Helms Foundation Inc
Helms Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Irvine, California. Its 2025 grants supported organizations and activities including education, animal rescue, medical care, aviation, youth development, scholarships, conservation, churches, and community needs.
Helms Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Helms Foundation Inc gave $176K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state California. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $176,000
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- +8.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,451
- -7.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $3,917,395
- -0.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (8 of 51, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (41% 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 Helms Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 18201 Von Karman Avenue 450, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone: (949) 475-5800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helms Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends of Albert Whitted Airport ($10K). Together the top 10 received $81K.
Grant Size Distribution
247 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 247 grants of 247 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (41%), Texas (23%), Alaska (16%), Florida (12%), and Maryland (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Helms Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 51 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $170K (2021) to $195K (2020). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $176K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of Albert Whitted Airport St Petersburg, FL | Preservation and Enhancement of Albert Whitted Airport | $10,000 |
| Kpal Kenai, AK | Animal Rescue | $10,000 |
| Rosary High School Fullerton, CA | Education | $10,000 |
| Servite High School Anaheim, CA | Education | $10,000 |
| St Jude Memorial Foundation Fullerton, CA | Medical | $10,000 |
| The Good Samaritan Center Fredericksburg, TX | CHURCH | $10,000 |
| Aopa Foundation Frederick, MD | Educate Public Aviation | $5,500 |
| Boys Girls Club of Fredericksburg Fredericksburg, TX | Youth Development | $5,000 |
| Fredericksburg ISD Education Founda Fredericksburg, TX | Youth Development | $5,000 |
| Fredericksburg Scholarship Fund Fredericksburg, TX | Scholarship Fund | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Helms Foundation Inc?
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 | $3,917,395 | $206,283 | $214,223 | $176,000 | 51 | $207,833 | $201,525 | $231,354 |
| 2024 | $3,920,596 | $-29,878 | $213,054 | $175,500 | 47 | $206,794 | $214,104 | $204,763 |
| 2023 | $4,163,528 | $177,954 | $213,045 | $176,000 | 51 | $206,073 | $219,835 | $201,189 |
| 2022 | $4,198,619 | $239,398 | $209,077 | $176,000 | 51 | $204,220 | $236,422 | $229,038 |
| 2021 | $4,168,298 | $159,947 | $202,468 | $169,500 | 47 | — | $208,675 | $204,155 |
| 2020 | $4,210,819 | $201,507 | $228,686 | $195,000 | 49 | — | $202,100 | $205,159 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helms Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $231K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s listed grants show support for varied charitable purposes. Among its grantees, Grey Bears describes its mission as improving seniors’ health and well-being through volunteerism and community participation; Kids In Distress says it works to prevent child abuse, preserve families, and treat children who have been abused or neglected. The Pacific Crest Trail Association says it advocates for and conserves the trail and connects people to it. These are the grantees’ missions, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 51 grants totaling $176,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000. Its largest grants included $10,000 each to Friends of Albert Whitted Airport for preservation and enhancement of the airport, KPAL for animal rescue, Rosary High School and Servite High School for education, St Jude Memorial Foundation for medical purposes, and The Good Samaritan Center for church purposes.
Other 2025 grants included $5,500 to AOPA Foundation to educate the public about aviation; $5,000 each to Boys Girls Club of Fredericksburg for youth development, Fredericksburg ISD Education Foundation for youth development, Fredericksburg Scholarship Fund, Friends of Fredericksburg Nature Center for preservation of Texas Hill Country ecosystems, and Hill Country Community Needs Council for community purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Elizabeth Bennett, Secretary/Assistant Treasurer; Stephen Helms Bell, President; Fonza Bell Lawther, Treasurer; Michael F Kanne, Vice-President; and Kristen Churchill, Assistant Vice-President.
Helms Foundation Inc is led by Stephen Helms Bell, President on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen Helms Bell
President
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Elizabeth Bennett
Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
Trustee → Secretary & Assistant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Fonza Bell Lawther
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Kristen Churchill
Assistant Vice President
Trustee → Assistant Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Michael F. Kanne
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $2K, to Elizabeth Bennett (Secretary/Assistant Treasurer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Helms Foundation Inc
How much does Helms Foundation Inc give each year?
Helms Foundation Inc gave $176K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $176K across 47 grants.
What is Helms Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Helms Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,451, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helms Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does Helms Foundation Inc give grants?
Helms Foundation Inc's top state is California, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (23%) and Alaska (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fredericksburg, TX (6 grants), Homer, AK (4 grants), Fullerton, CA (3 grants) and San Jose, CA (3 grants).
Does Helms Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 51 grants with a stated purpose on Helms Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (6 grants), "Animal Rescue" (4 grants) and "Community" (4 grants).
Who are Helms Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Helms Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Friends of Albert Whitted Airport ($10,000), Kpal ($10,000) and Rosary High School ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helms Foundation Inc?
Helms Foundation Inc reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $208K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $231K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Helms Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s listed grants show support for varied charitable purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helms Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helms Foundation Inc's EIN?
Helms Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6091335. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Helms Foundation Inc 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helms Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helms-foundation-inc-morg_157550e705284a66b385c8532c3a7e4e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956091335_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helms Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helms-foundation-inc-morg_157550e705284a66b385c8532c3a7e4e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Helms Foundation Inc'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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