Jeanine Heller Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,395,655 (2024)
• Total Assets: $18,236,105
• Number of Grants: 52 grants annually
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $150,000
• Median Grant: $10,000
• Geographic Focus: United States and Canada

Contact Details

Address: 256 Hamilton Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552
Website: www.jhellerfoundation.org
EIN: 81-0691564
Contact Method: Online contact form available through website

Overview

The Jeanine Heller Foundation Inc was established in 2015 when founder Jeanine Heller decided to create a foundation while she was still living to see her assets help those in need. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation, the organization has grown significantly from initial assets of approximately $320,000 in 2017 to over $18 million by 2024. The foundation is entirely volunteer-run with no paid staff, and the board of directors serves without compensation. With a mission statement of "Helping Others Help Others," the foundation focuses on supporting lesser-known, volunteer-driven organizations making a difference in their communities. While Jeanine personally supported Armenian churches and cat charities during her lifetime, she encouraged the foundation to broaden its scope beyond her individual interests. The foundation now supports over 75 charitable organizations annually across the United States and Canada, distributing approximately $1.4 million in grants in 2024.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grants: $2,500 - $150,000 (median grant: $10,000)
  • No fixed deadlines; submissions reviewed at board meetings on an ongoing basis
  • 52 grants awarded in 2024
  • Average grant size of $22,141

Priority Areas

• Volunteer-Run Organizations: Strong preference for organizations primarily staffed by volunteers
• Lesser-Known Charities: Focus on smaller, community-based organizations that may not have access to major funding sources
• Community Impact: Organizations making a tangible difference in their local communities
• Diverse Cause Areas: Including disaster relief, food security, faith-based organizations, health services, youth and education programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions, but operates on a pre-selection basis where the board identifies organizations aligned with their mission of supporting volunteer-driven, community-focused charities.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by an all-volunteer board of directors who serve without compensation:

• William A. Vogel - President
• Sonja Sanchez Greggersen - Vice President
• Rev. Lynn A. Sullivan - Vice President
• Shawn H. Vogel - Secretary/Treasurer

The board collectively created the foundation's mission statement "Helping Others Help Others" with the aim of supporting lesser-known organizations run by volunteers.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jeanine Heller Foundation operates on a pre-selected charity model but does accept outreach from potential grantees:

• Primary Method: The foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations"
• Contact Option: Charities may contact the foundation through the online form on their website
• Board Review: Submissions received through the contact form "will be discussed at the next directors' meeting"
• Follow-up: The foundation states they will reach back out after reviewing the submission

Requirements:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
• Should demonstrate volunteer-driven operations or significant volunteer engagement
• Must show tangible community impact

Decision Timeline

The foundation reviews submissions at directors' meetings on an ongoing basis. Organizations that contact the foundation can expect:

• Submission discussed at the next directors' meeting
• Follow-up communication from the foundation after board review
• No published timeline for decision-making

Success Rates

With 52 grants distributed in 2024 from total annual giving of approximately $1.4 million, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. Success rates for organizations that contact the foundation are not published.

Reapplication Policy

No published reapplication policy or waiting period requirements.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated mission and recent grant patterns:

1. Volunteer-Driven Model: Organizations should clearly articulate their volunteer structure and demonstrate how volunteers are central to their operations
2. Community Impact Focus: Provide concrete examples of community-level impact
3. Modest Size and Profile: Smaller, community-based charities may have an advantage over large, nationally recognized nonprofits
4. Authenticity and Need: Demonstrate genuine need and how funding will directly help beneficiaries
5. Geographic Flexibility: Location does not appear to be a limiting factor, with grants distributed across the United States and Canada
6. Relationship Building: Establishing connection with board members or being referred by trusted sources may be valuable

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-selection model but contactable through website with board review of submissions
• Emphasize volunteer engagement as central to the foundation's mission
• Focus on community-level impact rather than broad national impact
• Wide grant range ($2,500 to $150,000) accommodates various funding needs
• All-volunteer board values efficiency and minimal overhead
• Patient approach recommended as no rapid decision timelines are published
• Diverse funding interests across multiple cause areas aligned with community need

References

1. Jeanine Heller Foundation official website - www.jhellerfoundation.org (Accessed January 2026)
2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Jeanine Heller Foundation Inc Form 990-PF filings - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/810691564 (Accessed January 2026)
3. Cause IQ - The Jeanine Heller Foundation profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-jeanine-heller-foundation,810691564/ (Accessed January 2026)
4. Instrumentl - Jeanine Heller Foundation Inc 990 Report - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/jeanine-heller-foundation-inc (Accessed January 2026)
5. Grantmakers.io - Jeanine Heller Foundation Inc Profile - https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/810691564-jeanine-heller-foundation-inc/ (Accessed January 2026)