The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation
The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation is a private operating foundation based in New York City that advances the legacy of Helen Gurley Brown, the legendary Cosmopolitan magazine editor-in-chief. Originally established in 2010 as the Pussycat Foundation—named after Helen's favorite term of endearment—the foundation became fully active in its grantmaking following Helen's death in 2012. The foundation operates with a mission to transform the world by supporting the development of dreams, honoring Helen Gurley Brown's legacy as a champion of women's ambition and independence.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$95.9M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.8M
+31.5% YoY
Grant Count
31
+47.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$315K
-10.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation operates across three major program areas:
Empowering Youth — Supporting educational and extracurricular opportunities for low-income and underserved youth through grants in computer science, technology, academics, sports, health and wellness, and environmental initiatives. The foundation's youth programming includes the BridgeUP programs and BridgeUP GiddyUP.
Empowering Women — Developing leadership among women across a wide variety of industries and career phases through support of the Bold Women's Leadership Network, Bold Theater Women's Leadership Circle, and Glassbreaker Films. Programs may provide financial aid, educational opportunities, fellowships, and career development opportunities.
Empowering Innovation — Supporting extraordinary innovators and ideas through programs including Brown & Genius Grants.
The foundation's approach is guided by core values including Dreaming Big, Creating Magic, Disrupting Status Quo, and Building Community. Since 2012, the foundation has funded programming for more than 110,000 participants: 79,000 across youth programming, 32,000 across women's programming, and 440 across innovation programming.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $25,000 to $1,200,000+, with variation by program
Average Grant
of $686. In 2023, the foundation awarded $7.4 million in total grants.
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. It operates as a trustee-directed foundation with invitation-only grantmaking. Inquiries can be made through the foundation's website form.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across the United States with emphasis on major urban centers including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Geographic focus areas include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $98.1 million (2023), representing a 2.6% increase from the previous year
- Annual Grants: $7.4 million (2023)
- Total Revenue: $7.9 million (2023)
- Total Expenses: $8.6 million (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $95,877,615 | $98,148,455 | $97,722,247 |
| Revenue | $7,882,480 | $7,956,936 | $2,893,682 |
| Expenses | $11,245,429 | $8,598,210 | $18,241,868 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,520,216 | $8,303,810 | $17,636,075 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,531,512 | $7,870,757 | $2,514,526 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cardinal Hayes High School ($1,510,000), Dana-farber Cancer Center ($1,385,323), Northern Stage Company ($1,260,652).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION ARLINGTON, VA | YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" ENVIRONMENT GRANT:PURPOSE: TO PROVIDE NEW YORK CITY HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE DURING SUMMERS BETWEEN SCHOOL YEARS, AND TO DEVELOP, STRENGTHEN, AND CULTIVATE THEIR SKILL SETS INTO FUTURE CONSERVATION LEADERS. | $389,428 |
| CARDINAL HAYES HIGH SCHOOL BRONX, NY | YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" 2.0 GRANT: PURPOSE: "BRIDGEUP: CORE", AND "BRIDGEOUT" PROGRAMS-TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO SUPPORT SELECTED "BRIDGEUP" SCHOLARS FROM CARDINAL HAYES HIGH SCHOOL, ST. CATHERINE ACADEMY, AND THE ACADEMY OF MOUNT ST. URSULA BY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, SCHOLARSHIPS, POST-GRADUATION COLLEGE PREP AND JOB ASSISTANCE, AND ALUMNI SUPPORT. | $1,510,000 |
| NORTHERN STAGE COMPANY WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT | YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" THEATER IN THE SCHOOLS GRANT:PURPOSE: "CHANGING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS IN VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE"-TO SUPPORT STUDENT AND FAMILY MATINEE SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO INCREASE THEATER ACCESS AND LEARNING RESOURCES FOR RURAL AND UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BRING TEACHING ARTISTS INTO THE CLASSROOM, SUPPORT CURRICULAR NEEDS IN UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS, AND INTRODUCE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THEATER THROUGH ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS. | $286,200 |
