Helping Fund
Helping Fund is a private foundation based in Zionsville, Indiana. Its 2023 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Helping Fund at a glance
In short: Helping Fund gave $1.0M across 28 grants in 2023 (avg $36K), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,016,628
- +556.9% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 28
- +12.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $36,308
- +486.6% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $19,900
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Helping Fund
- 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: 4 Woodard Place, Zionsville, IN 46077
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helping Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Indianapolis Zoo ($112K). Together the top 10 received $810K.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 105 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2023 went to recipients in Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
How Helping Fund gives
- 68% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 220% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $155K (2022) to $1.0M (2023). In 2023 it made 28 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Zoo Indianapolis, IN | Cultural and Educational | $112,300 |
| Center for the Performing Arts Carmel, IN | Cultural | $108,500 |
| Butler University Indianapolis, IN | Educational | $105,000 |
| Michael Feinstein Foundation Carmel, IN | Cultural | $92,500 |
| United Way of Central Indiana Indianapolis, IN | Charitable | $80,000 |
| Community Hospital Foundation Indianapolis, IN | HEALTH | $75,000 |
| Indiana Repertory Theatre Indianapolis, IN | Cultural | $70,000 |
| Indiana Landmarks Indianapolis, IN | Historic Preservation | $63,500 |
| Second Presbyterian Church Indianapolis, IN | Religious | $63,000 |
| Discover Broadway Carmel, IN | Cultural | $40,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $157,975 | $1,017,471 | $1,016,628 | 28 | $1,016,628 | $157,132 | $24,904 |
| 2022 | $859,496 | $20,209 | $160,281 | $154,750 | 25 | $154,750 | $21,779 | $52,685 |
| 2021 | $999,569 | $101,475 | $228,167 | $224,283 | 24 | $224,283 | $52,591 | $58,566 |
| 2020 | $1,126,261 | $21,779 | $320,912 | $317,390 | 28 | — | $18,257 | $58,446 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helping Fund reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2023 — 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 for Helping Fund is provided. Its grants included support for arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, health and charitable organizations, historic preservation, and a religious organization.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Butler University says it fosters an intellectual learning environment and prepares learners to lead meaningful lives. United Way of Central Indiana says it works to advance financial stability and upward mobility for people and families living in or near poverty. Indiana Repertory Theatre describes its work as producing professional theatre and community programming to build an informed community. These are descriptions of the grantees, not statements of Helping Fund’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2023, Helping Fund reported 28 grants totaling $1,016,628. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $112,300, with a median of $19,900.
Among the largest grants were $112,300 to Indianapolis Zoo, $108,500 to Center for the Performing Arts, $105,000 to Butler University, $92,500 to Michael Feinstein Foundation, $80,000 to United Way of Central Indiana, and $75,000 to Community Hospital Foundation. Other notable grants included $70,000 to Indiana Repertory Theatre, $63,500 to an individual recipient, $63,000 to Second Presbyterian Church, and $40,000 to an individual recipient
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Rollin M Dick and Cheryl J Dick as trustees.
Helping Fund's 2023 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Cheryl J. Dick Trustee
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rollin M. Dick Trustee
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "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 Helping Fund
How much does Helping Fund give each year?
Helping Fund gave $1.0M across 28 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $155K across 25 grants.
What is Helping Fund's typical grant size?
Helping Fund's median grant in 2023 was $19,900, and its average grant was $36,308, across 28 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Helping Fund give grants?
Helping Fund gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (20 grants), Carmel, IN (4 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Helping Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on Helping Fund's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cultural" (8 grants), "Educational" (6 grants) and "Charitable" (6 grants).
Who are Helping Fund's largest grantees?
Helping Fund's largest 2023 grantees include Indianapolis Zoo ($112,300), Center for the Performing Arts ($108,500) and Butler University ($105,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Helping Fund fund?
No mission statement for Helping Fund is provided. Its grants included support for arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, health and charitable organizations, historic preservation, and a religious organization. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helping Fund?
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 ↑
How much is Helping Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Helping Fund reported a distributable amount of $25K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helping Fund's EIN?
Helping Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1872573. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does Helping Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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Browse active grant opportunities in Helping Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Helping Fund'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.
Helping Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?