Helen L Kay Charitable Trust
Cincinnati, OH · EIN 38-3047073. Reported 158 grants totalling $1,556,750 to 96 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. 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. Helen L Kay Charitable Trust 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 $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $2,500 and the largest $40,000. 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill Ind of Greater Detroit C/O Russ Russell | Adrian, MI | $120,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Starr Commonwealth | Albion, MI | $120,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children C/O Kelly Mathey | Chicago, IL | $95,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Salvation Army | Hoffman Estates, IL | $95,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| First Presbyterian Church of East Brady | East Brady, PA | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| First United Presbyterian Church | East Brady, PA | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| American Heart Association | Dallas, TX | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| American Cancer Society | Atlanta, GA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rochester Area Neighborhood House | Rochester Hills, MI | $28,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Childrens Hospital Medical Center | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Conquer Cancer Foundation | Alexandria, VA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Crossroads of Michigan | Detroit, MI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army-Eastern Michigan | Southfield, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New City Kids | Grand Rapids, MI | $23,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Angela Hospice Home Care Inc | Livonia, MI | $22,250 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc | Lansing, MI | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Rainbow Connection | Rochest, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Vista Maria | Dearborn, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bottomless Toy Chest | Bloomfield Hills, MI | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| National Bone Marrow Transplant Link | Southfield, MI | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Oakland Family Services | Pontiac, MI | $18,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| New Day Foundation for Families | Rodchester, MI | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Gildas Club-Metro Detroit | Royal Oak, MI | $15,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Camp Casey | Royal Oak, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Childrens Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati Children's Hospital | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hospice of Michigan | Detroit, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jesuit Volunteer Corps | Baltimore, MD | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Motor City Mission | St Clair Shores, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Presbyterian Villages of Mi Foundation | Southfield, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Spectrum Community Services | Westland, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Arc of Nw Wayne County | Redford, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Forgotten Harvest | Oak Park, MI | $13,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Little Heroes League | Chicago, IL | $13,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Pewabic Society Inc | Detroit, MI | $13,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Friends in Deed | Ypsilanti, MI | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Athletes for Charity | Falls Church, VA | $10,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Abigayle Ministries | Sterling Heights, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cancer Research Institute | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Children's Leukemia Foundation | Troy, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| California Pacific Medical Center Fdtn | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Detroit Institute for Children | Walled Lake, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley | Ann Arbor, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Leader Dogs for the Blind | Rochester Hills, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Miracle Flights for Kids | Green Valley, NV | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mary Crowley Cancer Research | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Playworks Education Energized | Oakland, CA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics Michigan | Mount Pleasant, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tea | Detroit, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wellspring | Detroit, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wave Project | Clinton Township, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Joseph Mercy Oakland | Pontiac, MI | $9,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Epilepsy Foundation | Southfield, MI | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hunter Hospitality House | Port Huron, MI | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Abide Ministries | Clawson, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Community Opportunity Center | Livonia, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cornerstone Education Group | Detroit, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Detroit Mercy Law | Detroit, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Eversight | Ann Arbor, MI | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| On My Own | Troy, MI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Alkebu-Lan Village | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Autism Alliance of Michigan | Southfield, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Se Michigan | Farmington Hills, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beds 4 Kids | Oak Park, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Clayton Dabney Foundation for Kids With Cancer | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Clayton Dabney for Kids With Cancer | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dr Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic | Pontiac, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Detroit African Youth Development | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Eden Gardens Block Club | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Evangelical Home of Michigan | Saline, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Heroes for Children | Plano, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Higher Hopes | Commerce, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ignatian Spirituality Project | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit | W Bloomfield, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kettering University | Flint, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lions Bear Lake Camp | Lapeer, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Madonna University | Livonia, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mariners Inn | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mental Health Association of Michigan | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Council of Jewish Women Incorpo | Southfield, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| On My Own of Michigan | Troy, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pope Francis Center | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Pitt Sburgh and Morgantown | Pittsburgh, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Springhill Camps | Evart, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Special Olympics of Mi | Bloomfield, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The New Common School Foundation | Detroit, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trinity Health | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| We Shall Read | Farmington Hills, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Zaman International | Inkster, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Inland Seas Education Association | Suttons Bay, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lions Visually Impaired Youth Camp Inc | Lapeer, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Oihn Fbo Honor Community Health | Pontiac, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Refugee Garden Initiatives | Ann Arbor, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Pittsburgh Project | Pittsburgh, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Weslyn a Bennett Foundation | Inkster, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
41 of 96 (43%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 15%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
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.
- First United Presbyterian Church
SUPPORT OF DAILY OPERATIONS - Starr Commonwealth
AUTISM CENTER RENOVATIONS - Bottomless Toy Chest
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES - Pewabic Society Inc
ART CLASSES AT THE DETROIT
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 87 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31 | $374,750 | $9,500 |
| 2022 | 32 | $372,500 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 34 | $318,000 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 38 | $330,500 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 23 | $161,000 | $3,000 |
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
60% of its giving went to organizations in Michigan. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Michigan.
- 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.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Helen L Kay Charitable Trust's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 630858, Cincinnati, OH, 45263. 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 38-3047073 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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