The Helena Foundation Inc
The Helena Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 1987 and based in Annapolis, Maryland. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
+43.0% YoY
Grant Count
3
-90.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.3M
+1329.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Helena Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $595K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Higher education
- Environment
- The arts
- Hospitals
- Health care
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated particular focus on Maryland and California as primary geographic areas for its grantmaking activities.
Grantmaking
The foundation has provided support to other private grantmaking foundations, including grants to The Blue Waters Foundation.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Helena Foundation Inc primarily funds organizations in Maryland and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $0 (as of 2023 tax filing)
- Total Giving: $3,990,420
- Tax Status: Exempt from federal income tax under 501(c)(3)
- EIN: 52-1522573
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $2,508,393 | $2,767,487 |
| Revenue | $3,301 | $50,543 | $354,772 |
| Expenses | $4,039,347 | $2,794,322 | $2,612,327 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,990,420 | $2,791,192 | $2,608,172 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $47,413 | $350,617 |
| Distributable Amount | $595,045 | $3,294,058 | $3,172,218 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include The Blue Waters Foundation Inc ($1,330,140), The Dovana Foundation Inc ($1,330,140), The Mhe Foundationinc ($1,330,140).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE BLUE WATERS FOUNDATION INC ANNAPOLIS, MD | OPERATING | $1,330,140 |
| THE DOVANA FOUNDATION INC MALIBU, CA | OPERATING | $1,330,140 |
| THE MHE FOUNDATIONINC EDGEWATER, MD | OPERATING | $1,330,140 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James A. Earl — President, Treasurer, Director
- Sylvia Earl — Vice President, Secretary, Director
Both officers serve on a voluntary basis with no reported compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES A EARL | PRES,TRES,DIR | 0.5 | — |
| SYLVIA EARL | VP,SEC,DIR | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Helena Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Higher education • Environment • The arts • Hospitals • Health care • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking The foundation has demonstrated particular focus on Maryland and California as primary geographic areas for its grantmaking activities.
How do I apply for a grant from The Helena Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $3,990,420 (based on most recent 2023 IRS filing) • Typical grant awards range from $2,000 to $1,330,140 • Median grant amount: $1,300,000 • The foundation filed a final return as of 2023 **Recent Grants:** The foundation has provided support to other private grantmaking foundations, including grants to The Blue Waters Foundation.
Where does The Helena Foundation Inc make grants?
The Helena Foundation Inc primarily funds organizations in Maryland and California.
What size grants does The Helena Foundation Inc award?
In 2023, The Helena Foundation Inc awarded 3 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $1.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Helena Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Helena Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $595K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Helena Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Helena Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1522573. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Helena Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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