The Angel Fund
The Angel Fund is a public charity based in Helena, Montana. It assists Helena School District children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch with school-related necessities, and offers post-secondary scholarships to eligible Montana high school graduates.
The Angel Fund at a glance
In short: The Angel Fund gave $196K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Montana. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $195,659
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +15.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,044
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,954
- Total assets
- $419,429
- +6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Montana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Angel Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 7436, Helena, MT 59604
Phone: (406) 459-1889
Website: https://angelfundhelena.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Angel Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CR Anderson Middle School ($22K). Together the top 10 received $159K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 58 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Montana. The fund’s stated service area is Helena School District; its school-supply campaign also describes support for Helena-area students and lists schools in surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Angel Fund open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) 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 $11K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $78K (2021) to $196K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $196K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CR Anderson Middle School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $21,730 |
| Capital High School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $21,056 |
| Bryant Elementary School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $19,419 |
| Smith School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $18,138 |
| Jim Darcy School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $16,222 |
| Helena Middle School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $15,788 |
| Helena High School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $14,713 |
| Broadwater School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $11,954 |
| Rossiter Elementary School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $11,375 |
| Kessler School Helena, MT | Provide children needing assistance with the necessary school items | $8,508 |
Ready to take the next step with The Angel Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $419,429 | $337,378 | $314,109 | $195,659 | 15 | $17,664 |
| 2024 | $394,566 | $288,198 | $301,633 | $176,118 | 13 | $12,412 |
| 2023 | $399,802 | $250,559 | $314,854 | $174,012 | 12 | $10,597 |
| 2022 | $468,978 | $312,192 | $289,182 | $137,946 | 10 | $1,127 |
| 2021 | $452,729 | $302,831 | $206,673 | $78,351 | 8 | $2,524 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated mission is to assist Helena School District children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch with clothing, winter outerwear, school supplies, field-trip fees, shoes, and other necessities. Its program descriptions also include backpacks and classroom project supplies.
The fund also offers Montana post-secondary scholarships to high school graduates. Its filing describes scholarship criteria as financial need, academic success, and a commitment to giving back to the community. The website lists Access to Success, Capital High School, Helena High School, East Helena High School, and Pupils in Alternative Learning among the scholarship pathways or eligible schools.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, The Angel Fund reported 15 grants totaling $195,659. Grant amounts ranged from $6,813 to $21,730, with a median of $11,954. The listed grants went to Helena-area schools and an alternative-learning program, for the stated purpose of providing children needing assistance with necessary school items.
The largest listed grants were $21,730 to CR Anderson Middle School, $21,056 to Capital High School, $19,419 to Bryant Elementary School, $18,138 to Smith School, and $16,222 to Jim Darcy School. Other listed recipients included Helena Middle School ($15,788), Helena High School ($14,713), and Broadwater School ($11,954).
For clothing assistance, the website directs families to contact their student’s school Angel Coordinator for an application. It states that applications are available starting October 1 each year and that students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch qualify for clothing assistance. This is a process for student assistance, not an application process for outside organizations seeking grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Anderson as chair, Brian Kessler as vice chair, Suzanne Severin as treasurer, and Susan Nimick as secretary. Other listed board members are Steve Thennis, Nick Radley, Sara Hayter, and Halstyn Stief. Janet Riis is listed as executive director, and Marcia Wall as founding director.
The Angel Fund is led by Janet Riis, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 2 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Janet Riis
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
$14K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Mary Anderson
Chair
Vice Chair & School Distr → Board Chair, 2024
Board Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcia K. Wall
Founding Director
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
$9K (2021) → $19K (2025)
Nick Radley
Board Member & School Administrator Representative
Chairman & School Administrator Representative → Chair & School Administrator Representative, 2023
Chair & School Administrator Representative → Board Member & School Administrator Representative, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Thennis
Board Member & Retired School Administrator
Board Member & School Administrator → Board Member & Retired School Administrator, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Nimick
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Severin
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Kessler
Vice Chair
Board Member → Board Vice Chair, 2024
Board Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Hayter
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Halstyn Stief
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Kim Friend-Evans (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Domingo Zapata (2021) — Rfmf Committee Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $19K, to Janet Riis (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Angel Fund
How much does The Angel Fund give each year?
The Angel Fund gave $196K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $176K across 13 grants.
What is The Angel Fund's typical grant size?
The Angel Fund's median grant in 2025 was $11,954, and its average grant was $13,044, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Angel Fund that year got $11K on average.
Where does The Angel Fund give grants?
The Angel Fund gives mostly in Montana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Helena, MT (15 grants).
Does The Angel Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Angel Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Angel Fund's largest grantees?
The Angel Fund's largest 2025 grantees include CR Anderson Middle School ($21,730), Capital High School ($21,056) and Bryant Elementary School ($19,419), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Angel Fund?
The Angel Fund reported $419K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $337K.
What does The Angel Fund fund?
The fund’s stated mission is to assist Helena School District children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch with clothing, winter outerwear, school supplies, field-trip fees, shoes, and other necessities. Its program descriptions also include backpacks and classroom project supplies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Angel Fund?
The Angel Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check angelfundhelena.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Angel Fund's EIN?
The Angel Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0535130. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work The Angel Fund funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Angel Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
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
DOBS Law Foundation
Wilmington, DE
Assets
$423K
Grants
3
Total Given
$20K
Hilda M McDonald Foundation Inc
Milton, FL
Assets
$390K
Grants
3
Total Given
$18K
Hazel M Teegarden Foundation Inc
Seymour, IN
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
4
Total Given
$69K
The Callie and John Rainey Foundation
Anderson, SC
Assets
$5.2M
Grants
8
Total Given
$96K
Dayton Foundation
Sidney, MT
The Dayton Foundation supports scholarships and charitable donations, with 2025 grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 and a median of $2,750. Its reported grants went to recipients in Montana, and it accepts only requests from preselected organizations—not unsolicited applications.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
12
Total Given
$53K
More similar funders
More Funders in Montana
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Angel 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.
The Angel Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?