Helmsmanshipinc
Helmsmanshipinc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported 24 grants totaling $95,246, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Illinois.
Helmsmanshipinc at a glance
In short: Helmsmanshipinc gave $95K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $95,246
- +21.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +41.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,969
- -13.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $512,962
- -9.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (8 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (93% 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 Helmsmanshipinc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4950 S Chicago Beach Drive 14A, Chicago, IL 60615
Phone: (773) 364-1310
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helmsmanshipinc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Se Side EXP Incubator ($18K). Together the top 10 received $73K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 98 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 4% to recipients in Virginia, and 3% to recipients in California. The listed recipients included organizations in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois, as well as the Salvation Army in Alexandria, Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Helmsmanshipinc open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 24 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $800 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 47% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 218% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $34K (2020) to $95K (2025). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $95K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Se Side EXP Incubator Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization | $17,500 |
| Chicago Maritime Arts Cener Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization | $10,000 |
| St Paul Catholic Church Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization for People with Disabilities | $10,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization | $8,000 |
| Chicago Yacht Club Foundaton Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization | $7,600 |
| St Ann School Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization | $5,000 |
| St Ignatius High School Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization | $5,000 |
| Salvation Army Alexandria, VA | Non Profit Organization | $4,000 |
| VAR Misc Organized Charities Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organizationeducationaleducationaleducational | $3,046 |
| Chicago Training Center Chicago, IL | Non Profit Organization | $3,000 |
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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 | $512,962 | $52,549 | $101,274 | $95,246 | 24 | $95,246 | $52,549 | $43,671 |
| 2024 | $563,877 | $380,410 | $81,287 | $78,355 | 17 | $78,355 | $176,311 | $36,083 |
| 2023 | $461,233 | $-3,323 | $74,591 | $67,860 | 16 | $67,860 | $2,977 | $24,830 |
| 2022 | $551,722 | $216,754 | $65,877 | $64,700 | 20 | $64,700 | $195,854 | — |
| 2021 | $407,085 | $31,450 | $71,906 | $70,500 | 21 | $70,500 | $31,450 | $3,915 |
| 2020 | $524,599 | $33,512 | $44,773 | $33,555 | 18 | — | $33,512 | $2,480 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helmsmanshipinc reported a distributable amount of $44K 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
The available filings do not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for charitable organizations working in areas reflected in grantee missions, including food assistance, youth rowing, river protection, heritage corridor preservation, and meal programs for seniors and people with disabilities. For example, the Greater Chicago Food Depository describes its mission as ending hunger, while Chicago Training Center says it uses competitive rowing to help underserved Chicago youth develop athletic, academic, leadership, and educational skills.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Helmsmanshipinc made 24 grants totaling $95,246. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $17,500, with a median grant of $2,500. Among the largest grants were $17,500 to SE SIDE EXP INCUBATOR, $10,000 to Chicago Maritime Arts Center, $10,000 to St Paul Catholic Church, and $8,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Other 2025 recipients included Chicago Training Center ($3,000), Friends of the Chicago River ($2,500), Canal Corridor Association ($2,500), Meals on Wheels Chicago ($2,500), and Saint Ignatius Chicago Rowing Inc ($500).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John G Crowley as president, member, and director; Kenneth A Kelly as director; and Peter E Goschi as secretary and director.
Helmsmanshipinc is led by John G. Crowley, President, Member & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John G. Crowley
President, Member & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kenneth A. Kelly
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Peter E. Goschi
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Helmsmanshipinc
How much does Helmsmanshipinc give each year?
Helmsmanshipinc gave $95K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $78K across 17 grants.
What is Helmsmanshipinc's typical grant size?
Helmsmanshipinc's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,969, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helmsmanshipinc that year got $2K on average.
Where does Helmsmanshipinc give grants?
Helmsmanshipinc gives mostly in Illinois: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (21 grants).
Does Helmsmanshipinc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Helmsmanshipinc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Non Profit Organization" (19 grants).
Who are Helmsmanshipinc's largest grantees?
Helmsmanshipinc's largest 2025 grantees include Se Side EXP Incubator ($17,500), Chicago Maritime Arts Cener ($10,000) and St Paul Catholic Church ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helmsmanshipinc?
Helmsmanshipinc reported $513K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $95K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Helmsmanshipinc fund?
The available filings do not state a mission for the foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helmsmanshipinc?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing 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 Helmsmanshipinc's EIN?
Helmsmanshipinc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2845371. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Helmsmanshipinc 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helmsmanshipinc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helmsmanshipinc-morg_e0a168e8929d4a97a6bd5913e34ba5b6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832845371_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helmsmanshipinc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helmsmanshipinc-morg_e0a168e8929d4a97a6bd5913e34ba5b6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Helmsmanshipinc'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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