Helen Sperry Lea Foundation
Helen Sperry Lea Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in VENICE, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $113K. Net investment income was $59K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$113K
-9.3% YoY
Grant Count
11
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen Sperry Lea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $134K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Helen Sperry Lea Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Helen Sperry Lea Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in VENICE, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $113K. Net investment income was $59K.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,582,281 | $1,532,534 | $1,449,454 |
| Revenue | $86,942 | $96,030 | $-2,627 |
| Expenses | $153,319 | $174,683 | $172,196 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $59,039 | $47,624 | $17,159 |
| Distributable Amount | $133,509 | $124,066 | $124,688 |
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
65 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Wooden Floor ($32,033), Second Harvest Heartland ($20,000), Project for Pride in Living ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE WOODEN FLOOR SANTA ANA, CA | GENERAL | $32,033 |
| BRAVER ANGELS-INST FOR AM VALUES NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST Santa Barbara, CA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| MASS AUDUBON Lincoln, MA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| HALLIE Q BROWN COMM CENTER Saint Paul, MN | GENERAL | $5,033 |
| FRIEND OF THE MS RIVER Saint Paul, MN | GENERAL | $2,000 |
| INTERACT CTR FOR VIS PERM ARTS SAINT PAUL, MN | GENERAL | $4,000 |
| URBAN BOAT BUILDERS Saint Paul, MN | GENERAL | $4,000 |
| WALK IN COUNSELING CENTER Minneapolis, MN | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND Minneapolis, MN | GENERAL | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| R BROOKE LEA II | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| EMILY FIELDS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| HELENA LEA-BASTILLE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Helen Sperry Lea Foundation?
Helen Sperry Lea Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Arts and culture, based in VENICE, CA. It holds $1.6M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Helen Sperry Lea Foundation?
As of 2024, Helen Sperry Lea Foundation holds $1.6M in total assets with $87K in annual revenue. It awarded 11 grants totaling $113K in 2024.
Where does Helen Sperry Lea Foundation operate?
Helen Sperry Lea Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York.
What size grants does Helen Sperry Lea Foundation award?
In 2024, Helen Sperry Lea Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $113K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Helen Sperry Lea Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Helen Sperry Lea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $134K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helen Sperry Lea Foundation's EIN?
Helen Sperry Lea Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6161749. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Helen Sperry Lea Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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