100, Reno, NV 89501-1959
Phone: 775-786-6141
EIN: 88-0214245
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen Close Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation supports the following primary funding areas: • Emergency services • Animal welfare • Outdoor recreation • Human services • Education • Community development • Wildlife and animal welfare The foundation demonstrates particular interest in supporting children's needs and local emergency responders. Specific grant interests include police and fire departments, humane societies, animal cruelty prevention, boys and girls' clubs, museums, school district programs and scholarships, ran…
How do I apply for a grant from Helen Close Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Grants typically range between $3,000 and $20,000, with historical data showing awards between approximately $2,500 and $60,385. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $288,322. Notable recent grants include: • Sierra Nevada Journeys: $53,250 (Summer Camp for Intercity Youth) • University of Nevada-Reno Foundation: $40,000 (Scholarships) • Sierra Nevada Journeys: $25,000 (Capital Improvements) **Application Process:** The foundation accepts u…
Where does Helen Close Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds efforts in Nevada and adjacent counties in California.
What size grants does Helen Close Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Helen Close Charitable Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $288K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Helen Close Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Helen Close Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $331K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helen Close Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Helen Close Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0214245. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Helen Close Charitable Foundation'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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