Help the Charity
Help the Charity is a private foundation based in Salem, Oregon. It is a community and education initiative that provides grants to support educational programs at U.S. nonprofit tax-exempt schools and other entities, particularly in communities where supporting restaurants operate.
Help the Charity at a glance
In short: Help the Charity gave $25K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $665.054), mostly in Oregon. 46% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $24,607
- -24.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -21.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $665
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $84,268
- -10.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (17 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (78% 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 Help the Charity
- How to Apply
-
Local public or private schools should apply using the online form or a form obtained from their local Figaro’s Italian Pizza franchise. The website also invites applications from schools and approved nonprofit organizations. Awards may go to U.S. organizations located in immediate communities where supporting pizzerias or restaurants operate. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Figaro'S Italian Pizza Inc
Mailing address: 1500 Liberty St Se Ste 160, Salem, OR 97302
Phone: (503) 522-6611
Website: https://www.helpthecharity.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Help the Charity
Who Help the Charity funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Peninsula High School ($2K). Together the top 10 received $13K.
Grant Size Distribution
239 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 239 grants of 239 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The application information limits eligible organizations to those in the United States and in immediate communities where supporting pizzerias or restaurants operate. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to Oregon recipients, 18% to Washington recipients, and 4% to Wisconsin recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Help the Charity open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 17 of 37 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $656; repeat grants $673. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 35% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 41% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 561% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2020) to $43K (2021). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $25K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Peninsula High School Gig Harbor, WA | Speech and Debate | $2,000 |
| Christ the King Academy Centralia, WA | Pe Equipment, Art Festival, Speech & Debate Curriculum | $1,742 |
| Oakland Middle School Oakland, OR | Girls Basketball | $1,500 |
| Hanby Middle School Gold Hill, OR | Athletc Uniforms and Music Program | $1,380 |
| Portland Missionary Alliance Portland, OR | 2025 Life Conference | $1,200 |
| La Pine High School La Pine, OR | Cheer Summer Camp, Senior Class Trip, NSROTC | $1,178 |
| Creswell Clubhouse Creswell, OR | Enrichment Club Support | $1,000 |
| Go Ministries Jefferson, OR | GCU/Salem | $1,000 |
| Creswell Middle School Creswell, OR | Future Business Leaders and Volleyball Shorts | $914 |
| Faith Christian School Dallas, OR | Chess Club | $740 |
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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 | $84,268 | $20,420 | $30,032 | $24,607 | 37 | $24,607 | $4 | $4,389 |
| 2024 | $93,880 | $37,061 | $37,056 | $32,483 | 47 | $32,483 | $6,540 | $4,532 |
| 2023 | $93,875 | $18,806 | $35,785 | $31,087 | 43 | $31,087 | $10 | $5,055 |
| 2022 | $111,421 | $39,652 | $56,647 | $41,528 | 54 | $41,528 | $10 | $5,984 |
| 2021 | $131,578 | $30,019 | $50,162 | $42,959 | 58 | $42,959 | $13 | $6,968 |
| 2020 | $151,385 | $15,553 | $21,222 | $16,932 | 30 | — | $87 | $7,511 |
| 2019 | $153,661 | $31,169 | $37,955 | $33,426 | 60 | — | $154 | $7,749 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Help the Charity reported a distributable amount of $4K 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
Help the Charity describes its purpose as supporting learning and helping schools provide children with a better education. Its grants have supported school and youth-program activities such as speech and debate, sports, music, chess, enrichment programs, and school events.
Among its 2025 grantees, Creswell Clubhouse says it provides young people a place to practice reading, get homework help, use computers, and take part in educational activities. Kings Valley Charter School describes its mission as providing rural, community-based education tailored to children’s individual needs and interests. GRIT 920 says it teaches safe, healthy habits to people of varying abilities using specialized adaptive equipment.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Help the Charity reported 37 grants totaling $24,607. Grants ranged from $129 to $2,000, with a median of $500. The largest listed awards included $2,000 to Peninsula High School for speech and debate; $1,742 to Christ the King Academy for PE equipment, an art festival, and speech and debate curriculum; $1,500 to Oakland Middle School for girls basketball; and $1,380 to Hanby Middle School for athletic uniforms and its music program.
The foundation’s website says its board considers applications monthly. Schools and approved nonprofit organizations can apply through an online form or use a form obtained from a local Figaro’s Italian Pizza franchise.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amy Kesecker as chair and Ron Berger, Kelly Kimsey, Greg Hessler, Holly Earle-Schultze, Nikki Hughes, Cindy Egnarski, Sharon Newkirk, and Amanda Adams as directors.
Help the Charity is led by Amy Kesecker, Chair on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy Kesecker
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Egnarski
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holly Earle-Schultze
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Kimsey
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Berger
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Hessler
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Hughes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Newkirk
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Adams
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Hannah Dacorsi (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Rick Glenn (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeff Rode (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Paula Newman (2019) — Chair
- Former: Todd Olney (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 the Charity
How much does Help the Charity give each year?
Help the Charity gave $25K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $32K across 47 grants.
What is Help the Charity's typical grant size?
Help the Charity's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $665, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Help the Charity that year got $656 on average.
Where does Help the Charity give grants?
Help the Charity gives mostly in Oregon: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hillsboro, OR (4 grants), Phoenix, OR (3 grants), Creswell, OR (2 grants) and Central Point, OR (2 grants).
Does Help the Charity give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Help the Charity's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Help the Charity's largest grantees?
Help the Charity's largest 2025 grantees include Peninsula High School ($2,000), Christ the King Academy ($1,742) and Oakland Middle School ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Help the Charity?
Help the Charity reported $84K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $25K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Help the Charity fund?
Help the Charity describes its purpose as supporting learning and helping schools provide children with a better education. Its grants have supported school and youth-program activities such as speech and debate, sports, music, chess, enrichment programs, and school events. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Help the Charity?
Local public or private schools should apply using the online form or a form obtained from their local Figaro’s Italian Pizza franchise. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Help the Charity's EIN?
Help the Charity's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2796721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Help the Charity's focus areas in our free grants database
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