Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is a public charity based in Phoenix, Arizona, that supports postsecondary education success in Arizona and Florida, with an emphasis on low-income and historically underrepresented students. Its work spans the education continuum, including early learning, college enrollment, and completion of two- and four-year degrees.
Helios Education Foundation at a glance
In short: Helios Education Foundation gave $19.5M across 78 grants in 2025 (avg $250K), mostly in Arizona. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,494,498
- -19.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 78
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $249,929
- -23.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $879,721,019
- +5.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (19 of 78, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Helios Education Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
Helios does not accept unsolicited requests; funding is by invitation only. Eligible organizations must meet the foundation’s stated organizational and geographic criteria. Helios does not fund capital projects or general operating support, teacher recruitment, professional development, or classroom materials unless these are related to a specific program or initiative. For scholarships, Helios partners with educational institutions and other organizations; it does not accept or fund scholarship applications directly.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4747 N 32Nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (602) 381-2260
Website: https://helios.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helios Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation ($3.7M). Together the top 10 received $12.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
374 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 208 grants of 374 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Helios focuses on Arizona and Florida. In 2025, 51% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona and 45% to recipients in Florida; the remaining reported shares went to California, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 78 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Helios Education Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 78 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $186K; repeat grants $270K. How we count
Medians: $53K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−15%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14.7M (2019) to $26.8M (2021). In 2025 it made 78 grants totaling $19.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation Tempe, AZ | See Part IV | $3,709,120 |
| University of South Florida Foundation Tampa, FL | See Part IV | $1,391,693 |
| Arizona Board of Regents Phoenix, AZ | See Part IV | $1,100,000 |
| Broward Education Foundation Fort Lauderdale, FL | See Part IV | $1,100,000 |
| Candelen Tempe, AZ | See Part IV | $1,000,000 |
| Consortium of Florida Education Foundations Gainesville, FL | See Part IV | $980,000 |
| Arizona Community Fdn Phoenix, AZ | See Part IV | $968,000 |
| FACCT Initiatives Tallahassee, FL | See Part IV | $930,000 |
| Southwest Human Development Phoenix, AZ | See Part IV | $900,000 |
| Breakthrough Miami Miami, FL | See Part IV | $865,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Helios Education Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $879,721,019 | $52,419,531 | $39,635,771 | $19,494,498 | 78 | $52,419,531 |
| 2024 | $832,856,270 | $34,576,005 | $41,951,459 | $24,194,971 | 74 | $34,576,005 |
| 2023 | $740,953,286 | $-12,696,190 | $36,928,499 | $19,899,313 | 79 | $-12,696,190 |
| 2022 | $702,121,235 | $21,760,037 | $39,411,328 | $22,814,309 | 85 | $21,760,037 |
| 2021 | $848,817,984 | $70,162,749 | $41,887,448 | $26,819,178 | 58 | $70,162,735 |
| 2020 | $747,899,259 | $50,271,699 | $29,775,741 | $17,240,572 | 68 | $50,271,545 |
| 2019 | $754,497,859 | $27,605,974 | $26,859,606 | $14,718,038 | 81 | $27,605,909 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Helios’s stated mission is to enrich the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. Its priorities are to help students read proficiently by the end of third grade, increase college enrollment, and increase attainment of two- and four-year college degrees. The foundation describes its broader approach as including community investments, public policy, research and data, and communications.
The foundation says it partners with universities, colleges, elementary and secondary schools, and other eligible educational organizations. Its grant eligibility criteria include providing services or programs in Arizona and/or Florida and being a qualified 501(c)(3) organization or public entity in operation for at least two fiscal years.
Recent grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Maricopa County Community College District Foundation describes its mission as building strategic partnerships for the benefit of Maricopa Community Colleges, students, faculty, and staff. Southwest Human Development says it strengthens the foundation Arizona’s children need for a great start in life. Breakthrough Miami describes a student-teaching-students model supporting under-resourced students’ postsecondary success.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Helios reported 78 grants totaling $19,494,498. Grant amounts ranged from $5,400 to $3,709,120, with a median grant of $40,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $3,709,120 to Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation in Tempe, Arizona; $1,391,693 to University of South Florida Foundation in Tampa, Florida; $1,100,000 each to Arizona Board of Regents in Phoenix and Broward Education Foundation in Fort Lauderdale; and $1,000,000 to Candelen in Tempe. Other large grants included $980,000 to Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, $968,000 to Arizona Community Foundation, $930,000 to FACCT Initiatives, $900,000 to Southwest Human Development, and $865,000 to Breakthrough Miami.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Vincent Roig as chairman, Jane Roig as vice-chair, Paul Luna as president and CEO, Steven Wheeler as director and secretary, and Vada Manager as director and treasurer. Other directors listed are Chevy Humphrey, Don Aripoli, Ioanna Morfessis, James Swanson, and Larry Rice.
