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.
The Helen Benham Foundation at a glance
In short: The Helen Benham Foundation gave $43K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $42,500
- -7.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,722
- +23.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $383,720
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Helen Benham Foundation funds
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%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Helen Benham Foundation?
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 | $383,720 | $34,050 | $58,468 | $42,500 | 9 | $42,500 | $19,156 | $44,325 |
| 2024 | $402,006 | $118,279 | $59,182 | $46,000 | 12 | $48,275 | $103,203 | $44,363 |
| 2023 | $345,557 | $26,317 | $35,825 | $35,800 | 7 | $35,825 | $26,317 | $43,330 |
| 2022 | $345,845 | $16,400 | $49,037 | $35,378 | 12 | $37,528 | $616 | $42,941 |
| 2021 | $378,482 | $17,829 | $58,654 | $45,650 | 9 | $47,775 | $2,738 | $43,627 |
| 2020 | $419,307 | $2,904 | $46,100 | $33,500 | 14 | — | $497 | $38,213 |
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.
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.
Data update history
(6)
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)
Live grants for the work The Helen Benham Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Helen Benham Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
South Mountain Company Foundation
West Tisbury, MA
Assets
$10K
Grants
4
Total Given
$8K
Stonehouse Inc
Vineyard Haven, MA
Stonehouse Inc. supports preselected exempt organizations and the preservation of historically significant real estate on Martha’s Vineyard, with grants spanning conservation, education, agriculture, arts, community services, and maritime history. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $2,500, with a median of $1,000; most funding went to Massachusetts, especially Martha’s Vineyard. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
14
Total Given
$16K
Gretchen V & Samuel M Feldman Private
Vineyard Haven, MA
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
52
Total Given
$189K
Tower Family Fund Inc
Buffalo, NY
Tower Family Fund supports organizations working in areas including community initiatives, arts and culture, education, housing, health, and science, with 2025 grants ranging from $500 to $2 million and a median of $25,000. Most 2025 grant dollars went to Massachusetts and New York organizations; the fund makes contributions only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$36.5M
Grants
107
Total Given
$9.1M
Swartz Foundation Trust
Forked River, NJ
The Swartz Foundation Trust supports a range of charitable work, including international justice, arts and culture, public media, and community services, with 2024 grants concentrated in the District of Columbia and also going to organizations in Massachusetts, Utah, Virginia, New York, and Washington state. Its 67 grants ranged from $500 to $2.5 million, with a median of $20,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$105.3M
Grants
67
Total Given
$4.9M
Mazar Family Charitable Foundation Trust
Boston, MA
The foundation supports wildlife and land conservation, alongside organizations working in food access, human rights, humanitarian aid, and Native education. In 2024, it made 68 grants totaling $612,144, with a median grant of $4,750 and awards ranging from $100 to $100,000; Massachusetts received the largest share, and it also supported work in other U.S. states and Costa Rica. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.0M
Grants
68
Total Given
$612K
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Helen Benham 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.
The Helen Benham Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?