Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Helmsley Charitable Trust operates with a deeply targeted, invitation-only grantmaking model that distinguishes it from most major foundations. Rather than accepting unsolicited proposals, Helmsley's in-house program experts actively identify and recruit partners whose work aligns with the Trust's six core program areas. This approach allows the Trust to deploy long-term, concentrated investments in areas where private funding is sparse or absent—such as rural ultrasound deployment, AI-powered Crohn's diagnostics, and agricultural recovery in conflict zones. Helmsley's strategy is to go deep rather than broad, making fewer but larger and more sustained commitments. The Trust frequently funds multi-year initiatives and has a track record of providing follow-on grants to successful grantees. Their staff includes scientists, public health experts, and social workers who bring domain expertise to funding decisions, ensuring grants are technically grounded and strategically aligned.

With $7.3 billion in assets and $484 million in annual charitable disbursements (FY2024), Helmsley is one of the largest health-focused private foundations in the United States. The Trust disbursed $445.7 million across 585 grants in 2024, with individual awards ranging from $5,000 to $22.5 million. The median grant size skews high relative to peers, reflecting Helmsley's preference for substantial, transformative investments over small seed grants. Healthcare dominates the portfolio: Type 1 Diabetes and Crohn's Disease research receive the largest programmatic allocations, with Helmsley surpassing U.S. government funding in some T1D research years. Rural Healthcare grants frequently target infrastructure and equipment (e.g., $4M to Riverton Medical District, $6M to Kahuku Medical Center). The Israel program spans health, security, and agricultural recovery. New York City grants focus on homelessness, healthcare access, and workforce development for underserved populations. Sub-Saharan Africa grants center on child welfare and agribusiness development.

Helmsley occupies a unique niche as one of the few $7B+ foundations that is entirely invitation-only. Its per-grant average ($761K) is among the highest in the sector, and its disease-specific focus on T1D and Crohn''s is unmatched among foundations of comparable size. Unlike Gates or RWJF, Helmsley does not operate open application cycles, which limits accessibility but enables deeper, more strategic partnerships.

In 2025-2026, Helmsley has been particularly active in rural and island healthcare infrastructure. Major recent awards include: $6M to Kahuku Medical Center in Hawaii (March 2026); $5M to Kapiolani Medical Center for the Martha B. Smith Cancer & Infusion Center (2025); $4M to Riverton Medical District for new hospital equipment (2025); $2.2M to University of Hawaii for medical training and the Ho''ola Early Phase Clinical Research Center opening March 2026; $2.25M to Nuru Burkina Faso for smallholder farm agribusiness; $2.2M to support agricultural recovery of Kibbutz Be''eri in Israel (May 2025); and $1.6M to Queen''s Medical Center for ECMO program expansion in Honolulu (May 2025). In Crohn''s disease, Helmsley awarded $3M to Mount Sinai for epithelial healing research. The Trust also made a landmark gift to the American Heart Association, becoming one of AHA''s largest donors in its 100-year history. These grants demonstrate continued emphasis on healthcare infrastructure in underserved geographies and disease-specific research breakthroughs.

Because Helmsley operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, organizations can position themselves for engagement through several approaches: (1) Build visibility within Helmsley''s six program areas by publishing research, presenting at relevant conferences, and developing partnerships with existing Helmsley grantees. (2) Monitor helmsleytrust.org for periodic RFPs—these are the only open application windows and tend to have specific, narrow scopes. (3) Engage with Helmsley''s grantee network; the Trust values referrals from current partners. (4) Demonstrate measurable impact and data-driven approaches—Helmsley''s in-house scientists and experts prioritize evidence-based interventions. (5) Focus on geographies where Helmsley is active: the Upper Midwest, Hawaii, New York City, Israel, and Sub-Saharan Africa. (6) For rural healthcare organizations, emphasize infrastructure gaps and population health metrics. (7) Contact grants@helmsleytrust.org or call 212-679-3600 for general inquiries, but do not send unsolicited proposals. (8) Organizations working in T1D or Crohn''s disease should connect with disease-specific advocacy networks that interface with Helmsley program staff.