Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust is a private foundation based in Iola, Kansas. Its 2024 filing reports contributions to charitable organizations, including support for a local arts center, scholarships, schools, and community organizations.
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust at a glance
In short: Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust gave $203K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Kansas. 60% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $203,427
- -4.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +85.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,824
- -48.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $2,157,268
- +1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (15 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (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 Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 94, Iola, KS 66749
Phone: (620) 363-0506
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bowlus Fine Art Center ($84K). Together the top 10 received $175K.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 84 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas. Listed recipients were in Iola and Moran.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 25 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% 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 $184K (2022) to $240K (2021). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $203K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bowlus Fine Art Center Iola, KS | Contribution | $83,915 |
| Scholarship Fund - CNB Iola, KS | Scholarships | $31,875 |
| Author Visit Program Iola, KS | Author Visit to Schools | $12,800 |
| Allen Community College Iola, KS | Contribution | $10,000 |
| Iola Rotary Iola, KS | Contribution | $10,000 |
| Marmaton Valley High School Moran, KS | Contribution | $7,000 |
| Iola Kiwanis Iola, KS | Contribution | $5,000 |
| Iola Middle School Iola High Scho Iola, KS | Contribution | $5,000 |
| Iola Reads Iola, KS | Contribution | $4,170 |
| Dare Iola, KS | Drug Awareness Program | $3,745 |
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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 | $2,157,268 | $190,861 | $247,621 | $203,427 | 26 | $223,769 | $161,481 | $216,026 |
| 2023 | $2,127,973 | $165,319 | $268,107 | $212,750 | 14 | $226,472 | $152,444 | $212,029 |
| 2022 | $2,212,710 | $191,448 | $234,171 | $184,301 | 12 | $191,275 | $128,977 | $225,156 |
| 2021 | $2,224,586 | $130,395 | $292,719 | $239,511 | 15 | $246,956 | $131,856 | $213,983 |
| 2020 | $2,355,600 | $148,139 | $236,481 | $193,073 | 17 | — | $136,830 | $209,165 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust reported a distributable amount of $216K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission. The 2024 grants show support for arts, scholarships, schools, and community organizations; the listed purposes include contributions, scholarships, an author visit to schools, and a drug awareness program.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the trust made 26 grants totaling $203,427. The median grant was $2,500, with individual grants ranging from $893 to $83,915. Notable grants included $83,915 to Bowlus Fine Art Center, $31,875 to Scholarship Fund - CNB for scholarships, $12,800 to Author Visit Program for an author visit to schools, and $10,000 each to Allen Community College and Iola Rotary.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James M Immel is listed as trustee.
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust is led by James M. Immel, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James M. Immel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$31K (2021) → $16K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $16K, to James M Immel (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust
How much does Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust give each year?
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust gave $203K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $213K across 14 grants.
What is Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust's typical grant size?
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $7,824, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust that year got $3K on average.
Where does Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust give grants?
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust gives mostly in Kansas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Iola, KS (20 grants), Moran, KS (3 grants) and Humboldt, KS (2 grants).
Does Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (20 grants).
Who are Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust's largest grantees?
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Bowlus Fine Art Center ($83,915), Scholarship Fund - CNB ($31,875) and Author Visit Program ($12,800), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust?
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $224K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $216K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust fund?
The available information does not state a mission. The 2024 grants show support for arts, scholarships, schools, and community organizations; the listed purposes include contributions, scholarships, an author visit to schools, and a drug awareness program. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust?
The foundation states that it 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 Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust's EIN?
Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-6293621. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Helen Gates Whitehead Test Trust 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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