The Helen G Gifford Foundation
The Helen G Gifford Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 30 grants totaling $183K. Net investment income was $234K.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$183K
+6.6% YoY
Grant Count
30
+3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+3.0% YoY
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.
About The Helen G Gifford Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Helen G Gifford Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 30 grants totaling $183K. Net investment income was $234K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,653,710 | $2,624,274 | $2,753,157 |
| Revenue | $292,340 | $123,015 | $125,696 |
| Expenses | $262,904 | $244,035 | $258,321 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $204,273 | $193,002 | $207,714 |
| Net Investment Income | $233,709 | $71,982 | $75,089 |
| Distributable Amount | $221,270 | $204,439 | $192,638 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include United Jewish Federation of Tidewater ($37,500), Virginia Arts Festival ($20,000), Virginia Symphony ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY OF MUSIC NORFOLK, VA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,000 |
| BRITEPATHS FAIRFAX, VA | FOOD 4 THOUGHT AT MARSHALL ROAD ELEMENTARY | $2,000 |
| WHRO HAMPTON ROADS EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION INC NORFOLK, VA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| VIRGINIA SYMPHONY NORFOLK, VA | ONE NIGHT ONLY: ADRIENNE WARREN WITH THE VSO | $10,000 |
| VIRGINIA OPERA ASSOCIATION NORFOLK, VA | "A LOVING COMMUNITY" | $10,000 |
| VIRGINIA MUSICAL THEATRE INC VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | VMT PRESENTS "ANNIE" | $5,000 |
| VIRGINIA CHORALE NORFOLK, VA | YOUNG SINGERS PROJECT | $2,500 |
| VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL NORFOLK, VA | 2024 FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIP | $20,000 |
| VIBE DISTRICT VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | YEAR-ROUND PUBLIC ART PROGRAMMING | $1,000 |
| UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION OF TIDEWATER VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | VARIOUS PROGRAMS | $37,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM A HEARST | VICE-PRESIDENT | 0.1 | $3,000 |
| PATRICIA M ROWLAND | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
| MICHAEL E BARNEY | SECRETARY | 0.2 | — |
| MEGAN PATTERSON | 2ND VICE PRESIDENT | 0.02 | — |
| JENNIFER ROSENBERG | DIRECTOR | 0.02 | — |
| JOSEPH HEARST | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| DEBORAH HEARST | DIRECTOR | 0.02 | — |
| RICHARD RIVIN | TREASURER | 0.2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Helen G Gifford Foundation?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. It holds $2.7M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is The Helen G Gifford Foundation?
As of 2025, The Helen G Gifford Foundation holds $2.7M in total assets with $292K in annual revenue. It awarded 30 grants totaling $183K in 2025.
Where does The Helen G Gifford Foundation operate?
The Helen G Gifford Foundation has awarded grants in New York, Virginia.
What size grants does The Helen G Gifford Foundation award?
In 2025, The Helen G Gifford Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $183K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Helen G Gifford Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Helen G Gifford Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Helen G Gifford Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.