Helios Education Foundation is led by Paul Luna, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; all 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul Luna
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$487K (2019) → $638K (2025)
Vincent Roig
Chairman
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$258K (2019) → $346K (2025)
Don Aripoli
Director
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$48K (2019) → $57K (2025)
Ioanna Morfessis
Director
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$53K (2019) → $55K (2025)
Maria Sastre
Director
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$52K (2019) → $62K (2025)
Mark Fernandez
Director
Director & Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$46K (2019) → $62K (2025)
Steven Wheeler
Director & Secretary
Director → Director & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$47K (2019) → $52K (2025)
Tom Herndon
Director
Director & Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$59K (2019) → $63K (2025)
Vada Manager
Director & Treasurer
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$44K (2019) → $58K (2025)
Chevy Humphrey
Director
On filings since 2022
6 hrs/week
$26K (2023) → $47K (2025)
James Swanson
Director
On filings since 2022
6 hrs/week
$43K (2023) → $47K (2025)
Larry Rice
Director
On filings since 2022
6 hrs/week
$37K (2023) → $51K (2025)
Zachary Fontes
Director of Technology
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$133K (2023) → $156K (2025)
Noel McClain
Senior Director & Human Resources
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$132K (2024) → $141K (2025)
Tammi Crum
Director & Executive Services
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$135K (2024) → $137K (2025)
Barbara Ryan Thompson
Executive Vice President & COO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$307K (2019) → $454K (2025)
Jane Roig
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$54K (2019) → $91K (2025)
Janice Palmer
Senior Vice President Government Affairs & Public Policy
Vice President Public Policy & Govt Affair → Senior Vice President Govt Affairs & Public Plcy, 2021
Senior Vice President Govt Affairs & Public Plcy → Senior Vice President Government Affairs & Public Policy, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$144K (2019) → $253K (2025)
Michael Chesin
Senior Vice President & CFO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$261K (2019) → $375K (2025)
Paul Perrault
Senior Vice President Community Impact & Learning
Vice President Research & Evaluation → Senior Vice President Committee Impact & Learning, 2021
Senior Vice President Committee Impact & Learning → Senior Vice President Community Impact & Learning, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$147K (2019) → $262K (2025)
Vince Yanez
Senior Vice President Az Community Engagement
Senior Vice President - Az Community Engagement → Senior Vice President Az Community Engagement, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$211K (2019) → $269K (2025)
Tina Denicole
Vice President Finance & Administration
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $207K (2025)
Julie Norwood
Vice President Grants & Project Management
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$125K (2022) → $146K (2025)
Lauren M. Cortinas
Senior Vice President & Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$173K (2025)
Stacy Baier
Senior Vice President Fl Community Engagement, Ops & Strategic Pshps
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$266K (2025)
Former officers (10)
- Former: Charles Hokanson (2019–2024) — Senior Vice President Fl Community Engagement
- Former: Travis Reindl (2024) — Senior Vice President Communications
- Former: Braulio Colon (2019–2023) — Vice President Fl Student Success Initiatives
- Former: Grace Maseda (2023) — Vice President Communications Fl
- Former: Grace Mesada (2022) — Vice President Communications Fl
- Former: Rebecca Lindgren (2022) — Vice President Communications Az
- Former: Linda Thompson (2019–2021) — Senior Vice President Program Administrator & Org Learning
- Former: Steve Betts (2020–2021) — Construction Manager
- Former: Karen Ortiz (2019) — Vice President & Program Director
- Former: Rob Hosch (2019) — Technology Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $638K, to Paul Luna (President and CEO). 25 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Helios Education Foundation
How much does Helios Education Foundation give each year?
Helios Education Foundation gave $19.5M across 78 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $24.2M across 74 grants.
What is Helios Education Foundation's typical grant size?
Helios Education Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $249,929, across 78 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helios Education Foundation that year got $186K on average.
Where does Helios Education Foundation give grants?
Helios Education Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (45%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (30 grants), Tampa, FL (10 grants), Tallahassee, FL (7 grants) and Miami, FL (6 grants).
Does Helios Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 78 grants with a stated purpose on Helios Education Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Part IV" (78 grants).
Who are Helios Education Foundation's largest grantees?
Helios Education Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation ($3,709,120), University of South Florida Foundation ($1,391,693) and Arizona Board of Regents ($1,100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helios Education Foundation?
Helios Education Foundation reported $879.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $52.4M.
What does Helios Education Foundation fund?
Helios’s stated mission is to enrich the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helios Education Foundation?
Helios does not accept unsolicited requests; funding is by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helios Education Foundation's EIN?
Helios Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2850977. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Helios Education Foundation 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 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 1, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helios Education Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helios-education-foundation-morg_93de342b6a294e01b39405831cb6c6aa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942850977_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helios Education Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helios-education-foundation-morg_93de342b6a294e01b39405831cb6c6aa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Helios Education Foundation'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.
Helios Education Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?