Helen L Kay Charitable Trust
Helen L Kay Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Established in 2000, it operates as a 501(c)(3) independent foundation with a focus on charitable giving in human services and health care sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.3M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$331K
+3.9% YoY
Grant Count
38
+11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-7.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen L Kay Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $333K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for human services and health care, including support for hospitals. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Human Services
- Health Care
- Reproductive Health
- Nursing Home Support
- Nonprofit Human Services
- General charitable purposes
The foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives, including Camp Discovery, furniture programs, district basketball, food rescue, and flights.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 31–34 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grantees include:
Grant Range
$5,000–$10,000
Average Grant
approximately $11,600
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, Texas, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $5,286,590–$6,881,349 (as of 2024)
Annual Activity:
- Total giving (2024): $330,500
- Annual revenue (2024): $349,178
- Total expenses (2024): $430,060
Staffing:
- 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,286,590 | $5,376,035 | $5,594,000 |
| Revenue | $349,178 | $179,990 | $129,776 |
| Expenses | $430,060 | $396,949 | $450,578 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $340,019 | $325,693 | $380,060 |
| Net Investment Income | $260,503 | $108,734 | $60,338 |
| Distributable Amount | $333,394 | $308,024 | $322,097 |
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
173 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Salvation Army-eastern Michigan ($25,000), First Presbyterian Church of East Brady ($25,000), Shriner's Hospital for Children ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SALVATION ARMY-EASTERN MICHIGAN SOUTHFIELD, MI | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EAST BRADY EAST BRADY, PA | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| SHRINER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| Presbyterian Villages of MI Foundation Southfield, MI | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY PROJECT CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| JESUIT VOLUNTEER CORPS BALTIMORE, MD | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| EDEN GARDENS BLOCK CLUB DETROIT, MI | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER CINCINNATI, OH | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| DR GARY BURNSTEIN COMMUNITY PONTIAC, MI | SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Matthew Grabowski – Vice President
- Comerica Bank – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMERICA BANK | TRUSTEE | 1 | $95,191 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen L Kay Charitable Trust fund?
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for human services and health care, including support for hospitals. Primary funding focus areas include: • Human Services • Health Care • Reproductive Health • Nursing Home Support • Nonprofit Human Services • General charitable purposes The foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives, including Camp Discovery, furniture programs, district basketball, food rescue, and flights.
How do I apply for a grant from Helen L Kay Charitable Trust?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $2,500 to $40,000 • Median grant size: $5,000–$10,000 • Average grant size: approximately $11,600 **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 31–34 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grantees include: • Salvation Army / Eastern Michigan Division ($25,000) • Starr Commonwealth ($25,000) • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ($15,000) • Shriner's Hospital For Children **Total Giving:** • 2024: $330,500 • Annual g…
Where does Helen L Kay Charitable Trust make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Michigan, Texas, and Illinois.
What size grants does Helen L Kay Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Helen L Kay Charitable Trust awarded 38 grants totaling $331K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Helen L Kay Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Helen L Kay Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $333K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helen L Kay Charitable Trust's EIN?
Helen L Kay Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3047073. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Helen L Kay Charitable Trust'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.