The Helen Benham Foundation
The Helen Benham Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $384K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $43K. Net investment income was $19K.
Key facts about The Helen Benham Foundation
In short: The Helen Benham Foundation gave $43K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 27-6069983
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $42,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- Average grant
- $4,722
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $383,720
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$384K
-4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$43K
-7.6% YoY
Grant Count
9
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+23.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Helen Benham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Helen Benham Foundation gives
- Giving grew 20% 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
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $34K (2020) to $46K (2024). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $43K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was World Central Kitchen ($10K). Together the top 9 received $43K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 49 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Island Grown Initiative Vineyard Haven, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Save the Children Fairfield, CT | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Soho Alliance New York, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Vineyard Conservation Society Vineyard Haven, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Circuit Arts West Tisbury, MA | Charitable | $3,000 |
| The Wakeman Center Vineyard Haven, MA | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Martha's Vineyard Island Housing Trust Vineyard Haven, MA | Charitable | $2,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $383,720 | $402,006 | $345,557 |
| Revenue | $34,050 | $118,279 | $26,317 |
| Expenses | $58,468 | $59,182 | $35,825 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $42,500 | $48,275 | $35,825 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,156 | $103,203 | $26,317 |
| Distributable Amount | $44,325 | $44,363 | $43,330 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 26, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Helen Benham Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Helen V. Benham
Trustee & Director
Trustee → Trustee & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Mobley
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maurice Robinson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Helen Benham Foundation
How much does The Helen Benham Foundation give each year?
The Helen Benham Foundation gave $43K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $46K across 12 grants.
What is The Helen Benham Foundation's typical grant size?
The Helen Benham Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,722, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Helen Benham Foundation give grants?
The Helen Benham Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (24%) and Maryland (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Vineyard Haven, MA (4 grants).
Does The Helen Benham Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on The Helen Benham Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (9 grants).
Who are The Helen Benham Foundation's largest grantees?
The Helen Benham Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include World Central Kitchen ($10,000), Doctors Without Borders ($5,000) and Island Grown Initiative ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Helen Benham Foundation?
The Helen Benham Foundation reported $384K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $43K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (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 is The Helen Benham Foundation's EIN?
The Helen Benham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6069983. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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