Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms

Private foundation · Grantmaker Charlotte, NC EIN: 26-1539092

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms is a private foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations, including local food assistance and human services organizations, as well as organizations working in conservation and health.

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms at a glance

In short: Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms gave $79K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in North Carolina. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$79,370
-11.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
30
-14.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$2,646
+3.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$900
Total assets
$3,871,217
+2.3% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 30, 2025)
Primary geography
North Carolina (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms

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: 6910 Highway 49 North, Mt Pleasant, NC 28124-8563
Phone: (704) 571-8778

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Cabarrus Meals on Wheels: $16KCabarrus Meals on Wheels$16KMt Pleasant Food Ministry: $16KMt Pleasant Food Ministry$16KSecond Harvest Food Bank: $11KSecond Harvest Food Bank$11KCooperative Christian Ministry: $10KCooperative Christian Ministry$10KOthers: $4KOthers$4KCharlotte Rescue Mission: $2KCharlotte Rescue Mission$2KNational Audubon Society: $2KNational Audubon Society$2KSmile Train: $2KSmile Train$2KCare: $2KCare$2KNRDC: $2KNRDC$2K

The largest 2025 recipient was Cabarrus Meals on Wheels ($16K). Together the top 10 received $65K.

Grant Size Distribution

162 grants across all recorded years

162<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 162 grants of 162 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina. The remaining reported shares went to New York (10%), Virginia (2%), Texas (2%), and the District of Columbia (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.

Cities

ConcordCharlotteNew YorkMt PleasantNYCRaleighWashingtonWingateMorrisvilleDavidsonGarden ValleyLincolnAshevilleLittle RockOrlandoAlexandriaArlingtonMerrifieldOklahima CityChamberlain

Is Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 0 of 30 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count

  • 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 158% 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

$0$50K$100K$150K14 grants2019 16 grants2020 26 grants2021 37 grants2022 34 grants2023 35 grants2024 30 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $79K (2025) to $115K (2023). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $79K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels Concord, NCProgram Support$15,500
Mt Pleasant Food Ministry Mt Pleasant, NCProgram Support$15,500
Second Harvest Food Bank Charlotte, NCProgram Support$10,500
Cooperative Christian Ministry Concord, NCProgram Support$10,000
Others Mt Pleasant, NCProgram Support$3,945
Charlotte Rescue Mission Charlotte, NCProgram Support$2,200
National Audubon Society New York, NYCharitable$2,000
Smile Train New York, NYCharitable$2,000
Care Merrifield, VAProgram Support$1,950
NRDC New York, NYCharitable$1,850
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$3,871,217$165,000$79,473$79,37030$79,370$173$50,175
2024$3,785,690$98,914$89,254$89,24935$89,249$224$71,011
2023$3,776,030$256,782$116,192$114,74034$114,740$349$82,531
2022$3,635,440$336,703$109,625$109,50037$109,500$334$39,569
2021$3,408,362$577,308$103,440$97,76526$97,765$12$92,463
2020$2,934,494$219,065$89,875$89,75016—$16$92,646
2019$2,805,304$465,150$95,000$95,00014—$177$89,935

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms reported a distributable amount of $50K 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

No mission statement for the foundation is available here. Its grants show support for organizations addressing food assistance, services for vulnerable people, conservation, and health. For example, Cabarrus Meals on Wheels describes its work as providing nutritious meals and support to homebound seniors, disabled adults, and vulnerable children. Second Harvest Food Bank says it provides food assistance through a network of partners and works to address hunger and its causes. The National Audubon Society describes its mission as advancing conservation so birds thrive across the Americas, while Smile Train says it seeks to provide people born with clefts the same opportunities in life as those born without clefts.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $79,370. Grants ranged from $200 to $15,500, with a median of $900. The largest awards included $15,500 each to Cabarrus Meals on Wheels and Mt Pleasant Food Ministry, $10,500 to Second Harvest Food Bank, and $10,000 to Cooperative Christian Ministry. Other listed grants included $2,200 to Charlotte Rescue Mission, $2,000 each to the National Audubon Society and Smile Train, and $1,300 to Friends of the Earth. The filing lists the larger local grants as program support and several grants to national organizations as charitable.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Anita B Helms as president, Randall E White as secretary, and Z Vance Smith III as treasurer.

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms is led by Anita B. Helms, President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Anita B. Helms

    President

    Vice President → President, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Randall E. White

    Secretary

    Manager → Secretary, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Z. Vance Smith III

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Louis M. Helms Jr. (2019) — President

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 Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms

How much does Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms give each year?

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms gave $79K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $89K across 35 grants.

What is Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's typical grant size?

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's median grant in 2025 was $900, and its average grant was $2,646, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms give grants?

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms gives mostly in North Carolina: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (7 grants), Concord, NC (5 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Mt Pleasant, NC (2 grants).

Does Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (18 grants) and "Charitable" (12 grants).

Who are Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's largest grantees?

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's largest 2025 grantees include Cabarrus Meals on Wheels ($15,500), Mt Pleasant Food Ministry ($15,500) and Second Harvest Food Bank ($10,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms?

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $79K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $50K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is available here. Its grants show support for organizations addressing food assistance, services for vulnerable people, conservation, and health. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms?

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 ↑

What is Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's EIN?

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1539092. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 25, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 13, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 8, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 21, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 9, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Duke Energy Foundation

Charlotte, NC

The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.

Assets

$1.9M

Grants

41

Total Given

$25.6M

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Saint Louis, MO

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Assets

$594.3M

Grants

1

Total Given

$101.4M

McKesson Foundation Inc

Dallas, TX

The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.

Assets

$1.6M

Grants

76

Total Given

$16.6M

Aetna Foundation Inc

Hartford, CT

Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.

Assets

—

Grants

65

Total Given

$7.2M

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc

Princeton, NJ

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.

Assets

$83.3M

Grants

144

Total Given

$67.7M

Mutual of America Foundation

New York, NY

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$136K

Grants

539

Total Given

$839K

More similar funders

More Funders in North Carolina

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/louis-m-helms-jr-and-anita-b-helms-morg_8f9548873fcf4c108b9f3fded987a6a4

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261539092_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/louis-m-helms-jr-and-anita-b-helms-morg_8f9548873fcf4c108b9f3fded987a6a4},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms'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.

Louis M Helms Jr and Anita B Helms down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?