The Louisiana State Capitol
Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 72-6020536

The Helis Foundation

A private foundation in New Orleans, LA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 84 grants and $2.4 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
David A Kerstein President
201 St Charles Ave Suite 2600
New Orleans, LA 70170
(504) 523-1831
Form and materials
Application should be in appropriate typed letter form. Include brochures or other pertinent information and establish the qualifications of the applicant to receive funds from a private foundation as provided for under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations.
Deadlines
There are no submission deadlines
Restrictions
There are no restrictions or limitations on awards except that the organization must be qualified as provided for under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations.

Assets and giving by year

5 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $2,394,486

    Grants listed
    84
    Assets, end of year
    $82,984,093

  • Tax year 2023

    $2,429,976

    Grants listed
    74
    Assets, end of year
    $82,370,168

  • Tax year 2022

    $2,479,836

    Grants listed
    67
    Assets, end of year
    $84,698,853

  • Tax year 2021

    $2,820,542

    Grants listed
    49
    Assets, end of year
    $82,452,116

  • Tax year 2020

    $2,650,842

    Grants listed
    54
    Assets, end of year
    $76,118,135

Grants paid in 2024

84 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. The Ogden Museum of Southern ArtNew Orleans, LA

    Support of General Operating Expenses, Support of the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibitions and Other Exhibitions, and LA Residents Free Admission Days

    $554,486
  2. New Orleans Museum of ArtNew Orleans, LA

    General, Operating Expenses, Free Admission for Art & A/C, Free Admission for LA Residents

    $254,000
  3. US Biennial IncNew York, NY

    Support of General Operations

    $150,000
  4. United Way of Southeast LouisianaNew Orleans, LA

    Blueprint for Prosperity

    $125,000
  5. Arts Council of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA

    Building Wall Mural - Unframed

    $110,000
  6. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    Digital Systems Lead Position, Hospitality Lounge, Curitorial Work

    $109,500
  7. Louisiana Children's MuseumNew Orleans, LA

    Operating Expenses, Free Saturdays in October, and Art of All

    $60,000
  8. Friends of WWOZ IncNew Orleans, LA

    Jazz Festing in Place - WWOZ-FM

    $55,000
  9. Preservation Resource CenterNew Orleans, LA

    General Operating Expense

    $53,500
  10. Second Harvester of Greater NO & AcadianaNew Orleans, LA

    General Support

    $50,000
  11. The National World War II MuseumNew Orleans, LA

    Building Fund

    $50,000
  12. Rivers Institute for Contemporary & ThoughtNew Orleans, LA

    Research and Development

    $50,000
  13. Wwno 899New Orleans, LA

    Enhance Current Cultural Content and Reporting

    $50,000
  14. Ochsner Clinic FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    Support the named Healing Arts Garden in memory of William G. Helis Jr.

    $50,000
  15. Louisiana Endowment for the HumantitiesNew Orleans, LA

    Passing it On: The Art of John T Scott

    $40,000
  16. Newcomb Art MuseumNew Orleans, LA

    General Support field trips and youth programming

    $40,000
  17. Children's HospitalNew Orleans, LA

    Mariposa Butterfly Swing Installment

    $37,920
  18. New Orleans Ballet AssociationNew Orleans, LA

    General Operating Expenses and Ovation Program

    $35,000
  19. The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts InstituteNew Orleans, LA

    Artists in Residence Program

    $35,000
  20. Louisiana Contemporary MuseumNew Orleans, LA

    Operating Expenditures

    $30,000
  21. Bridge House CorporationNew Orleans, LA

    Scholarship Fund

    $25,000
  22. Bureau of Governmental ResearchNew Orleans, LA

    Support of Civil Service in the New Orleans Project

    $25,000
  23. ARC Athens IncBronx, NY

    Support Organizational Operations

    $25,000
  24. KID smARTNew Orleans, LA

    School Resources Budget for Art Supplies

    $21,500
  25. New Orleans Film SocietyNew Orleans, LA

    Community Programming

    $21,000
  26. Tennessee WilliamsNew Orleans LiteraryNew Orleans, LA

    Literary Discussion and Performances Including Free Workshops

    $20,000
  27. Young AspirationsYoung ArtistNew Orleans, LA

    Artist in Residence Program

    $20,000
  28. New Orleans African American MuseumNew Orleans, LA

    Support Callas & Conversation Series

    $20,000
  29. New Orleans Ballet TheatreNew Orleans, LA

    Support for students attendance of the Nutcracker

    $20,000
  30. Public Affairs Research Council of LABaton Rouge, LA

    General Operating Expenses

    $20,000
  31. Young Audiences of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA

    Baby Artsplay Program

    $18,500
  32. Junior Achievement of Greater New OrleansNew Orleans, LA

    General Support

    $15,000
  33. Dancing GroundsNew Orleans, LA

    Educational programing

    $15,000
  34. Contemporary Arts CenterNew Orleans, LA

    General Operating Expense, Art for All, Art of A/C

    $13,680
  35. St Augustine High SchoolNew Orleans, LA

    Scholarship Fund

    $11,800
  36. Boy Scouts of AmericaMetairie, LA

    In Memory Donation, Support Pillars of Scouting

    $10,000
  37. Crimestoppers IncMetairie, LA

    General Support

    $10,000
  38. Liberty's Kitchen IncNew Orleans, LA

    Youth Development Program

    $10,000
  39. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer CenterCovington, LA

