The Help for People Foundation is a private foundation based in Norwich, Vermont, established in 2003. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on charitable contributions across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.9M
+3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$425K
+8.8% YoY
Grant Count
21
-34.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+65.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Help for People Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Housing and Supportive Housing
- Women's Shelters
- Community Health
- Theater Arts
- Food Access
- Health Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 17 additional grants beyond those listed above in 2023.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $5,776,464
- Total Revenues: $413,206
- Total Expenses: $442,224
- Total Grants, Contributions, etc.: $249,855
- Investment Income and Dividends: $129,637
As of 2024 (most recent filing):
- Total Assets: $5,947,251
Staffing:
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,947,251 | $5,776,464 | $5,981,878 |
| Revenue | $648,606 | $413,206 | $620,134 |
| Expenses | $478,425 | $442,224 | $329,134 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $426,400 | $391,783 | $284,140 |
| Net Investment Income | $345,084 | $112,910 | $324,657 |
| Distributable Amount | $319,236 | $312,132 | $333,607 |
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
158 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Willing Hands ($100,000), Norwich Community Collaborative ($50,000), St Jude Hospital ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH | $3,000 |
| GOOD NEIGHBOR HEALTH CLINIC WHITE RIVER JCT, VT | HEALTH SERVICES | $10,000 |
| HANOVER LIONS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION HANOVER, NH | COMMUNITY SERVICE | $500 |
| HARTFORD DISMAS HOUSE HARTFORD, VT | SUPPORT FORMERLY INCARCERATED | $20,000 |
| HARTFORD NORWICH HOLIDAY BASKET HEL NORWICH, VT | HOLIDAY BASKETS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED | $3,000 |
| HONDURAS TOLUPAN ED FOUNDATION NORWICH, VT | SUPPORT OF RURAL LITERACY | $10,000 |
| LIGHTHOUSE HOLYOKE HOLYOKE, MA | SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING | $20,000 |
| NORWICH COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE NORWICH, VT | RESTORATION OF HISTORIC GRANGE HALL | $50,000 |
| NORWICH COMMUNITY NURSE NORWICH, VT | PUBLIC HEALTH | $3,000 |
| NORWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY NORWICH, VT | SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY LIBRARY | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TERESA LYONS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Help for People Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Housing and Supportive Housing • Women's Shelters • Community Health • Theater Arts • Food Access • Health Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Help for People Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 34 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $424,500 (most recent year) • Typical award range: $500–$100,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Northern Stage Company: $40,000 (Theater Arts) • Visiting Nurse Association And Hospice Of Vermont And New Hampshire: $35,000 (Health Services) • Willing Hands Enterprises: $26,000 (Food Access) The foundation made 17 additional grants beyond those listed above in 2023.
Where does The Help for People Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Vermont • New Hampshire • Tennessee
What size grants does The Help for People Foundation award?
In 2024, The Help for People Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $425K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Help for People Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Help for People Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Help for People Foundation's EIN?
The Help for People Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6520154. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Help for People Foundation'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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