Helen's Hope Foundation is a family foundation established in 2007 in New Jersey and currently based in Devon, Pennsylvania. The foundation supports underprivileged youth and the programs and people that aid them through strategic grantmaking across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.5M
+2.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$815K
+31.5% YoY
Grant Count
17
+54.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-14.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen's Hope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was started in honor of Helen Grasso (born Helen Murray in 1928), whose early life was marked by significant hardship. Orphaned and placed in foster care as a child, Helen's resilience and determination inspired the creation of this foundation to support youth facing similar challenges.
The foundation funds programs that provide:
- Educational support
- Health and fitness initiatives
- Family support services
- Other important areas of development for underprivileged youth
Grantmaking
Typical grant awards range from $15,000 to $120,000.
Grant Range
& Frequency**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds programs in:
- Florida: Monroe County and the Miami area
- New Jersey
- New York: Greater New York and the Mid-Hudson Valley
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and surrounding areas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $11,506,099
- Total Annual Giving: $815,000
- EIN: 20-7410435
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,506,099 | $11,201,162 | $10,710,692 |
| Revenue | $1,518,166 | $1,051,987 | $703,980 |
| Expenses | $1,213,229 | $962,020 | $891,219 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,013,586 | $820,441 | $777,841 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,356,555 | $919,045 | $596,602 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,003,296 | $838,169 | $835,447 |
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
76 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Vassar Brothers Hospital Foundation ($120,000), Episcopal Academy ($100,000), Branches Inc ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NEWBURGH INC NEWBURGH, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BRANCHES INC MIAMI, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CITY YEAR INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| DUTCHESS OUTREACH POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| EPISCOPAL ACADEMY NEWTON SQUARE, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FAMILY SERVICES INC POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| FLORIDA KEYS CHILDREN'S SHELTER TAVENIER, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| HIGH MEADOW SCHOOL INC STONE RIDGE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| HOPEPHL PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| HORIZONS GREATER PHILADELPHIA WAYNE, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mallory Silva is listed as a contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH KARL | CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| STEPHANIE KARL | FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| MALLORY SILVA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $60,000 |
| HOLLIE SABORIDO | TRUSTEE AND MANAGER | 40 | $55,000 |
| KRISTIAN KARL | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: www.helenshopefoundation.org
- Telephone: 973-408-6700
- Address: c/o Mallory Silva, 646 Clovelly Lane, Devon, PA 19333
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen's Hope Foundation fund?
The foundation was started in honor of Helen Grasso (born Helen Murray in 1928), whose early life was marked by significant hardship. Orphaned and placed in foster care as a child, Helen's resilience and determination inspired the creation of this foundation to support youth facing similar challenges. The foundation funds programs that provide: • Educational support • Health and fitness initiatives • Family support services • Other important areas of development for underprivileged youth
How do I apply for a grant from Helen's Hope Foundation?
**Grant Size & Frequency** Typical grant awards range from $15,000 to $120,000. **Recent Funding Activity** *2024 Funding Cycle* The foundation funded 16 organizations across its service regions: **Florida:** Branches, Inc.; City Year Miami; Florida Keys Children's Shelter; Lotus House **New York:** Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh; Dutchess Outreach Family Services; Kingston Self Help Inc. (DBA People's Place); The Reading Team **Pennsylvania:** Chester Children's Chorus; HopePHL; Horizons at Epi…
Where does Helen's Hope Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds programs in: • **Florida:** Monroe County and the Miami area • **New Jersey** • **New York:** Greater New York and the Mid-Hudson Valley • **Pennsylvania:** Philadelphia and surrounding areas
What size grants does Helen's Hope Foundation award?
In 2024, Helen's Hope Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $815K — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Helen's Hope Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Helen's Hope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helen's Hope Foundation's EIN?
Helen's Hope Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-7410435. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Helen's Hope 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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