JW Heller Foundation
The JW Heller Foundation is a family foundation established in 2004, based in Brooklyn, New York. The foundation provides funding to further its charitable purposes.
Key facts about JW Heller Foundation
- EIN
- 23-7003624
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $255,804
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- Average grant
- $12,181
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (8 of 21, 2024)
- Total assets
- $2,899,817
- Primary geography
- New York (73% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who JW Heller Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for JW Heller Foundation's 21 itemized 2024 grants were New York (73%), California (21%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (14 grants) and Southampton, NY (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is JW Heller Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 21 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 43% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 83% 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 JW Heller Foundation
- How to evaluate JW Heller Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.9M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$256K
+18.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
+31.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-9.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JW Heller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $311K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides funding to further its charitable purposes, including some grants to individuals.
Ready to take the next step with JW Heller Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 21 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,899,817 | $2,916,075 | $3,061,903 |
| Revenue | $306,139 | $128,315 | $259,538 |
| Expenses | $322,397 | $274,143 | $169,502 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $257,294 | $216,996 | $123,510 |
| Net Investment Income | $242,109 | $76,465 | $152,586 |
| Distributable Amount | $310,552 | $250,991 | $248,520 |
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
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Nyp Weill Cornell Medical Center ($100,000), USC School of Cinematic Arts ($50,000), Sag Harbor Cinema Art Center ($19,100).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NYP WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL CENTER New York, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $100,000 |
| USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS Los Angeles, CA | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $50,000 |
| SAG HARBOR CINEMA ART CENTER Sag Harbor, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $19,100 |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM Washington, DC | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $15,825 |
| COLUMBIA GRAMMAR SCHOOL New York, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $15,000 |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN New York, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $10,000 |
| HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FIM FESTIVAL East Hampton, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $10,000 |
| ROBIN HOOD New York, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $6,000 |
| BARROW STREET NURSERY SCHOOL New York, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $5,000 |
| SOUTHAMPTON BATH & TENNIS CHARITABLE FUND Southampton, NY | FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITY | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Propp Heller | President & Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Melvin S Heller | Vice President & Secretary | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting awards for young artists. Recent announcements indicate:
Heller Awards for Young Artists Endowments Increase by Over 2 MillionEndowments for the Heller Awards for Young Artists have increased by over $2 million
Heller Awards for Young Artists Endowments Increase by Over 2 MillionBeginning in 2026, the Heller Awards for Young Artists will be hosted at Bass Concert Hall, marking the first time the awards will be held at this venue
Heller Awards for Young Artists Endowments Increase by Over 2 MillionThe awards ceremony is scheduled for May 6, 2026
The foundation has also provided grant support for educational initiatives, including a $100,000 award to support recruitment and retention of underrepresented agroecology students.
Heller Foundation award of $100,000 will support recruitment and retentionContact Information
Address: 1437 59th St, Brooklyn, NY 11219-6475
Telephone: 718-633-2333
EIN: 20-2055940
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from JW Heller Foundation?
The foundation provides funding to further its charitable purposes, including some grants to individuals.
What size grants does JW Heller Foundation award?
In 2024, JW Heller Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $256K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is JW Heller Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, JW Heller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $311K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is JW Heller Foundation's EIN?
JW Heller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7003624. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.