The Helis Foundation
New Orleans, LA · EIN 72-6020536. Reported 238 grants totalling $10.1M to 98 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Helis Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $15,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $40,000; the smallest was $100 and the largest $806,815. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ogden Museum of Southern Art | New Orleans, LA | $2,826,947 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Museum of Art | New Orleans, LA | $1,023,588 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| US Biennial Inc | New York, NY | $427,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Way for the Greater New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $375,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Arts Council of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $310,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Second Harvester of Greater No & Acadiana | New Orleans, LA | $300,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Louisiana Endowment for the Humantities | New Orleans, LA | $289,049 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $279,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Contemporary Arts Center | New Orleans, LA | $274,860 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Louisiana Children's Museum | New Orleans, LA | $272,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Preservation Resource Center | New Orleans, LA | $211,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The National World War II Museum | New Orleans, LA | $201,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Friends of Wwoz Inc | New Orleans, LA | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Ballet Association | New Orleans, LA | $165,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rivers Institute for Contemporary & Thought | New Orleans, LA | $155,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wwno 899 | New Orleans, LA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Institute | New Orleans, LA | $140,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Botanical Gardens Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $128,079 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way of Southeast Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bureau of Governmental Research | New Orleans, LA | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Bridge House Corporation | New Orleans, LA | $95,287 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Arts New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $94,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| New Orleans Film Society | New Orleans, LA | $88,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Young Aspirationsyoung Artist | New Orleans, LA | $85,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Kid Smart | New Orleans, LA | $75,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Tennessee Williamsnew Orleans Literary | New Orleans, LA | $75,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Young Audiences of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | $74,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| French Quarter Festivals Inc | New Orleans, LA | $67,310 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Arc Athens Inc | Bronx, NY | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Dancing Grounds | New Orleans, LA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Newcomb Art Museum | New Orleans, LA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New Orleans African American Museum | New Orleans, LA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $52,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana | Schriever, LA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City Park Convervancy | New Orleans, LA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Pelican Institute | New Orleans, LA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Augustine High School | New Orleans, LA | $42,300 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Crimestoppers Inc | Metairie, LA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Liberty's Kitchen Inc | New Orleans, LA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Ballet Theatre | New Orleans, LA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Storm King Center | New Windsor, NY | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Negro College Fund | New Orleans, LA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Children's Hospital | New Orleans, LA | $37,920 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of City Park | New Orleans, LA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Louisiana Appleseed | New Orleans, LA | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Louisiana Contemporary Museum | New Orleans, LA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center | Covington, LA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| National Jewish Health | Denver, CO | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Ella Project | New Orleans, LA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Boy Scouts of America | Metairie, LA | $28,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Louisiana Museum Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Vail Jazz Foundation | Vail, CO | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Committee for a Better New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Metropolitan Crime Commission Inc | New Orleans, LA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Public Affairs Research Council of La | Baton Rouge, LA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Share Our Strength | Philadelphia, PA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Urban League of Greater New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Urban League of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Greater New Orleans Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $17,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund | New Orleans, LA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tulane Cancer Center | New Orleans, LA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wlae New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Amistad Research Center | New Orleans, LA | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City Park New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Madison Square Park Conservacy | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Museum of Southern Jewish Experience | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| New Orleans Hispanic Hertiage Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Touro Infirmary Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Court Watch Nola | New Orleans, LA | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Boys Club & Girls Club of Metro Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Greater New Orleans Educational Television Fdn | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hillard Art Museum | Lafayette, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Loyola University College of Law | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Multiple Sclerosis Society | Metairie, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| New Orleans Business Alliance | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Dominic School | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Posse Foundation Inc | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Young Leadership Council | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hermann-Grima Gallier Historic Houses | New Orleans, LA | $3,700 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Heart Association | Metairie, LA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Delgado Community College Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Downtown Development District | New Orleans, LA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Lafitte Corridor Inc | New Orleans, LA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Lafitte Greenway | New Orleans, LA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Louisiana First Foundation | Baton Rouge, LA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Joesph's Monastery | Natchez, MS | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Central Catholic High School | Morgan City, LA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Carmelite Monastery | Jackson, MS | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shatterproof | Norwalk, CT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Children's Tumor Foundation | Phildelphia, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Emmanuel Baptist Church | Greenville, MS | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pemberton United Methodist Church | Pemberton, NJ | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Alzheimer's Association | Chicago, IL | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
62 of 98 (63%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 75%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- The Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Support of General Operating Expenses, Support of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibitions and Other Exhibitions, and LA Residents Free Admission Days - New Orleans Museum of Art
General, Operating Expenses, Free Admission for Art & A/C, Free Admission for LA Residents - Arts Council of New Orleans
Support for Unframed Murals Phase II - Louisiana Endowment for the Humantities
Construction & Renovation John Scott Center at Turners Hall - US Biennial Inc
Support of General Operations - Contemporary Arts Center
General Operating Expense, Art for All, Art of A/C
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 127 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 49 | $2,820,542 | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 66 | $2,479,836 | $10,125 |
| 2023 | 61 | $2,429,976 | $11,000 |
| 2024 | 62 | $2,394,486 | $16,750 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 94% of this one's giving went to organizations in Louisiana. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $15,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Louisiana.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Helis Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 201 St Charles Avenue Suite 2600, New Orleans, LA, 70170. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 72-6020536 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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