Robert Helmand Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Scottsdale, AZ EIN: 83-4553199

The Robert Helmand Foundation is a private foundation based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including groups providing food and financial assistance, hospice care, disability programs, and wildlife conservation.

Robert Helmand Foundation at a glance

In short: Robert Helmand Foundation gave $38K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Arizona. 53% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$38,075
+118.5% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
15
+66.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$2,538
+31.1% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$1,276,845
+64.1% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
53% first-time grantees (8 of 15, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Arizona (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Robert Helmand Foundation

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: 15125 N Scottsdale Road Apt 810, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Phone: (480) 656-3888

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

Who Robert Helmand Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship: $7KCamelot TherapeuticHorsemanship$7KSt Marys Food Bank: $5KSt Marys Food Bank$5KSociety of St Vincent de Paul: $5KSociety of St Vincent de Paul$5KHospice of the Valley: $5KHospice of the Valley$5KFamily Promise: $3KFamily Promise$3KSouthwest Wildlife Conservation Center: $2KSouthwest WildlifeConservation Center$2KWild at Heart: $2KWild at Heart$2KCascade Aquatic & Recreation Center: $2KCascade Aquatic & RecreationCenter$2KHeifer International: $2KHeifer International$2KPuppies behind the Bars: $2KPuppies behind the Bars$2K

The largest 2024 recipient was Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship ($7K). Together the top 10 received $35K.

Grant Size Distribution

42 grants across all recorded years

42<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 42 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona. The remaining reported shares went to Idaho (5%), Arkansas (5%), New York (5%), and Connecticut (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.

Cities

ScottsdalePhoenixCave CreekCascadeClintonLittle RockNew York

Is Robert Helmand Foundation open to new grantees?

53%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 8 of 15 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 188% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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$10K$20K$30K$40K5 grants2020 5 grants2021 8 grants2022 9 grants2023 15 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $38K (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $38K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship Scottsdale, AZRiding program for the disabled.$6,575
St Marys Food Bank Phoenix, AZFood assistance to needy$5,000
Society of St Vincent de Paul Phoenix, AZFinancial assistance for the poor.$5,000
Hospice of the Valley Phoenix, AZEnhance quality of life with special programs$5,000
Family Promise Scottsdale, AZFinancial assistance for the poor.$3,000
Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center Scottsdale, AZWildlife conservation$2,000
Wild at Heart Cave Creek, AZfor wildlife conservation$2,000
Cascade Aquatic & Recreation Center Cascade, IDTo provide comprehensive and effective academic, health, wellness, and character education programming to students.$2,000
Heifer International Little Rock, ARHelp for families working to escape hunger and poverty.$2,000
Puppies behind the Bars New York, NYTrains incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and first responders$2,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,276,845$535,306$44,287$38,07515$38,075$35,306$40,841
2023$777,997$500,000$20,562$17,4259$17,425$7,828$16,997
2022$298,559$100,000$25,644$16,1348$16,134—$10,743
2021$224,203$100,000$16,297$13,2005$13,200—$6,944
2020$140,500$100,000$9,500$9,5005——$2,589

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert Helmand Foundation reported a distributable amount of $41K for 2024 — 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 provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as basic needs, health and hospice care, disability services, education, and wildlife conservation. For example, Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship says its mission is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through horsemanship and outdoor education; Hospice of the Valley describes its mission as bringing comfort, dignity, and compassionate care to the community. Wild at Heart says it rescues and cares for raptors and provides education and community outreach.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $38,075. Grants ranged from $500 to $6,575, with a median grant of $2,000.

Among its 2024 grants, the foundation awarded $6,575 to Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship; $5,000 each to St Marys Food Bank, Society of St Vincent de Paul, and Hospice of the Valley; and $3,000 to Family Promise. Other reported grants included $2,000 each to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, Wild at Heart, Cascade Aquatic & Recreation Center, Heifer International, and Puppies behind the Bars.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Robert Helmand as President & Tre and Janene Nielson as Director/Secret.

Robert Helmand Foundation is led by Robert Helmand, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Robert Helmand

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Janene Nielson

    Director & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Robert Helmand Foundation

How much does Robert Helmand Foundation give each year?

Robert Helmand Foundation gave $38K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $17K across 9 grants.

What is Robert Helmand Foundation's typical grant size?

Robert Helmand Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,538, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert Helmand Foundation that year got $1K on average.

Where does Robert Helmand Foundation give grants?

Robert Helmand Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Idaho (5%) and Arkansas (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Scottsdale, AZ (6 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (4 grants).

Does Robert Helmand Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Robert Helmand Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Robert Helmand Foundation's largest grantees?

Robert Helmand Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship ($6,575), St Marys Food Bank ($5,000) and Society of St Vincent de Paul ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Robert Helmand Foundation?

Robert Helmand Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $38K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $41K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Robert Helmand Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as basic needs, health and hospice care, disability services, education, and wildlife conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Robert Helmand Foundation?

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 Robert Helmand Foundation's EIN?

Robert Helmand Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-4553199. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Robert Helmand Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Robert Helmand Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-helmand-foundation-morg_48042b5e041b4e2c87b7135986c62f81

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_834553199_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Robert Helmand Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-helmand-foundation-morg_48042b5e041b4e2c87b7135986c62f81},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-11-10. 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 Robert Helmand Foundation'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.

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