The Helen G Gifford Foundation
The Helen G Gifford Foundation is a private foundation based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Its 2025 filing reports grants to Virginia organizations, including Jewish, arts, education, and community organizations.
The Helen G Gifford Foundation at a glance
In short: The Helen G Gifford Foundation gave $183K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Virginia. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $182,900
- +6.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +3.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,097
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,653,710
- +1.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (8 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (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. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Helen G Gifford Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5000 Corporate Woods Dr Ste 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone: (757) 412-1467
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Helen G Gifford Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Jewish Federation of Tidewater ($38K). Together the top 10 received $124K.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 147 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in the 2025 filing went to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Helen G Gifford Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 30 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% 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 (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 $169K (2021) to $187K (2023). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $183K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Jewish Federation of Tidewater Virginia Beach, VA | Various Programs | $37,500 |
| Virginia Arts Festival Norfolk, VA | 2024 Festival Sponsorship | $20,000 |
| Virginia Symphony Norfolk, VA | One Night Only: Adrienne Warren with the VSO | $10,000 |
| Virginia Opera Association Norfolk, VA | "A Loving Community" | $10,000 |
| The Chrysler Museum Inc Norfolk, VA | General Operations-Arts Education | $10,000 |
| Forkids Inc Chesapeake, VA | Art Elevates Program | $9,000 |
| Norfolk Botanical Garden Inc Norfolk, VA | Gifford Forest Field Station | $7,500 |
| Friends of Chevra Thelim Portsmouth, VA | Various Programs | $7,500 |
| Hope House Foundation Norfolk, VA | Stockley Gardens Art Festival | $7,000 |
| Virginia Musical Theatre Inc Virginia Beach, VA | VMT Presents "Annie" | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Helen G Gifford 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 | $2,653,710 | $292,340 | $262,904 | $182,900 | 30 | $204,273 | $233,709 | $221,270 |
| 2024 | $2,624,274 | $123,015 | $244,035 | $171,577 | 29 | $193,002 | $71,982 | $204,439 |
| 2023 | $2,753,157 | $125,696 | $258,321 | $186,516 | 31 | $207,714 | $75,089 | $192,638 |
| 2022 | $2,886,081 | $181,178 | $256,242 | $169,970 | 30 | $192,610 | $127,724 | $209,156 |
| 2021 | $2,961,499 | $445,773 | $238,565 | $169,000 | 27 | — | $397,662 | $193,982 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Helen G Gifford Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K 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 available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants included support for performing arts, arts education, Jewish community programs, and other local programs.
Among its grantees, the Virginia Arts Festival describes its mission as bringing performing arts to residents and visitors, providing educational programs, commissioning new works, and supporting regional partnerships. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra says it provides symphonic performances, music education, and community engagement in southeastern Virginia. The Virginia Opera Association describes its work as promoting and producing performances while engaging audiences, volunteers, and professionals. The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater says it supports welfare, philanthropic, humanitarian, educational, and cultural projects benefiting the Jewish people.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $182,900. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $37,500, with a median grant of $5,000.
The largest reported grants included $37,500 to United Jewish Federation of Tidewater for various programs; $20,000 to Virginia Arts Festival for 2024 festival sponsorship; and $10,000 each to Virginia Symphony, Virginia Opera Association, and The Chrysler Museum for specified performances or general operations and arts education. Other grants included $9,000 to ForKids for its Art Elevates program and $7,500 to Norfolk Botanical Garden for Gifford Forest Field Station.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph Hearst as president; William A Hearst as vice-president; Megan Patterson as 2nd vice president; Michael E Barney as secretary; Richard Rivin as treasurer; and Patricia M Rowland, Jennifer Rosenberg, and Deborah Hearst as directors.
The Helen G Gifford Foundation is led by Joseph Hearst, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph Hearst
President
1st Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Hearst
Director
On filings since 2021
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Rosenberg
Director
On filings since 2021
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia M. Rowland
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William A. Hearst
Vice President
President → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
$6K (2021) → $3K (2025)
Megan Patterson
2nd Vice President
On filings since 2021
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael E. Barney
Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Rivin
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $3K, to William a Hearst (Vice-President).
Frequently asked questions about The Helen G Gifford Foundation
How much does The Helen G Gifford Foundation give each year?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation gave $183K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $172K across 29 grants.
What is The Helen G Gifford Foundation's typical grant size?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,097, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Helen G Gifford Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does The Helen G Gifford Foundation give grants?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norfolk, VA (18 grants) and Virginia Beach, VA (8 grants).
Does The Helen G Gifford Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of The Helen G Gifford Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Helen G Gifford Foundation's largest grantees?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Jewish Federation of Tidewater ($37,500), Virginia Arts Festival ($20,000) and Virginia Symphony ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Helen G Gifford Foundation?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $204K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $221K (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 G Gifford Foundation fund?
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants included support for performing arts, arts education, Jewish community programs, and other local programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Helen G Gifford Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Helen G Gifford Foundation's EIN?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1850266. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Helen G Gifford Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work The Helen G Gifford Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Helen G Gifford Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-helen-g-gifford-foundation-morg_30cba9ecfe6c4842ad0bb1d3f3141878
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541850266_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Helen G Gifford Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-helen-g-gifford-foundation-morg_30cba9ecfe6c4842ad0bb1d3f3141878},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 G Gifford 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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