    Support Patient Transport Program

    $10,000
  40. United Negro College FundWashington, DC

    General Support

    $10,000
  41. Urban League of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA

    General Support

    $10,000
  42. Storm King CenterNew Windsor, NY

    Support of 2024 Season

    $10,000
  43. Committee for a Better New OrleansNew Orleans, LA

    Support of General Operating Expenses

    $10,000
  44. Louisiana Museum FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    Support the Founders Event

    $10,000
  45. The Ella ProjectNew Orleans, LA

    Pro Bono Legal Counsel for Artists

    $10,000
  46. City Park New OrleansNew Orleans, LA

    Support - Heart of the Park

    $10,000
  47. Metropolitan Crime Commission IncMetairie, LA

    General support

    $5,000
  48. New Orleans Police and Justice FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    Stake out for Justice

    $5,000
  49. Louisiana AppleseedNew Orleans, LA

    General Support

    $5,000
  50. New Orleans Hispanic Hertiage FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    Sponsor Azucar Event

    $5,000
  51. Tulane UniversityNew Orleans, LA

    New Orleans Book Festival

    $5,000
  52. Greater New Orleans FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    Rehousing Flex Fund - Homelessness Initiative

    $5,000
  53. New Orleans Tourism and Cultural FundNew Orleans, LA

    general support

    $5,000
  54. Boys Club & Girls Club of Metro LouisianaNew Orleans, LA

    End of Year Campaign

    $5,000
  55. Friends of Lafitte Corridor IncNew Orleans, LA

    Greenway Trail Banner

    $2,500
  56. Delgado Community College FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    general support

    $2,500
  57. Downtown Development DistrictNew Orleans, LA

    NOLA Awards

    $2,500
  58. St Joesph's MonasteryNatchez, MS

    In Memory of donation

    $2,500
  59. Young Leadership CouncilNew Orleans, LA

    General support

    $2,000
  60. MD Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX

    In memory of donation

    $1,000
  61. Pemberton United Methodist ChurchPemberton, NJ

    Food Pantry

    $500
  62. Alzheimer's AssociationChicago, IL

    In Memory of donation

    $100
  63. American Heart AssociationDallas, TX

    None

    $0
  64. Court Watch NOLANew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  65. Hermann-Grima Gallier Historic HousesNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  66. National Jewish HealthDenver, CO

    None

    $0
  67. Share Our StrengthWashington, DC

    None

    $0
  68. The Pelican InstituteNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  69. Tulane Cancer CenterNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  70. French Quarter Festivals IncNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  71. New Orleans Botanical Gardens FoundationNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  72. Vail Jazz FoundationVail, CO

    None

    $0
  73. WLAE New OrleansNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  74. New Orleans Business AllianceNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  75. Multiple Sclerosis SocietyMetairie, LA

    None

    $0
  76. The Children's Tumor FoundationNew York, NY

    None

    $0
  77. Arts New OrleansNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  78. Friends of City ParkNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  79. Museum of Southern Jewish ExperienceNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  80. The Posse Foundation IncNew York, NY

    None

    $0
  81. Louisiana First FoundationAmite, LA

    None

    $0
  82. Amistad Research CenterNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  83. City Park ConvervancyNew Orleans, LA

    None

    $0
  84. Madison Square Park ConservacyNew York, NY

    None

    $0

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture19 grants $1,212,16678% of the total
  2. Philanthropy and grantmaking2 grants $130,0008% of the total
  3. Health5 grants $88,0206% of the total
  4. Education6 grants $38,8003% of the total
  5. Mental health1 grant $25,0002% of the total
  6. Public affairs1 grant $20,0001% of the total
  7. 4 other causes5 grants $37,5002% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Louisiana72 grants $2,205,386
  2. New York4 grants $185,000
  3. Mississippi1 grant $2,500
  4. Texas1 grant $1,000
  5. New Jersey1 grant $500
  6. Illinois1 grant $100
  7. Colorado2 grants $0
  8. Pennsylvania2 grants $0

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • David A KersteinPRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Michael F SchottVICE PRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Linda A ReegSECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • Jane C FieglerTREASURER Hours 1Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (arts and culture), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Lois and Lloyd Hawkins Jr FoundationNew Orleans, LA 17 grants Accepts applications $1,815,000 giving
  2. Chambers Foundation 1115004822New Orleans, LA 5 grants Preselected only $858,175 giving
  3. Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation IncViolet, LA 42 grants Preselected only $4,650,357 giving
  4. Ruth U Fertel FoundationKenner, LA 51 grants Preselected only $790,250 giving
  5. Noel Foundation IncShreveport, LA 21 grants Accepts applications $724,915 giving