Helen L Kay Charitable Trust
Detroit, MI · EIN 38-3047073. Reported 135 grants totalling $1,395,750 to 90 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. 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 $7,500. 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill Ind of Greater Detroit C/O Russ Russell | Adrian, MI | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Starr Commonwealth | Albion, MI | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children C/O Kelly Mathey | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army | Hoffman Estates, IL | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| First United Presbyterian Church | East Brady, PA | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| American Heart Association | Dallas, TX | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| First Presbyterian Church of East Brady | East Brady, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| American Cancer Society | Atlanta, GA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| Rochester Area Neighborhood House | Rochester Hills, MI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Salvation Army-Eastern Michigan | Southfield, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Angela Hospice Home Care Inc | Livonia, MI | $22,250 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc | Lansing, MI | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| New City Kids | Grand Rapids, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Rainbow Connection | Rochest, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Vista Maria | Dearborn, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New Day Foundation for Families | Rodchester, MI | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bottomless Toy Chest | Bloomfield Hills, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| National Bone Marrow Transplant Link | Southfield, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Oakland Family Services | Pontiac, 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 |
| Friends in Deed | Ypsilanti, MI | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Gildas Club-Metro Detroit | Royal Oak, MI | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Abigayle Ministries | Sterling Heights, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 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 |
| Forgotten Harvest | Oak Park, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| Little Heroes League | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Miracle Flights for Kids | Green Valley, NV | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mary Crowley Cancer Research | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pewabic Society Inc | Detroit, MI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| Athletes for Charity | Falls Church, VA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| Epilepsy Foundation | Southfield, MI | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| Hunter Hospitality House | Port Huron, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| 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 |
37 of 90 (41%) 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 16%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. 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.
- 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 recipient's own IRS classification, for the 72 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
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 |
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. 61% of this one's giving went to organizations in Michigan. 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 $7,500. 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 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 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 75000, Detroit, MI, 48275. 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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