Helios Foundation
Helios Foundation is a private foundation based in Neenah, Wisconsin. Its sole charitable activity is making contributions and grants to qualified charitable organizations; it conducts no direct charitable activities.
Helios Foundation at a glance
In short: Helios Foundation gave $690K across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state Connecticut. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $690,000
- -22.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,857
- -22.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $8,060,338
- +5.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (19 of 70, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Helios Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact the foundation. No formal application or materials are required; the filing states that awards have no restrictions or limitations.
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadline.
- Deadline
- No submission deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Helios Foundation
Mailing address: 40 Jewelers Park Suite 200 PO Box, 628, Neenah, WI 54957-0628
Phone: (920) 727-1137
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helios Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Center for Process Studies ($100K). Together the top 10 received $305K.
Grant Size Distribution
358 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 351 grants of 358 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Connecticut (20%), Oregon (14%), Iowa (12%), Idaho (12%), and Massachusetts (10%). Grants also went to organizations in other states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Helios Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 70 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $525K (2021) to $890K (2024). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $690K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Process Studies Portland, OR | General Support | $100,000 |
| Boys & Girls Home & Family Services Sioux City, IA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Catholic Charities Green Bay, WI | General Support | $25,000 |
| Child & Family Agency of Se CT New London, CT | General Support | $25,000 |
| Mystic & Noank Library Mystic, CT | General Support | $25,000 |
| Thames Valley Council for Comm Arts Jewett City, CT | General Support | $25,000 |
| Minnesota Public Radio St. Paul, MN | General Support | $20,000 |
| The Hunger Coalition Bellevue, ID | General Support | $20,000 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists Cambridge, MA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Wood River Land Trust Hailey, ID | General Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Helios Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,060,338 | $1,262,949 | $817,829 | $690,000 | 70 | $746,231 | $1,211,820 | $685,578 |
| 2024 | $7,615,218 | $798,556 | $1,004,571 | $890,000 | 70 | $944,055 | $752,501 | $637,118 |
| 2023 | $7,821,233 | $750,389 | $809,484 | $690,000 | 74 | $741,965 | $565,413 | $616,965 |
| 2022 | $7,939,891 | $961,016 | $843,277 | $720,000 | 81 | $778,079 | $910,937 | $710,577 |
| 2021 | $7,822,152 | $705,626 | $626,347 | $525,000 | 63 | — | $592,629 | $610,408 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helios Foundation reported a distributable amount of $686K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing does not state a separate mission. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as community libraries, public media, science advocacy, animal care, open-space preservation, and community services. These describe the grantees’ work, not a stated focus of the foundation. For example, Mystic & Noank Library says it maintains a community library and provides reading materials and related services, while the Union of Concerned Scientists says it puts independent science into action to develop solutions and advocate for a healthy, safe, and just future.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 70 grants totaling $690,000. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest grant was $100,000 to the Center for Process Studies in Portland, Oregon, for general support. Other notable grants included $25,000 each to Boys & Girls Home & Family Services in Sioux City, Catholic Charities in Green Bay, Child & Family Agency of SE CT, Mystic & Noank Library, and Thames Valley Council for Community Arts; each was for general support.
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that no formal application is required and that awards have no restrictions or limitations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Buchanan as director/president and the following directors: Nancy McLoughlin, Pat McLoughlin, Daniel Jacob, Juliana Kelly, Christina Siddall, Barbara Aalfs, Ben McLoughlin, David Jacob, and Betsey Thomson.
Helios Foundation is led by John Buchanan, Director & President on every filing since 2021; 2 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Buchanan
Director & President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2025)
Barbara Aalfs
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Ben McLoughlin
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Betsey Thomson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Christina Siddall
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Daniel Jacob
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
David Jacob
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Juliana Kelly
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Nancy McLoughlin
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Pat McLoughlin
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Schaper Benz Wise Investment Cnsl
Administrator
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$76K (2021) → $84K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $84K, to Schaper Benz Wise Investment CNSL (Administrator). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Helios Foundation
How much does Helios Foundation give each year?
Helios Foundation gave $690K across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $890K across 70 grants.
What is Helios Foundation's typical grant size?
Helios Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $9,857, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helios Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Helios Foundation give grants?
Helios Foundation's top state is Connecticut, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Oregon (14%) and Iowa (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hailey, ID (6 grants), Sioux City, IA (5 grants), Minneapolis, MN (4 grants) and Appleton, WI (4 grants).
Does Helios Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 91% of Helios Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (64 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Helios Foundation's largest grantees?
Helios Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Center for Process Studies ($100,000), Boys & Girls Home & Family Services ($25,000) and Catholic Charities ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helios Foundation?
Helios Foundation reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $746K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $686K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Helios Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a separate mission. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as community libraries, public media, science advocacy, animal care, open-space preservation, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helios Foundation?
Contact the foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helios Foundation's EIN?
Helios Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1532106. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Helios Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helios Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helios-foundation-morg_3e5b2c4b8c424f6682e9205ed5c2c292
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391532106_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helios Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helios-foundation-morg_3e5b2c4b8c424f6682e9205ed5c2c292},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 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.
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