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Helena Group Foundation

EIN 81-5455559 · Los Angeles, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HELENA GROUP FOUNDATION SEEKS TO ADDRESS URGENT ISSUES LIKE ELECTRICAL GRID RESILIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGREDATION, AND BIOSECURITY RISK BY CONCEIVING AND OPERATING NON-PROFIT PROJECTS ALONGSIDE A SMALL GROUP OF WORLD LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
6
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$242,872, director of america in one room and project operator

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $828,109 spent. A1R: AMERICA IN ONE ROOM IS A HISTORIC GATHERING THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE MOST REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE AMERICAN VOTING ELECTORATE IN U.S. HISTORY. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE FULL DAYS, THIS GROUP ENGAGED IN A CIVIL AND NUANCED DELIBERATION ON THE CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE UNITED STATES. THE ENTIRE SAMPLE TOOK THE SAME IN-DEPTH QUESTIONNAIRE BEFORE AND AFTER THE EVENT. THIS PROCESS YIELDED IMPORTANT DATA CONCERNING HOW AMERICANS THINK ABOUT VALUES, CANDIDATES, AND POLICY ISSUES WHEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO THINK DEEPLY, ENGAGE WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS, AND DELIBERATE IN A FACT-RICH AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS COVERED EXTENSIVELY IN THE MEDIA, AND HAILED BY MULTIPLE FORMER US PRESIDENTS. IN 2024, HELENA LAUNCHED AMERICA IN ONE ROOM: THE YOUTH VOTE, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER HUNDREDS OF YOUNG, FIRST TIME VOTERS IN AN UNPRECEDENTED FORUM FOR CITIZENS TO DISCUSS CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE COUNTRY AHEAD OF THE 2024 ELECTION.
  2. $317,460 spent. BIOSECURITY PROJECT - ADVANCES IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND OTHER INTERSECTING TECHNOLOGIES (E.G. AI) ARE DRIVING ENORMOUS NOVEL RISKS TO SOCIETY. THESE RISKS ARE GROWING IN SEVERITY AND LIKELIHOOD; MITIGATING THEM REQUIRES POWERFUL AND ENDURING RESPONSES. HELENA'S BIOSECURITY PROJECT AIMS TO ADVANCE WISE POLICY TO MITIGATE RISKS FROM SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND TO INCREASE THE COMPETENCE AND TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE INSTITUTIONS REQUIRED TO ENACT SAID POLICY. WE DO THIS THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH US AND GLOBAL POLICYMAKERS, ACADEMICS, AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH, PROPOSALS, AND ADVICE ON HOW TO REDUCE RISK FROM ADVANCES IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT HTTP://HELENA.ORG/PROJECTS/BIOSECURITY/.
  3. $209,194 spent. HELENA'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM RECRUITS, CONVENES, AND COMMUNICATES WITH A SMALL GROUP OF LEADERS IN DIFFERENT FIELDS TO HELP HELENA SELECT AND OPERATE PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS MAJOR SOCIETAL ISSUES. IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS: I) RESEARCHING AND NETWORKING TO FIND POTENTIAL HELENA MEMBERS (PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE PINNACLE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN THEIR FIELD AND SHARE A WILLINGNESS TO USE THEIR CAPABILITIES TO HELP THE WORLD); II) RECRUITING THEM TO JOIN HELENA (AND LEVERAGE THEIR ASSETS AND TALENTS TOWARDS OUR PROJECTS); AND III) MEETING WITH MEMBERS TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT SOCIETAL PROBLEMS, AND THE WAYS THEY CAN WORK WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH HELENA TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS (E.G., THROUGH OUR OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES). THIS PROGRAM ALSO INVOLVES HELPING OUR MEMBERS WITH THEIR OWN PROJECTS TO ADDRESS SOCIETAL ISSUES, INCLUDING EFFORTS LIKE PROJECT PROTEUS, AN UNDERWATER MONITORING AND RESEARCH STATION TO STUDY THE HEALTH OF THE OCEANS.
  4. $45,063 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: SHIELD PROJECT, PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT, SOFTWARE PLATFORM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2018 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.