The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc is a private foundation based in Providence, Rhode Island. It supports efforts to address homelessness through storytelling, public education, advocacy, and grants to charitable organizations.
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc at a glance
In short: The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc gave $29K across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Rhode Island. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $29,400
- -15.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,014
- -15.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $495,537
- -1.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (5 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (76% 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 Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc
- 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: 180 Medway Street, Providence, RI 02906
Phone: (401) 529-7085
Website: https://www.helenhudsonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless ($14K). Together the top 10 received $23K.
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 161 grants of 161 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants were concentrated in Rhode Island, which received 76% of grant dollars. Massachusetts and Washington, DC each received 5%, Maryland received 4%, and Alabama received 3%. The foundation’s website also describes its work with the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless and its support for Rhode Island housing advocacy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 29 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $460; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $400 first-time, $500 repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2025) to $51K (2022). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $29K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless Pawtucket, RI | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $13,500 |
| 134 Collaborative Providence, RI | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $2,400 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $1,200 |
| RI Community Food Bank Providence, RI | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $1,200 |
| Riscc Pawtucket, RI | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $1,000 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, AL | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $900 |
| WSHU Boston, MA | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $700 |
| ACLU New York, NY | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $600 |
| Amnesty International Washington, DC | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $600 |
| International Campaign for Tibet Washington, DC | Educate publicabout homelessnessin America | $600 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $495,537 | $38,167 | $72,135 | $29,400 | 29 | $44,974 | $24,570 |
| 2024 | $504,496 | $30,910 | $81,512 | $34,900 | 29 | $50,494 | $17,057 |
| 2023 | $520,762 | $19,262 | $76,679 | $31,572 | 32 | $33,418 | $13,398 |
| 2022 | $529,120 | $23,191 | $100,647 | $51,400 | 36 | $58,803 | $16,196 |
| 2021 | $753,987 | $56,300 | $98,698 | $45,775 | 35 | $53,735 | $45,919 |
| 2020 | $737,524 | $29,951 | $57,163 | $40,750 | 37 | — | $21,253 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to use the power of story to help end homelessness in America. Its website describes work that includes distributing Dinner at Six, supporting local homelessness advocacy, and running “Story Power: Voices from the Street,” an educational project that trains people who are homeless or formerly homeless as speakers and storytellers. The website also describes a current project to document stories about affordable housing and related issues.
Its 2025 filing describes grant purposes as educating the public about homelessness in America. Supported organizations include the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, whose mission is to advance lasting solutions to prevent and end homelessness in Rhode Island, and 134 Collaborative, which says it connects and integrates social change agencies and their communities in Providence. Other 2025 recipients had different stated missions: the Southern Poverty Law Center describes its work as advancing racial justice and human rights, while the International Campaign for Tibet says it promotes human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $29,400. Grants ranged from $200 to $13,500, with a median of $500. Its largest reported grant was $13,500 to the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. Other larger grants included $2,400 to 134 Collaborative, $1,200 each to Doctors Without Borders and the RI Community Food Bank, and $1,000 to RISCC.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas Lane as president, Linda Whitman as treasurer, and Jerry Viou as a board member. The foundation’s website identifies Lane as overseeing its operation and Rabbi Alan Flam as executive director.
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc is led by Thomas Lane, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas Lane
President
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$32K (2021) → $31K (2025)
Jerry Viou
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Whitman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $31K, to Thomas Lane (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc
How much does The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc give each year?
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc gave $29K across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $35K across 29 grants.
What is The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc's typical grant size?
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,014, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc that year got $460 on average.
Where does The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc give grants?
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc gives mostly in Rhode Island: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (9 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Pawtucket, RI (2 grants).
Does The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educate publicabout homelessnessin America" (29 grants).
Who are The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc's largest grantees?
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless ($13,500), 134 Collaborative ($2,400) and Doctors Without Borders ($1,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc?
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc reported $496K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $38K.
What does The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to use the power of story to help end homelessness in America. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc?
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 Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc's EIN?
The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4009160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Helen Hudson Foundation for Homeless America 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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