The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in New York, New York. It is a global philanthropy that supports health initiatives and select place-based programs across six areas: Crohn’s disease, Israel, rural healthcare, Type 1 diabetes, vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa, and New York City. The Trust reports that it has granted more than $4.6 billion since beginning active grantmaking in 2008.
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley at a glance
In short: The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley gave $440.9M across 570 grants in 2025 (avg $774K), top state Massachusetts. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $440,927,206
- -1.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 570
- -4.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $773,557
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $396,867
- Total assets
- $7,108,379,897
- -2.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (85 of 362, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (8% 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 Leona M and Harry B Helmsley
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
Helmsley does not accept unsolicited requests. Its program staff seek prospective partners, and prospective grantees are asked to complete a pre-proposal before Helmsley may request a full proposal. Applications are made through its Grants Portal after an organization is invited to apply; an invitation does not guarantee funding. Helmsley generally funds public charities classified under Section 501(c)(3), except for 509(a)(3) Type III supporting organizations. It also considers certain foreign charitable organizations through an equivalency determination or, in some cases, expenditure responsibility, and may fund charitable projects at for-profit entities. Helmsley occasionally issues scoped requests for proposals. Its Type 1 Diabetes Program currently lists an RFP seeking studies on innate immune cells and pathways in Type 1 diabetes, with emphasis on relatively early stages of human disease.
- Contact
Mailing address: 230 Park Avenue 659, New York, NY 10169
Phone: (212) 679-3600
Website: https://helmsleytrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley
Who The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Heart Association Inc ($14.2M across 7 grants). Together the top 10 received $98.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,844 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 581 grants of 2,844 (20%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Helmsley identifies Israel, New York City, rural healthcare, and vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa among its program areas, alongside its disease-focused programs. Its website describes rural healthcare work as reaching the rural upper Midwest and beyond. The 2025 grants listed include recipients in multiple U.S. states and organizations working in Israel.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 570 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 85 of 362 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $770K; repeat grants $1.4M. How we count
Medians: $242K first-time, $587K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 137% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $262.3M (2021) to $445.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 570 grants totaling $440.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Heart Association Inc Dallas, TX | American Heart Association Center for Telehealth | $6,966,024 |
| Mass General Brigham for the Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA | Accelerating progress and promoting quality t1d care for the poorest billion through the global pen-plus partnership | $6,753,638 |
| Ben-Gurion University of the Negev | Construction of the leona m. And harry b. Helmsley charitable trust computer science building | $5,785,714 |
| Hadassah Medical Organization | Equipping the new hadassah - helmsley medical center, netivot | $5,265,160 |
| Billings Clinic Foundation Billings, MT | Billings Clinic Surgical Intensive Care Unit | $5,000,000 |
| Kapiolani Health Foundation Honolulu, HI | Martha b. Smith cancer & infusion center at kapiolani medical center for women & children | $5,000,000 |
| Stichting the Ocean Cleanup | Develop and scale technologies to rid the oceans of plastics | $5,000,000 |
| The Queens Medical Center Honolulu, HI | The queen's medical center - west oahu cancer center expansion | $5,000,000 |
| TEL Aviv Sourasky Medical Center - Ichilov Hospital | Construction of the sheltered -5 floor of the north tower | $4,879,510 |
| Baptist Medical Centre | Elevating Maternal and Pediatric Healthcare | $4,505,896 |
Ready to take the next step with The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,108,379,897 | $497,259,658 | $422,168,442 | $440,927,206 | 570 | $486,200,473 | $352,323,613 | $354,198,643 |
| 2024 | $7,300,077,622 | $385,228,530 | $600,086,342 | $445,672,622 | 594 | $484,197,000 | $224,697,955 | $354,779,495 |
| 2023 | $7,256,835,636 | $629,133,449 | $534,910,918 | $433,687,275 | 577 | $467,360,847 | $119,401,626 | $367,142,574 |
| 2022 | $8,221,675,612 | $839,493,141 | $540,117,750 | $385,014,429 | 544 | $418,370,853 | $1,048,760,370 | $398,280,992 |
| 2021 | $8,313,587,896 | $723,181,306 | $368,281,376 | $262,300,602 | 559 | — | $681,835,391 | $328,929,514 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley reported a distributable amount of $354.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Helmsley’s stated vision is to help create better futures by increasing access to healthcare, advancing new research and ideas, and improving the quality of everyday life. Its six focus areas are Crohn’s disease, Israel, rural healthcare, Type 1 diabetes, vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa, and New York City.
