The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. In its 2025 filing, it reported making 10 grants totaling $52,000, all to recipients in New York State.
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc gave $52K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $52,000
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,200
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,250
- Total assets
- $768,297
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 369 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 856-3300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Salvation Army Buffalo ($12K). Together the top 9 received $52K.
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 52 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in New York State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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 $40K (2020) to $52K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $52K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Salvation Army Buffalo Buffalo, NY | Hope on Main Campaign | $12,000 |
| Nichols School Buffalo, NY | Scholarships for William F. Kimberly Jr. | $10,000 |
| Syracuse University Rowing Syracuse, NY | Purchase of 8 Person Rowing Shell | $10,000 |
| Daemen University Amherst, NY | Scholarship Fund | $5,000 |
| Jericho Road CHC Buffalo, NY | Medical Services | $3,500 |
| Feedmore WNY Buffalo, NY | Charitable | $3,000 |
| Plymouth Crossroads West Seneca, NY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center Inc Buffalo, NY | Meals and Holiday Gifts for Families in Need | $2,000 |
| Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center Inc Buffalo, NY | Capital Improvements | $2,000 |
| Hope for Cats Inc North Boston, NY | Assistance to shelter, nurture and socialize abandoned and homeless cats | $2,000 |
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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 | $768,297 | $72,950 | $66,147 | $52,000 | 10 | $54,848 | $61,818 | $55,956 |
| 2024 | $761,494 | $51,589 | $63,900 | $50,000 | 10 | $52,471 | $40,770 | $54,780 |
| 2023 | $773,805 | $70,055 | $62,503 | $50,000 | 11 | $52,317 | $59,869 | $50,374 |
| 2022 | $766,253 | $14,623 | $66,529 | $52,000 | 10 | $54,495 | $9,941 | $51,930 |
| 2021 | $818,159 | $108,998 | $61,706 | $48,000 | 11 | $50,494 | $97,786 | $56,771 |
| 2020 | $770,867 | $1,368 | $50,771 | $40,000 | 8 | — | $8,493 | $48,543 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $56K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including educational institutions, social-service and health organizations, and an animal shelter. For example, Daemen University describes its mission as preparing creative, ethically minded leaders through liberal arts and professional education. Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center says it works to enhance the development and quality of life of children with special needs in Western New York through an accredited therapeutic riding program.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $52,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $12,000, with a median grant of $3,250. The largest grants included $12,000 to the Salvation Army Buffalo for the Hope on Main campaign, $10,000 to Nichols School for scholarships for William F. Kimberly Jr., and $10,000 to Syracuse University Rowing to purchase an eight-person rowing shell. Other grants included $5,000 to Daemen University for its scholarship fund and $3,500 to Jericho Road CHC for medical services.
The foundation also made two $2,000 grants to Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center: one for meals and holiday gifts for families in need, and one for capital improvements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher D Lenahan as president; Susan Lenahan Kimberly as treasurer; Dale B Demyanick as assistant treasurer; Richard B Adams as secretary; and Ellen Jo Lenahan, Linda Matt, and Mackenzie Lenahan as directors.
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc is led by Christopher D. Lenahan, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher D. Lenahan
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Jo Lenahan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Matt
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mackenzie Lenahan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale B. Demyanick
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Lenahan Kimberly
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard B. Adams
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sharon G. O'Neill (2020–2022) — Secretary
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 Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc
How much does The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc give each year?
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc gave $52K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 10 grants.
What is The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $3,250, and its average grant was $5,200, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc give grants?
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (6 grants).
Does The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Salvation Army Buffalo ($12,000), Nichols School ($10,000) and Syracuse University Rowing ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc?
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc reported $768K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $55K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (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 Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including educational institutions, social-service and health organizations, and an animal shelter. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1606326. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-helen-dent-lenahan-foundation-inc-morg_14ef924c602048bdae61cd614023712c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_161606326_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-helen-dent-lenahan-foundation-inc-morg_14ef924c602048bdae61cd614023712c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation Inc'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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