The Bruce J Heim Foundation
The Bruce J. Heim Foundation is a private foundation based in Metairie, Louisiana, established in 1986 to provide financial assistance that helps people—especially young people with potential for academic or artistic excellence—develop their talents. Its grants support organizations and projects intended to help young people realize their potential.
The Bruce J Heim Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bruce J Heim Foundation gave $97K across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $97,090
- +18.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- +13.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,312
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,700
- Total assets
- $2,451,680
- -0.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Bruce J Heim Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts grant requests from 501(c)(3) organizations. Requests are considered individually by the full Board, which evaluates the organization’s viability, its ability to fulfill the project or scholarship goals, and the significance of the proposed funding. The 2025 filing says to submit a letter to the Board stating the amount requested, how the grant will be used, the benefits expected, the need, and verification of 501(c) status; applicants may include other supporting materials. The Foundation’s website additionally lists a signed cover letter on organizational letterhead with a brief history, governing-body names, the IRS status ruling, current financial statements or an audit, the most recent Form 990, and a project or scholarship description with relevant details such as budget and amount requested. The Board meets periodically to review requests; applicants are asked to allow at least two months. The 2025 filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: The Bruce J Heim Foundation Co Barb
Mailing address: 3525 N Causeway Blvd Ste 605, Metairie, LA 70002
Phone: (504) 321-0040
Website: https://brucejheimfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Bruce J Heim Foundation
Who The Bruce J Heim Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tulane University ($9K). Together the top 10 received $47K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
186 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 186 grants of 186 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Louisiana, and Louisiana recipients received 47% of its 2025 grant dollars. Other leading recipient states that year were California (13%), North Carolina (10%), New York (7%), and New Jersey (6%). Its past and ongoing grants include scholarship endowments at institutions in North Carolina, Indiana, California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, as well as grants to Tulane University in Louisiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Bruce J Heim Foundation gives
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $165K (2021). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $97K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tulane University New Orleans, LA | Program Support | $8,500 |
| First Louisiana-Mississippi Inc Metairie, LA | Program Support | $7,500 |
| Students to Scholars Durham, NC | Program Support | $7,500 |
| Biomedical Research Foundation NW LA Shreveport, LA | Scholarship Support | $4,060 |
| Louisiana Youth Seminars Inc Baton Rouge, LA | Scholarship Support | $4,000 |
| Global Arts Corporation Los Angeles, CA | Program Support | $3,500 |
| Jefferson Dollars for Scholars Metairie, LA | Scholarship Support | $3,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $3,000 |
| Museum of Southern Jewish Experience New Orleans, LA | Program Support | $3,000 |
| San Diego Civic Youth Ballet Inc San Diego, CA | Program Support | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,451,680 | $262,323 | $266,887 | $97,090 | 42 | $226,260 | $225,890 | $235,198 |
| 2024 | $2,456,504 | $274,617 | $234,295 | $81,660 | 37 | $199,264 | $241,447 | $210,574 |
| 2023 | $2,416,145 | $171,178 | $215,540 | $73,990 | 34 | $184,401 | $139,838 | $189,485 |
| 2022 | $2,517,659 | $369,228 | $225,070 | $78,260 | 28 | $192,772 | $336,930 | $210,601 |
| 2021 | $2,320,289 | $411,509 | $310,116 | $165,485 | 45 | $278,298 | $379,691 | $240,294 |
| 2020 | $2,218,887 | $5,331 | $17,524 | $9,500 | 2 | — | $3,566 | $19,197 |
| 2019 | $2,238,367 | $186,326 | $200,205 | $88,515 | 39 | — | $161,819 | $162,909 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bruce J Heim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $235K 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
The Foundation’s stated aim is to help young people realize their full potential by enabling them to improve, develop, and concentrate on their talents. It supports scholarships and other funding for programs at universities, independent secondary schools, and other institutions. Its website identifies academic and artistic excellence as areas of particular interest and says supported programs should help participants enhance their skills.
The 2025 grants included scholarship and program support. Among the recipients, First Louisiana-Mississippi Inc. describes its mission as developing young science and technology leaders through mentor-based programs. Global Arts Corporation says it provides free music education in low-income Los Angeles communities, while San Diego Civic Youth Ballet describes its work as providing opportunities for young people to study and participate in ballet.
Grantmaking
The Foundation reported 42 grants totaling $97,090 in 2025, compared with 37 grants totaling $81,660 in 2024 and 34 grants totaling $73,990 in 2023. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $8,500, with a median of $1,700.
The largest 2025 awards included $8,500 to Tulane University for program support, $7,500 to First Louisiana-Mississippi Inc. for program support, and $7,500 to Students to Scholars for program support. Other notable awards included $4,060 to Biomedical Research Foundation Northwest Louisiana and $4,000 to Louisiana Youth Seminars, both for scholarship support. The Foundation also awarded $3,500 to Global Arts Corporation for program support and $3,000 each to Jefferson Dollars for Scholars and an individual recipient for scholarship support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas C. Hutton Esq., Barbara H. Pailet, James A. Cunningham, Sasha Pailet Koff, and Carrie Pailet Kanter as trustees. The Foundation’s grant application page identifies Barbara Pailet as Executive Director.
The Bruce J Heim Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara H. Pailet
Trustee
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$62K (2019) → $74K (2025)
Carrie Pailet Kanter
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$1K (2019) → $1K (2025)
James A. Cunningham
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$1K (2019) → $1K (2025)
Sasha Pailet Koff
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$1K (2019) → $1K (2025)
Thomas C. Hutton Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $74K, to Barbara H Pailet (Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Bruce J Heim Foundation
How much does The Bruce J Heim Foundation give each year?
The Bruce J Heim Foundation gave $97K across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $82K across 37 grants.
What is The Bruce J Heim Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bruce J Heim Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,700, and its average grant was $2,312, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Bruce J Heim Foundation give grants?
The Bruce J Heim Foundation's top state is Louisiana, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (13%) and North Carolina (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (9 grants), Metairie, LA (3 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does The Bruce J Heim Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 42 grants with a stated purpose on The Bruce J Heim Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (36 grants) and "Scholarship Support" (5 grants).
Who are The Bruce J Heim Foundation's largest grantees?
The Bruce J Heim Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Tulane University ($8,500), First Louisiana-Mississippi Inc ($7,500) and Students to Scholars ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Bruce J Heim Foundation?
The Bruce J Heim Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $226K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $235K (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 The Bruce J Heim Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated aim is to help young people realize their full potential by enabling them to improve, develop, and concentrate on their talents. It supports scholarships and other funding for programs at universities, independent secondary schools, and other institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bruce J Heim Foundation?
The Foundation accepts grant requests from 501(c)(3) organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Bruce J Heim Foundation's EIN?
The Bruce J Heim Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3389060. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bruce J Heim Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bruce J Heim Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bruce-j-heim-foundation-morg_81c7974710824a239c37a284863662ea
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133389060_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bruce J Heim Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bruce-j-heim-foundation-morg_81c7974710824a239c37a284863662ea},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Bruce J Heim 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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