Its grants support varied work, including research, healthcare services, facilities, and technology. Examples include a grant for the American Heart Association Center for Telehealth, construction of the Hadassah-Helmsley Netivot medical center, and an expansion of cancer care at The Queen’s Medical Center in Hawaii. The grantees describe their own work in different terms: the American Heart Association says its mission is to promote longer, healthier lives; Billings Clinic Foundation says it advances healthcare, education, and research at Billings Clinic through philanthropy; and the Broad Institute says it conducts research to understand and treat disease and disseminate scientific knowledge.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Helmsley reported 570 grants totaling $440,927,206. Grants ranged from $3,157 to $6,966,024, with a median of $396,866.
Among the largest reported grants were $6,966,024 to the American Heart Association for its Center for Telehealth; $6,753,638 to Mass General Brigham for the Brigham and Women’s Hospital for work to advance and promote quality Type 1 diabetes care through the Global PEN-Plus Partnership; and $5,785,714 to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev for construction of a computer science building. Other large grants included $5 million to Billings Clinic Foundation for its surgical intensive care unit, $5 million to Kapiolani Health Foundation for a cancer and infusion center, and $5 million to The Queen’s Medical Center for a West Oahu cancer center expansion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sandor Frankel, David Panzirer, and Walter Panzirer as trustees. It lists Sarah E. Paul as chief executive officer, Jacqueline F. Bausch as general counsel, Joshua W. Fenton as chief investment officer, and Nicholas J. Schiavo as chief financial officer.
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley is led by Sarah E. Paul, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2021); all 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sarah E. Paul
Chief Executive Officer
General Counsel → CEO & General Counsel, 2022
CEO & General Counsel → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$580K (2021) → $1M (2025)
David Panzirer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$125K (2021) → $150K (2025)
Sandor Frankel
Trustee
On filings since 2021
25 hrs/week
$125K (2021) → $150K (2025)
Walter Panzirer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$125K (2021) → $150K (2025)
Nicholas J. Schiavo
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$356K (2021) → $486K (2025)
Jacqueline F. Bausch
General Counsel
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$562K (2023) → $653K (2025)
Joshua W. Fenton
Chief Investment Officer
Chief Investment Officer From → Chief Investment Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$795K (2024) → $1M (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Rosalind M. Hewsenian (2021–2024) — Chief Investment Officer
- Former: Stephanie A. Cuskley (2021–2022) — Chief Executive Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $1.0M, to Sarah E Paul (Chief Executive Officer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley
How much does The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley give each year?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley gave $440.9M across 570 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $445.7M across 594 grants.
What is The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's typical grant size?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's median grant in 2025 was $396,867, and its average grant was $773,557, across 570 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley that year got $770K on average.
Where does The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley give grants?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's top state is Massachusetts, with 8% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (8%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (47 grants), Boston, MA (18 grants), Washington, DC (18 grants) and New York City, NY (16 grants).
Does The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (45 of 570) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Capacity Building Support" (5 grants), "North Dakota Ultrasound Initiative" (5 grants) and "Development of Blue Circle Health" (3 grants).
Who are The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's largest grantees?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's largest 2025 grantees include American Heart Association Inc ($14,210,693 across 7 grants), Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (GMBH) ($13,557,082 across 15 grants) and Blue Circle Health Inc ($12,917,574 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley reported $7.1B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $486.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $354.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley fund?
Helmsley’s stated vision is to help create better futures by increasing access to healthcare, advancing new research and ideas, and improving the quality of everyday life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley?
Helmsley does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's EIN?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7184401. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-leona-m-and-harry-b-helmsley-morg_3fe535dc78da4778bbe5298e26852225
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_137184401_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-leona-m-and-harry-b-helmsley-morg_3fe535dc78da4778bbe5298e26852225},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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