Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation
The Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation based in Columbus, Ohio. The foundation was established in 1988 and maintains its principal office at PO Box 1148, Columbus, OH 43216-1148.
Key facts about Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation
- EIN
- 31-6050827
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $154,850
- Grants made (2024)
- 35
- Average grant
- $4,424
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 35, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,016,541
- Primary geography
- Ohio (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation's 35 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (88%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (7 grants), New Albany, OH (3 grants), Cincinnati, OH (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 35 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 97% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 71% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation
- How to evaluate Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.0M
+8.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$155K
-19.7% YoY
Grant Count
35
-22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+3.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation reported a distributable amount of $255K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated support for medical research. In 2020, the foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio for medical research purposes.
Ready to take the next step with Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates in Ohio, with a primary focus on Columbus and the surrounding region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 35 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $240,000
- Annual Expenses: $15,100
- Annual Revenue: $0
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained relatively modest financial activity in recent years. In 2020, the foundation reported total assets of approximately $287,466 with expenses of $15,000.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,016,541 | $940,700 | $901,022 |
| Revenue | $610,073 | $573,202 | $558,073 |
| Expenses | $530,608 | $534,702 | $723,878 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $180,240 | $180,970 | $171,788 |
| Net Investment Income | $259,705 | $216,350 | $3,095 |
| Distributable Amount | $255,459 | $162,699 | $171,603 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
186 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Ohio State University Hospital ($50,000), New Albany Pet Rescue ($40,500), Lifetown ($18,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Columbus, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| NEW ALBANY PET RESCUE New Albany, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $40,500 |
| LIFETOWN New Albany, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $18,500 |
| OHIO REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER Columbus, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - WRESTLING Columbus, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM New Albany, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,100 |
| CHABAD OF DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS Columbus, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH & FAMILY Cincinnati, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - MEN'S BASKETBALL Columbus, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| THE AGAINST MALARIA FOUNDATION Kansas, MO | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Stephen A. Skilken serves as Director of the foundation. Lynne E. Skilken is also listed as a Director.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen a Skilken | Director | — | — |
| Lynne Skilken | Director | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 1148, Columbus, OH 43216-1148
- Telephone: 614-221-4547
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation?
The foundation has demonstrated support for medical research. In 2020, the foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio for medical research purposes.
Where does Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates in Ohio, with a primary focus on Columbus and the surrounding region.
What size grants does Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation award?
In 2024, Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $155K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation reported a distributable amount of $255K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation's EIN?
Joseph & Helen Skilken Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6050827. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.