About Helis Foundation
The Helis Foundation concentrates its giving almost exclusively on visual arts institutions in New Orleans, providing large unrestricted and program-specific operating support to strengthen museum capacity and public access. Its grants prioritize sustaining flagship regional museums and funding high-profile exhibition and public-art initiatives that serve Louisiana residents. The foundation’s work is distinctive for combining substantial institutional support with explicit investments in free-admission and public sculpture programming.
Focus Areas
Major visual art museums in New Orleans (institutional operating support)Free-admission initiatives for Louisiana residents at art museumsPublic sculpture and exhibition programming (e.g., Poydras Corridor sculptures)Capacity-building/general operating support for regional cultural institutions
Who They Fund
New Orleans / LA city residentsK–12 students and school groupslocal artists and musicians (artists-in-residence, sponsored musicians)general public/visitors to cultural institutions
About Helis Foundation
The Helis Foundation’s clearest signature is its support for the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, where three recent grants between 2023 and 2025 funded general operating expenses, the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibitions and other exhibitions, and Louisiana residents’ free admission days. That combination captures how the foundation works: it backs cultural institutions with operating support while also underwriting public access and exhibition programming. Across recent grants, the foundation repeatedly funds New Orleans museums, arts organizations, and cultural presenters, often pairing core support with specific initiatives tied to exhibitions, festivals, or reduced-cost admission. Its portfolio also shows attention to the machinery that keeps cultural programming visible and usable. New Orleans Museum of Art received multiple grants for operating expenses and free admission for art and A/C as well as Louisiana residents, while the Contemporary Arts Center, Louisiana Children’s Museum, and New Orleans Ballet Association also appear among recent recipients. The pattern is local and institution-centered, with an emphasis on strengthening the capacity of regional arts organizations rather than one-off project sponsorship alone. Funding sizes range from relatively modest awards to major operating grants, but the recurring theme is sustained support for public-facing arts infrastructure in Louisiana.
What Helis Foundation Funds
In museum support, The Helis Foundation backs operating budgets and access programs together. The New Orleans Museum of Art received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for general operating expenses, free admission for art & A/C, and free admission for Louisiana residents. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art received similarly structured support tied to general operations and exhibition activity. The foundation also funds public art and exhibition-making. The Arts Council of New Orleans received $110,000 in 2025 for the Building Wall Mural - Unframed, and Arts New Orleans received $91,500 in 2024 for the Luna Fete event. These grants point to an interest in citywide cultural activation, not only indoor museum programming. Education and audience access appear as another thread. The Louisiana Children’s Museum received support for operating expenses, Free Saturdays in October, and Art of All, while the New Orleans Ballet Association’s Ovation Program provided reduced admission for students and their families.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.4M
Total Assets
$83M
Total Revenue
$4.8M
Total Expenses
$3.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $37K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$37K
Geographic Reach
Local8 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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