Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban is a private foundation based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its 2026 filing reports 28 grants totaling $82,420 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, poverty relief, food assistance, public radio, and other areas.
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban at a glance
In short: Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban gave $82K across 28 grants in 2026 (avg $3K), top state Arizona. 18% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $82,420
- +16.9% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 28
- +40.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $2,944
- -16.5% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,824,879
- +15.0% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (5 of 28, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (21% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 8486 N 84Th Pl, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Phone: (480) 686-4047
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Maasai Girls Rescue Center ($14K). Together the top 10 received $58K.
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
The 2026 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares by recipient state were Arizona (21%), Michigan (17%), Colorado (15%), Illinois (12%), and New Jersey (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 5 of 28 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 61% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+5%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2025) to $82K (2026). In 2026 it made 28 grants totaling $82K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maasai Girls Rescue Center Clarkston, MI | Child Sponsorship | $14,320 |
| American Indian College Fund Denver, CO | General | $10,000 |
| Opportunity International Chicago, IL | Colombia Campaign | $10,000 |
| Blair Academy Blairstown, NJ | General | $5,000 |
| American Indian Services Salt Lake City, UT | General | $5,000 |
| Phoenix Rescue Mission Phoenix, AZ | General | $3,000 |
| St Mary's Food Bank Phoenix, AZ | General | $3,000 |
| Friends of Public Radio Arizona Tempe, AZ | Capital Campaign | $2,500 |
| St Barnabas Episcopal Church Scottsdale, AZ | General | $2,500 |
| Hands Together Springfield, MA | General | $2,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,824,879 | $326,964 | $86,181 | $82,420 | 28 | $82,420 | $326,964 | $75,733 |
| 2025 | $1,587,096 | $270,584 | $75,768 | $70,480 | 20 | $70,480 | $270,584 | $75,680 |
| 2024 | $1,389,280 | $125,052 | $81,893 | $78,257 | 21 | $78,257 | $125,052 | $73,196 |
| 2023 | $1,342,121 | $-174,179 | $82,560 | $78,160 | 20 | $78,160 | $36,154 | $69,678 |
| 2022 | $1,596,060 | $94,619 | $81,456 | $78,070 | 19 | $78,070 | $94,619 | $81,006 |
| 2021 | $1,582,897 | $178,853 | $81,238 | $78,650 | 24 | — | $178,853 | $74,580 |
| 2020 | $1,485,282 | $25,539 | $75,261 | $71,680 | 17 | — | $46,259 | $69,897 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban reported a distributable amount of $76K for 2026 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, the American Indian College Fund describes its mission as investing in Native students and tribal college education; Opportunity International says it provides financial solutions, support, and training to people living in poverty in developing countries; and Friends of Public Radio Arizona says it supports the vitality of KJZZ and KBAQ.
Other 2026 recipients include American Indian Services, which says it supports Native American access to education while preserving culture and heritage; Blair Academy, which describes itself as a college-preparatory boarding school; and Hands Together, which says it seeks to educate and encourage people to respond to the needs of poor and disadvantaged people.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $82,420. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $14,320, with a median grant of $2,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $14,320 to Maasai Girls Rescue Center for child sponsorship; $10,000 each to the American Indian College Fund for general purposes and Opportunity International for its Colombia campaign; and $5,000 each to Blair Academy and American Indian Services for general purposes. Other grants included $3,000 each to Phoenix Rescue Mission and St. Mary’s Food Bank, both for general purposes; $2,500 to Friends of Public Radio Arizona for a capital campaign; and $2,000 to Planned Parenthood for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Daniel J. Martineau and Eleanor S. Martineau as trustees.
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's 2026 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Daniel J. Martineau
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eleanor S. Martineau
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban
How much does Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban give each year?
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban gave $82K across 28 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $70K across 20 grants.
What is Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's typical grant size?
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's median grant in 2026 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,944, across 28 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban that year got $1K on average.
Where does Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban give grants?
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's top state is Arizona, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Michigan (17%) and Colorado (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Scottsdale, AZ (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's largest grantees?
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's largest 2026 grantees include Maasai Girls Rescue Center ($14,320), American Indian College Fund ($10,000) and Opportunity International ($10,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban?
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $82K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $76K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's EIN?
Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1441830. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Does Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helen J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helen-j-urban-and-thomas-nelson-urban-morg_2d01a4de590e47c58d703b554957319d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421441830_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helen J Urban \& Thomas Nelson Urban funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helen-j-urban-and-thomas-nelson-urban-morg_2d01a4de590e47c58d703b554957319d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 J Urban & Thomas Nelson Urban'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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