Help Better Lives Inc
Help Better Lives Inc is a private foundation focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Seal Beach, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $437K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $194K. Net investment income was $18K.
Help Better Lives Inc at a glance
In short: Help Better Lives Inc gave $194K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $22K). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $193,607
- +1.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,512
- +1.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,974
- Total assets
- $436,618
- -2.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Help Better Lives Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tupendane Company ($93K). Together the top 9 received $194K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 48 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Help Better Lives Inc gives
- Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $148K (2022) to $194K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $194K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tupendane Company | Assist Schools to Feed Students and Improve Facilities. | $92,520 |
| Peaksneng Thormacheat Shop | Assist families living in rural poverty to become food and income self-reliant. | $30,873 |
| Soda Trust | Assist Schools to Feed Students and Improve Facilities. | $24,007 |
| Kikundi Cha Mafanikio | Assist families living in rural poverty to become food and income self-reliant. | $11,274 |
| Wamukisa Support Organization | Assist families living in rural poverty to become food and income self-reliant. | $10,974 |
| Upendo Agribusiness | Distributing Grants and Providing Program Management Services. | $9,389 |
| Lishe Bora Garden Shop | Assist families living in rural poverty to become food and income self-reliant. | $7,136 |
| Healthy Life Reinforcement | Assist families living in poverty to become food and income self-reliant. | $4,283 |
| Sunrise Organic Agri-Shop | Assist families living in rural poverty to become food and income self-reliant | $3,151 |
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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 | $436,618 | $187,867 | $200,217 | $193,607 | 9 | $232,740 | $18,334 | $5,343 |
| 2024 | $448,968 | $249,927 | $225,880 | $191,325 | 9 | $288,155 | $17,430 | $5,811 |
| 2023 | $424,921 | $236,116 | $160,499 | $149,119 | 9 | $177,974 | $37,351 | $476 |
| 2022 | $349,304 | $144,761 | $155,988 | $147,880 | 11 | $188,207 | $6,978 | $2,782 |
| 2021 | $360,615 | $276,384 | $228,873 | $150,248 | 10 | $247,853 | — | $597 |
| 2020 | $316,534 | $326,868 | $293,751 | $177,474 | 10 | — | — | $874 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Help Better Lives Inc reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Help Better Lives Inc is led by Christopher Wade, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher Wade
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clive Perry
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gillian Perry
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Shaw
Treasurer & CFO
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
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 Help Better Lives Inc
How much does Help Better Lives Inc give each year?
Help Better Lives Inc gave $194K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $191K across 9 grants.
What is Help Better Lives Inc's typical grant size?
Help Better Lives Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,974, and its average grant was $21,512, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Does Help Better Lives Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Help Better Lives Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Help Better Lives Inc's largest grantees?
Help Better Lives Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Tupendane Company ($92,520), Peaksneng Thormacheat Shop ($30,873) and Soda Trust ($24,007), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Help Better Lives Inc?
Help Better Lives Inc reported $437K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $233K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Help Better Lives Inc?
Help Better Lives Inc is a private foundation focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Seal Beach, CA. It holds $437K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Help Better Lives Inc operate?
Help Better Lives Inc has awarded grants in California, Colorado.
What is Help Better Lives Inc's EIN?
Help Better Lives Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3309167. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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