Helen's Hope Foundation is a private corporate foundation based in West Chicago, Illinois, established in 2004. As a corporate foundation of Camcraft Inc., it operates with no paid staff and focuses on supporting educational, humanitarian, and faith-based initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$657K
-54.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+38.5% YoY
Grant Count
31
+3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
+34.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen's Hope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation aims to nurture growth in high school-aged students through relationships, excellence, and service to the glory of God. Its primary funding areas include:
- Education: Christian education and academic excellence
- Youth Development: High school-aged student programs
- Christian Ministry: Faith-based initiatives and Christian humanitarian aid
- Healthcare: Medical support and healthcare initiatives
- Orphan Care & Humanitarian Aid: International and domestic assistance
- Child Abuse Prevention: Child welfare initiatives
- Christian Athletics: Youth athletic programs with character development focus
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a "preselected only" basis, indicating it does not accept unsolicited grant applications and instead funds organizations it has identified.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $500,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and Texas, with particular emphasis on local West Chicago area institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $657,440
- Total Revenues: $769,072
- Total Expenses: $1,559,337
- Total Giving: $1,547,500
Staffing: The foundation operates with no paid employees, relying on volunteer board members and key personnel.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $657,440 | $1,447,705 | $1,910,763 |
| Revenue | $769,072 | $669,051 | $699,795 |
| Expenses | $1,559,337 | $1,132,109 | $1,152,425 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,547,500 | $1,117,325 | $1,135,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $58,961 | $55,292 | $8,285 |
| Distributable Amount | $51,201 | $66,951 | $100,738 |
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
130 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wheaton Christian Grammar School ($500,000), Wheaton Academy ($300,000), Crossroads Kids Club ($158,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADMINISTER JUSTICE ELGIN, IL | MINISTRY | $12,000 |
| BY THE HAND CLUB CHICAGO, IL | EDUCATION | $13,000 |
| CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES NEW YORK, NY | MINISTRY | $17,500 |
| CROSSROADS KIDS CLUB STREAMWOOD, IL | MINISTRY | $158,000 |
| CRU FOUNDATION ORLANDO, FL | MINISTRY | $15,000 |
| EVANGEL CHURCH HANOVER PARK, IL | MINISTRY | $10,000 |
| FELLOWSHIP FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS NEW YORK, NY | MINISTRY | $25,000 |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE HILLSDALE, MI | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY LONGVIEW, TX | EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| LIFESONG FOR ORPHANS GRIDLEY, IL | ORPHAN CARE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENARD B BERTSCHE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JEANNE BERTSCHE | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MICHAEL BERTSCHE | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| PATRICK BERTSCHE | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen's Hope Foundation fund?
The foundation aims to nurture growth in high school-aged students through relationships, excellence, and service to the glory of God. Its primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Christian education and academic excellence • **Youth Development**: High school-aged student programs • **Christian Ministry**: Faith-based initiatives and Christian humanitarian aid • **Healthcare**: Medical support and healthcare initiatives • **Orphan Care & Humanitarian Aid**: International and domestic as…
How do I apply for a grant from Helen's Hope Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 31 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024) • Grant range: $5,000 to $500,000 • Median grant size: $13,000 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Wheaton Christian Grammar School: $500,000 • Wheaton Academy: $300,000 • Crossroads Kids Club: (amount listed but cut off in source) • Warrior Youth Athletics: $50,000 (for Christian Athletics) **Application Approach:** The foundation operates on a "preselected only" basis, indicating it does not accept unsolicited grant appl…
Where does Helen's Hope Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and Texas, with particular emphasis on local West Chicago area institutions.
What size grants does Helen's Hope Foundation award?
In 2024, Helen's Hope Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $50K 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 $51K 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 54-2135918. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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