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Hellen Ingram Plummer Charitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,369,600 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Grant Range: $5,150 - $750,000
  • Geographic Focus: Georgia, New York, and Mississippi

Contact Details

Address: Pennington, NJ 08534
EIN: 22-3365605
Website: No official website
Phone: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available

Note: Contact information may be available through Form 990-PF filings on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer

Overview

The Hellen Ingram Plummer Charitable Foundation Inc. was established in 1997 as a Delaware corporation and received tax-exempt status in October 1995. With assets of approximately $15.8 million as of 2023, the foundation honors the legacy of Hellen Ingram Merrill Plummer (1926-1956), an Atlanta arts patron and mother of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet James Merrill. The foundation maintains strong ties to its founder's passion for the arts, particularly literature and poetry, while also supporting education and human services initiatives. Operating as a private grantmaking foundation, it distributed $2,369,600 across 39 grants in 2024, focusing primarily on organizations in Georgia, New York, and Mississippi. The foundation maintains a low public profile typical of private family foundations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants appear to be made on a discretionary basis:

  • General Grants: $5,150 - $750,000 (trustee-initiated, no public application)
  • MacDowell Fellowship: Ongoing support for writers and poets

Priority Areas

  • Arts & Culture (particularly literary arts, poetry, creative writing, puppetry)
  • Education (universities and educational programs)
  • Human Services and social support organizations
  • LGBTQ+ support initiatives
  • Philanthropy and grantmaking infrastructure

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation without open applications, funding decisions are made at trustees' discretion.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation maintains a private governance structure. Specific information about current trustees and officers is not readily available in public databases. The foundation was created to honor Hellen Ingram Merrill Plummer, who was known as a strong supporter of the arts in Atlanta. Her son, James Merrill, became a renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and separately established the Ingram Merrill Foundation in 1956.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Hellen Ingram Plummer Charitable Foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation that works with pre-selected organizations or makes grants by invitation only. There is no official website, published application guidelines, or open call for proposals. Grants appear to be awarded through trustee discretion, long-standing relationships with beneficiary organizations, and pre-existing commitments.

Getting on Their Radar

Strong Connection to Arts & Literature: The foundation maintains a specific fellowship program at MacDowell dedicated to supporting writers and poets, directly reflecting the founder's legacy. The foundation shows particular interest in creative writing and poetry programs.

Geographic Ties: The foundation prioritizes organizations in Georgia (especially Atlanta, where Hellen Ingram Plummer was an arts patron), New York, and Mississippi. The foundation supports Georgia State University's Plummer Lecture series and the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

Existing Recipients: Recent confirmed recipients include MacDowell, The Trevor Project, Center for Puppetry Arts, and Georgia State University, indicating sustained support for arts, education, and social service organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation:

  • Alignment with Founder's Legacy: The foundation honors Hellen Ingram Plummer's passion for the arts, particularly literature and poetry, as evidenced by ongoing support for writers and poets through MacDowell.

  • Established Relationships: The foundation appears to support organizations with which it has developed long-term relationships, such as the ongoing fellowship program at MacDowell and lecture series at Georgia State University.

  • Geographic Connections: Strong ties to Georgia (founder's home state), New York, and Mississippi appear to influence funding decisions significantly.

  • Arts & Education Focus: Confirmed grants demonstrate sustained interest in arts organizations and educational institutions, with particular emphasis on creative writing, poetry, and cultural programming.

  • Range of Support: With grants ranging from approximately $5,000 to $750,000, the foundation demonstrates capacity for both smaller initiatives and major institutional partnerships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - traditional grant-seeking strategies will not be effective
  • Operating as a typical private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking based on the founder's interests
  • Strong emphasis on supporting writers, poets, and arts organizations connected to literature and creative expression
  • Primary geographic focus on Georgia (especially Atlanta), New York, and Mississippi
  • With nearly $16 million in assets and $2.4 million in annual grantmaking, the foundation has significant capacity
  • To understand current grantmaking patterns, review Form 990-PF filings through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer
  • The foundation maintains minimal public visibility with no official website or published materials

References

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