Heller Foundation of San Diego
The Heller Foundation of San Diego is a private foundation established in 1960 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It operates as a 501(c)(3) independent foundation with a single employee and is managed by US Bank NA as trustee. The foundation funds charitable organizations across multiple U.S. cities and states, with a particular emphasis on environmental and conservation initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+24.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$270K
+3.1% YoY
Grant Count
20
-37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+64.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Heller Foundation of San Diego reported a distributable amount of $306K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is giving for environmental and conservation issues. The foundation also supports programs in human health, education, and the arts.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 34 grants in 2024, with recent grantees including:
Grant Range
is approximately $35,000 based on recent activity. The foundation accepts applications from 501(c)(3) U.S. nonprofits and is open to new applicants.
Average Grant
is approximately $35,000 based on recent activity. The foundation accepts applications from 501(c)(3) U.S. nonprofits and is open to new applicants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. locations, including:
California cities: Artesia, Borrego Springs, Chula Vista, El Portal, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Francisco, San Marcos
Other locations: Irving (Texas), Sheboygan (Wisconsin), Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $4.38–$5.47 million
- Total Revenues: $1,429,514
- Total Expenses: $342,265
- Annual Awards: Approximately $262,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,466,233 | $4,379,567 | $4,380,332 |
| Revenue | $1,429,514 | $366,469 | $514,494 |
| Expenses | $342,265 | $334,181 | $379,602 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $277,535 | $268,990 | $325,341 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,315,985 | $302,512 | $463,562 |
| Distributable Amount | $306,167 | $280,834 | $277,317 |
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
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Zoological Society of San Diego ($67,000), Anza-borrego Foundation ($40,000), Ymca of San Diego County ($39,175).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VOICES FOR CHILDREN SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,500 |
| ARCS FOUNDATION INC SAN DIEGO CH RANCHO SANTA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| OLIVEWOOD GARDENS & LEARNING CENTER NATIONAL CITY, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| ANZA-BORREGO FOUNDATION BORREGO SPRINGS, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $40,000 |
| UNITED THROUGH READING SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,500 |
| AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON FOUNDATION CARLSBAD, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $1,500 |
| SAN DIEGO COASTKEEPER SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER CHULA VISTA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| OUTDOOR OUTREACH SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| MONARCH SCHOOL PROJECT SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
US Bank NA serves as trustee and receives compensation of $59,900 for its services.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| US BANK N A | TRUSTEE | 1 | $65,347 |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 634, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0634
Telephone: 800-227-6467
EIN: 95-6010314
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Heller Foundation of San Diego fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is giving for environmental and conservation issues. The foundation also supports programs in human health, education, and the arts.
How do I apply for a grant from Heller Foundation of San Diego?
The foundation made 34 grants in 2024, with recent grantees including: • Anza-Borrego Foundation ($40,000) • YMCA of San Diego County ($39,175) • I Love A Clean San Diego ($20,000) The average grant size is approximately $35,000 based on recent activity. The foundation accepts applications from 501(c)(3) U.S. nonprofits and is open to new applicants.
Where does Heller Foundation of San Diego make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. locations, including: **California cities:** Artesia, Borrego Springs, Chula Vista, El Portal, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, San Francisco, San Marcos **Other locations:** Irving (Texas), Sheboygan (Wisconsin), Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Heller Foundation of San Diego award?
In 2024, Heller Foundation of San Diego awarded 20 grants totaling $270K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Heller Foundation of San Diego required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Heller Foundation of San Diego reported a distributable amount of $306K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Heller Foundation of San Diego's EIN?
Heller Foundation of San Diego's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6010314. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Heller Foundation of San Diego'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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