The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund
The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund is a private foundation established in 1993 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$232K
+43.0% YoY
Grant Count
21
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-4.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $264K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants ranging from $500 to $87,831, with typical awards in this range. Recent grantmaking activity shows the foundation awarded approximately $231,993 in total giving based on recent filings.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of 2024)
- Total Assets: $3,154,019
- Total Giving: $231,993
- Total Revenues: $390,960
- Total Expenses: $292,163
Historical Assets (2023)
- Total Assets: $3,050,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,154,019 | $3,053,747 | $3,098,391 |
| Revenue | $390,960 | $164,682 | $85,615 |
| Expenses | $292,163 | $208,963 | $234,388 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $239,247 | $168,184 | $190,688 |
| Net Investment Income | $335,497 | $103,933 | $34,571 |
| Distributable Amount | $263,867 | $235,979 | $236,259 |
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
82 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for Independent Documentary ($87,831), Aclu - American Civil Liberties Union ($21,031), Doctors Without Borders ($17,300).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU - AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION BOSTON, ME | GENERAL SUPPORT | $21,031 |
| BERKSHIRE NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL PITTSFIELD, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| BERKSHIRE TACONIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SHEFFIELD, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BIAMA BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS WESTBOROUGH, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| BIONEERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $9,000 |
| BOSTON LIVING CENTER BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,700 |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY NEWTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $87,831 |
| COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $17,300 |
| GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELISABETH HARDMAN RIX | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ROBERT HARDMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| NANCY E DEMPZE | TRUSTEE | 1 | $14,339 |
| SARAH M WAELCHLI | TRUSTEE | 1 | $14,339 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported educational institutions, including a $3,000 grant to the MCLA Food Pantry, demonstrating ongoing commitment to community support in the Massachusetts region.
MCLA Food Pantry Receives $3,000 Grant from James and Robert Hardman FundContact Information
Mailing Address
PO Box 961209 Boston, MA 02196-1209
Telephone
617-227-7940
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund?
**Grant Amounts & Activity** The foundation makes grants ranging from $500 to $87,831, with typical awards in this range. Recent grantmaking activity shows the foundation awarded approximately $231,993 in total giving based on recent filings. **Recent Grants (2024)** Notable recent grants include: • Center for Independent Documentary (CID): $87,831 (General Support) • Doctors without Borders USA: $17,300 (General Support) • Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL): $16,700 (General Support) …
Where does The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and California.
What size grants does The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund award?
In 2024, The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund awarded 21 grants totaling $232K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $264K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund's EIN?
The Robert & Helen Hardman Family Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6744637. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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