Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations including arts, cultural, educational, outdoor, and social-service organizations.
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation gave $98K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Ohio. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $97,500
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,900
- +0.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,953,021
- +1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (7 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to contact William H Fry and submit a letter with attachments. Awards are restricted to charitable, religious, scientific, literary, and educational activity.
- Review Cycle
- October 31. The filing’s stated deadline is a past cycle as of September 29, 2026.
- Deadline
- October 31.
- Contact
Application contact: William H Fry
Mailing address: 600 Vine Street Suite 2650, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 381-9200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cincinnati Art Museum ($10K). Together the top 10 received $60K.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 108 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 8% to recipients in Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 25 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 56% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2022) to $98K (2025). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $98K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Art Museum Cincinnati, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Cincinnati Zoo Cincinnati, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $7,500 |
| Adventure Crew Cincinnati, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Cincinnati Fire Museum Cincinnati, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Cincinnati Nature Center Milford, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Cincinnati Preservation Association Cincinnati, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Cincinnati Street Soccer Hebron, KY | Promote Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Ohio Valley Voices Loveland, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| 1N5 Cincinnati, OH | Promote Charitable Purpose | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,953,021 | $191,025 | $152,975 | $97,500 | 25 | $115,228 | $153,278 | $111,103 |
| 2024 | $1,916,024 | $307,415 | $144,187 | $93,000 | 24 | $107,931 | $271,159 | $103,083 |
| 2023 | $1,753,671 | $-13,040 | $112,913 | $67,500 | 18 | $80,688 | $2,114 | $89,297 |
| 2022 | $1,882,552 | $3,185 | $125,149 | $62,500 | 21 | $89,319 | — | $91,873 |
| 2021 | $2,000,384 | $2,119,627 | $118,678 | $84,000 | 20 | $92,294 | $411,015 | $90,579 |
| 2020 | $10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $111K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grantees describe a range of activities: the Art Academy of Cincinnati says it operates and oversees an independent college of art and design; Adventure Crew says it connects city teens to nature through outdoor adventures; and Cincinnati Preservation Association says it works to help people value and preserve Greater Cincinnati’s historic places and stories. Other grantees describe work in fire-safety education, support for families coping with cancer, and youth mental health.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $97,500 through 25 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $10,000, with a median grant of $2,500. Notable awards included $10,000 each to Cincinnati Art Museum and Cincinnati Zoo, and $7,500 to Art Academy of Cincinnati. Adventure Crew, Cincinnati Fire Museum, Cincinnati Nature Center, Cincinnati Preservation Association, Cincinnati Street Soccer, and Ohio Valley Voices each received $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William H Fry as trustee.
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation is led by William H. Fry, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William H. Fry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$14K (2021) → $28K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $28K, to William H Fry (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation
How much does Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation give each year?
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation gave $98K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $93K across 24 grants.
What is Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,900, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation give grants?
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kentucky (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (19 grants).
Who are Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cincinnati Art Museum ($10,000), Cincinnati Zoo ($10,000) and Art Academy of Cincinnati ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation?
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $115K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $111K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2595921. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation funds nonprofits working on education, housing, community and cultural vibrancy, and related regional needs, with responsive grants focused on its eight-county Greater Cincinnati service area. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000, though amounts vary widely; specific opportunities include awards of up to $35,000 for Resilient Communities and up to $450,000 through the Neighborhood Development Fund. It lists RFP and letter-of-intent opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,408
Total Given
$184.4M
J Frederick & Helen B Vogel Trust
Cincinnati, OH
The trust funds charitable organizations across areas including health, arts and culture, conservation, housing, and youth activities, primarily in Ohio, with some support in Kentucky. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,750. It accepts requests by letter to William H. Fry and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; the listed deadline is October 31.
Assets
$2.4M
Grants
28
Total Given
$108K
Louise Taft Semple Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Louise Taft Semple Foundation primarily funds arts and cultural projects in the Cincinnati region, while also considering education, civic, social service, and environmental initiatives. In 2024, grants ranged from $750 to $260,000, with a median of $15,000; most funding went to Ohio, with some in Kentucky and elsewhere. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$25.3M
Grants
56
Total Given
$1.8M
Jack J Smith Jr Charitable Trust
Pittsburgh, PA
The trust supports year-round direct-service projects addressing community needs, including family stability, child advocacy, behavioral health, and youth services, with a focus on the Greater Cincinnati area. Recent grants ranged from $2,500 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. Its 2023 filing says it does not limit giving to preselected organizations, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.3M
Grants
38
Total Given
$444K
The Alpaugh Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Alpaugh Foundation supports arts and culture, animal welfare and education, public policy education, community services, homelessness programs, religion, and research. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $45,000, with a median of $1,875; most funding went to Ohio, with some support in Washington, D.C., Michigan, Texas, and California. The filing does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests; it lists application materials and deadlines as “N/A” and says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
Assets
$4.3M
Grants
54
Total Given
$354K
Robert a & Marian K Kennedy
Cincinnati, OH
The foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, including education, community, arts, and health-related groups. In 2025, it made 57 grants of $500 to $17,500, with a median grant of $2,000; most funding went to Ohio, followed by Kentucky and South Carolina. It accepts letters as application materials and lists an October 31 deadline.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
57
Total Given
$139K
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helen-e-allen-charitable-foundation-morg_63bd1b980bf54fd793725a6253e20c87
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_852595921_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helen-e-allen-charitable-foundation-morg_63bd1b980bf54fd793725a6253e20c87},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Helen E Allen Charitable 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.
Helen E Allen Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?