| NORTHERN STAGE COMPANY WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT | YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" BOOTCAMP GRANT:PURPOSE: "PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & MENTORSHIP FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATER ARTISTS". BOOTCAMP PREPARES HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS, AND RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FOR FURTHER TRAINING IN THE THEATER ARTS BY PROVIDING PERSONALIZED AND IN-DEPTH THEATER TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO ACHIEVE THE NEXT STEP IN FURTHERING THEIR CAREERS OR EDUCATION. | $105,000 |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BOULDER, CO | YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" STEM GRANT:PURPOSE: TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO LEARN THE SKILLS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN SMALL GROUPS WITH THEIR PEERS. | $624,198 |
| SCHOOL SEED FOUNDATION MEMPHIS, TN | YOUTH AND EDUCATION- "BRIDGEUP" "GIDDY UP" GRANT:PURPOSE: TO OFFER UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN A UNIQUE TRACK TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF HORSEBACK RIDING. | $857,743 |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI NEW YORK, NY | YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" HEALTH GRANT:PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP THE NEXT CADRE OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS WITH THE GOAL OF SUPPORTING UNDERSERVED GROUPS. | $113,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | EMPOWERING INNOVATION-BROWN INSTITUTE, BROWN MAGIC PROJECTS-DIRECTORS DISCRETIONARY FUND:PURPOSE: FUND IS USED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE BROWN INSTITUTE THROUGH EDUCATION, PARTNERSHIPS, AND FOSTERING PRODUCT THINKING AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS. | $120,000 |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY STANFORD, CA | EMPOWERING INNOVATION-BROWN INSTITUTE, BROWN MAGIC PROJECTS-DIRECTORS DISCRETIONARY FUND:PURPOSE: FUND IS USED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE BROWN INSTITUTE THROUGH EDUCATION, PARTNERSHIPS, AND FOSTERING PRODUCT THINKING AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS. | $100,000 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | EMPOWERING INNOVATION-BROWN INSTITUTE, BROWN MAGIC PROJECTS-DEPUTY DIRECTOR FUND:PURPOSE: FUND IS USED FOR THE ROLE OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE BROWN INSTITUTE WHO PROVIDES BI-COASTAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT OF THE BROWN INSTITUTE DIRECTORS AND PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES EDUCATION, PARTNERSHIPS, AND FOSTERING PRODUCT THINKING AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS. | $283,333 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Eve Burton
- Vice President/Secretary: Kim St Clair Bodden
- Vice President/Treasurer: Roger Paschke
All leadership team members serve without compensation. The foundation employs 3 staff members total.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVE BURTON | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KIM ST CLAIR BODDEN | VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| ROGER PASCHKE | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Marshall University received a $1 million grant from the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation to launch the Bold Women's Leadership Experience program.
Marshall University awarded $1 million grant from Helen Gurley ...The New York Public Library received a $15 million "Magic Grant" to create the NYPL BridgeUP program for at-risk youth.
Helen Gurley Brown Trust Announces 15 Million Dollar "Magic Grant" To NewIn 2021, the foundation launched BridgeUP GiddyUP with the belief that young people deserve opportunities to develop skills and pursue their dreams.
Contact Information
Website: thehgbfoundation.org
Phone: 212-649-2045
Address: 300 W. 57th Street, Suite 42, New York, NY 10019
EIN: 27-3406311
Social Media: Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube (@TheHGBFoundation)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation fund?
The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation operates across three major program areas: **Empowering Youth** — Supporting educational and extracurricular opportunities for low-income and underserved youth through grants in computer science, technology, academics, sports, health and wellness, and environmental initiatives. The foundation's youth programming includes the BridgeUP programs and BridgeUP GiddyUP. **Empowering Women** — Developing leadership among women across a wide variety of industries and c…
How do I apply for a grant from The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $25,000 to $1,200,000+, with variation by program **Annual Giving:** $7.4 million (2023); $17.0 million (2022) **Grant Activity:** The foundation made 14,578 grants in the previous year, with an average grant size of $686. In 2023, the foundation awarded $7.4 million in total grants. **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. It operates as a trustee-directed foundation with invitation-only grantmaking. Inquiries can be made through …
Where does The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across the United States with emphasis on major urban centers including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Geographic focus areas include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation award?
In 2024, The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $9.8M — an average of about $315K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation's EIN?
The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3406311. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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