The Helm Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Melville, NY EIN: 26-0001014
Arts and culturePerforming artsTheaterEducationHuman services

The Helm Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Melville, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $173K. Net investment income was $5.6M.

Key facts about The Helm Foundation Inc

In short: The Helm Foundation Inc gave $173K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $173K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
26-0001014
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$172,500
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$172,500
Median grant
$172,500
Total assets
$7,079,456
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.1M

+468.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$173K

Grant Count

1

Avg Grant Size

$173K

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Helm Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $58K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Helm Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving fell 61% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 298% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Helm Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

BaltimoreMelville

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K1 grant2020 1 grant2021 1 grant2022 0 grants2023 0 grants2024 1 grant2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $173K (2025) to $438K (2022). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $173K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

3 grants across all recorded years

<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 2 grants of 3 (67%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
See Statement B Melville, NYSee Statement B$172,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$7,079,456$1,245,203$1,276,264
Revenue$11,716,967$14,454$14,911
Expenses$223,326$45,515$46,094
Qualifying Distributions$172,500——
Net Investment Income$5,562,746$14,394$14,272
Distributable Amount$57,902$27,470$24,083

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 9, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Helm Foundation Inc is led by Lesley Malin Helm, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lesley Malin Helm

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gladys M Helm

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • JoAnne C Malin

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott Helm

    Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/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.

Frequently asked questions about The Helm Foundation Inc

How much does The Helm Foundation Inc give each year?

The Helm Foundation Inc gave $173K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

How large is The Helm Foundation Inc?

The Helm Foundation Inc reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $173K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $58K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is The Helm Foundation Inc?

The Helm Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Melville, NY. It holds $7.1M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does The Helm Foundation Inc operate?

The Helm Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Maryland, New York.

What is The Helm Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Helm Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0001014. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching The Helm Foundation Inc by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Helm Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Other grantmakers to research

The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein

Baltimore, MD

The foundation funds work in public education, arts and culture, health and mental health, Israeli democracy, Jewish life, and international human rights, with a strong focus on Baltimore and some support for Israel and broader U.S. and international work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $650,000, with a median of $35,000. It accepts proposals on a rolling basis, but prospective applicants are asked to contact a program officer before submitting.

Assets

$123.1M

Grants

220

Total Given

$10.4M

The John J Leidy Foundation Inc

Towson, MD

The John J Leidy Foundation supports nonprofits working in social and economic welfare, arts and culture, health and human services, education, and services for people with disabilities, including operating, program, and equipment costs. It prioritizes the Baltimore metropolitan area and typically awards $2,500–$50,000, with a 2024 median of $7,500. It accepts requests at any time; there is no formal application form.

Assets

$6.8M

Grants

98

Total Given

$940K

Middendorf Foundation Inc

Baltimore, MD

Middendorf Foundation supports education, healthcare, social services, arts and culture, the environment, and historic preservation, with a priority on one-time capital projects for established nonprofits serving Baltimore City or Baltimore County. Recent grant figures vary: its 2025 IRS filing reports a median grant of about $1.38 million, largely reflecting a very large donor-advised-fund grant; unsolicited requests are not explicitly addressed.

Assets

$36.0M

Grants

2

Total Given

$2.8M

Robert W Deutsch Foundation

Baltimore, MD

The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation supports emerging projects and creative work in the Baltimore region, including social justice, arts, technology, digital equity, youth development, and independent media. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,100 to $638,000, with a median of $20,000. Prospective applicants can submit an interest form; the foundation accepts requests through this process.

Assets

$135.6M

Grants

76

Total Given

$3.8M

The William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund

Pittsburgh, PA

The William G. Baker Jr. Memorial Fund supports arts and cultural organizations, libraries, and community organizations, with 2025 giving concentrated in Maryland, especially Baltimore. Its 44 grants ranged from $5,000 to $380,309, with a median of $11,000. The filing does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$27.6M

Grants

44

Total Given

$1.4M

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Princeton, NJ

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$13.4B

Grants

3,093

Total Given

$622.6M

Brooks Foundation

Pittsburgh, PA

The foundation supports work in education, arts, poverty relief, food assistance, wildlife conservation, and community programs, primarily in Pennsylvania, with some funding in Maryland. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,874 to $20,000, with a median of $10,000. The filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, but does not clearly state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$4.6M

Grants

21

Total Given

$232K

The Warnock Family Foundation Inc

Baltimore, MD

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$548K

Grants

1

Total Given

$3K

The Thomas B and Elizabeth M Sheridan

Hunt Valley, MD

The Sheridan Foundation primarily supports independent private middle and high schools in Baltimore City and County, with a secondary focus on Baltimore City cultural arts organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $75 to $125,000, with a median grant of $25,000. It is not currently considering applications from schools or arts institutions it has not engaged with in recent years; its filing says to make an initial approach by letter.

Assets

$16.4M

Grants

29

Total Given

$857K

T Rowe Price Foundation

Baltimore, MD

The T. Rowe Price Foundation supports financial well-being and thriving communities, including financial education, youth development, arts and culture, and community leaders and institutions. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5.5 million; it focuses on Baltimore, Colorado Springs, San Francisco, and New York, with grants also reported in Delaware. It reviews unsolicited requests through an inquiry process, but most grants are by invitation and there is no open application process.

Assets

$93.3M

Grants

249

Total Given

$11.7M

Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts Inc

Baltimore, MD

BOPA funds arts education, artist projects, operating support for arts and cultural organizations, and free public cultural events, primarily in Baltimore City. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,600 to $58,459, with a median of $8,300; specific programs offer awards such as $3,000 for individual artists and $5,000 or $10,000 for organizational operating support. Its website describes program-specific application processes, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests outside them.

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Assets

$3.6M

Grants

18

Total Given

$232K

More Funders in New York

The Helm Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?