The Hellen I Plummer Charitable Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted gifts into arts and cultural organizations and Episcopal/Anglican church institutions, while also occasionally funding international humanitarian and education causes. Grants are often sizable and general operating in nature, and the foundation shows a clear preference for a handful of repeat faith and arts grantees rather than many small awards. Its portfolio blends support for literary and performing arts programs with substantial backing of Episcopal parishes and cathedrals.
A $750,000 unrestricted grant to James Merrill House Foundation stands out in the Hellen I Plummer Charitable Foundation’s recent record, and it captures the way the foundation backs institutions rather than short-term projects. The foundation’s giving mixes arts and cultural organizations with Episcopal and Anglican church institutions, plus occasional humanitarian and education support. Large general operating awards are a recurring feature: Church of the Holy Apostles received $285,000 in 2025, while Griot Arts Inc received $215,000 the same year. The pattern is not limited to one sector. Faith organizations, literary sites, theater companies, and service nonprofits all appear in the recent grants list, often with unrestricted support attached. Named recipients include Cathedral of St Philip - Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta Inc, St John's Parish - Protestant Episcopal, and Actors' Shakespeare Project, showing a portfolio that reaches from church operations to performing arts. Repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years suggest a funder that maintains longer relationships with selected grantees rather than spreading support widely across many small recipients.
Episcopal and Anglican institutions are a clear thread. The foundation gave $165,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2023 to St John's Parish - Protestant Episcopal for rector and wardens support, then followed with $102,100 in 2025 for the same purpose. Cathedral support appears as well: Cathedral of St Philip - Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta Inc received $150,000 in 2023, $105,000 in 2024, and $102,100 in 2025. In arts and culture, the foundation gave $100,000 in 2025 to Actors' Shakespeare Project as unrestricted general support and $30,250 in 2024 to Atlanta Symphony (woodruff Arts Center) to support the Atlanta Symphony. The portfolio also includes Black arts and cultural programming, such as $215,000 in 2025 to Griot Arts Inc for unrestricted general support.
Typical grants cluster in the low five figures, with p25 at $10,000, a median of $12,500, and p75 at $24,625. The distribution is widened by a small number of much larger awards, including six- and seven-figure gifts. The foundation’s recent list shows repeat support across multiple years for the same grantees, especially in church and cathedral funding, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. It appears to operate as a private charitable foundation; no individual giving or program-related investments are indicated in the data. Most awards in the recent list are unrestricted or general operating support.
$2.4M
$14.7M
$1.2M
$2.5M
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in GA.
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Concentrated, large unrestricted grants to a small number of repeat core grantees (notably Episcopal institutions and arts organizations); funding is heavy-weight rather than widely distributed and often designated as general operating support.
Notable grantees: James Merrill House Foundation, Cathedral of St Philip - Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, St John's Parish - Protestant Episcopal, Griot Arts Inc, Actors' Shakespeare Project
The foundation gives nationally, and every grant in the recipient distribution is in the U.S. Georgia appears most often by grant count, with Atlanta receiving multiple awards and Decatur and Macon also appearing in the recent list. New York is another frequent destination, including recipients in New York City. Other cities with named grants include Stonington, CT; Cambridge, MA; and Charlestown, MA. The recipient map shows no grants to the HQ state of New Jersey in the supplied data.
The recent grants point to three main areas: Episcopal and Anglican church institutions, arts and cultural organizations, and occasional humanitarian or education-related grantees. Examples include church parishes and cathedrals, literary and theater groups, and organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and International Community School Inc.
Yes. Many of the recent awards are labeled unrestricted general or general operating support, including the largest recent grant and several other sizable gifts. The pattern suggests the foundation often funds organizations at the institutional level rather than tying support to a narrow project.
Yes. St John's Parish - Protestant Episcopal appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with support for rector and wardens; Cathedral of St Philip - Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta Inc also appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. James Merrill House Foundation appears in both 2024 and 2025.
The foundation gives nationally, but Georgia is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients include organizations in Atlanta, Decatur, and Macon, alongside multiple grants in New York City and other U.S. locations.
The center of the distribution sits in the low five figures: p25 is $10,000, the median is $12,500, and p75 is $24,625. The recent list also includes much larger awards, so the foundation’s portfolio combines frequent smaller grants with a few substantial commitments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES MERRILL HOUSE FOUNDATION | STONINGTON, CT | $750,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHURCH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES | NEW YORK, NY | $285,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GRIOT ARTS INC | CLARKSDALE, MS | $215,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ST JOHN'S PARISH - PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL | NEW YORK, NY | $102,100 | 2025 | SUPPORT RECTOR WARDENS AND |
| CATHEDRAL OF ST PHILIP - EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF ATLANTA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $102,100 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE CATHEDRAL OF |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ACTORS' SHAKESPEARE PROJECT | CHARLESTOWN, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL INC | DECATUR, GA | $82,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GEORGIA JUSTICE PROJECT | MACON, GA | $62,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GEORGIA STATE UNIV FDN | ATLANTA, GA | $62,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| URBAN RECIPE INC | ATLANTA, GA | $62,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| VERMONT STUDIO CENTER INC | JOHNSON, VT | $60,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ON THE RISE INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF WORCESTER FREE LIBRARY | WORCESTER, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BROADWAY COMMUNITY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SHEPHERD CENTER INC | ATLANTA, GA | $20,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ALLIANCE FOR CHRISTIAN MEDIA | ATLANTA, GA | $20,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHILDRENS' HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $20,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF PONTE VERDA | ORLANDO, FL | $20,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| EMMETT TILL INTERPRETIVE CENTER | SUMNER, MS | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MIDTOWN ASSISTANCE CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CONCRETE TEMPLE THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NATIONAL SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DAMES IN NY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| RECTORS WARDENS & VESTRY- CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DONOHO SCHOOL | ANNISTON, AL | $10,900 | 2025 | SUPPORT THOMAS SIMS POTTS |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ATLANTA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $10,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF ATLANTA | ATLANTA, GA | $10,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ST LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | ATLANTA, GA | $10,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL INC | BOSTON, MA | $10,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FORWARD ARTS FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $10,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ATLANTA BALLET INC | ATLANTA, GA | $10,300 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FAMILY HERITAGE FOUNDATION | STONE MOUNTAIN, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SOUTHEAST ASIAN COALITION OF CENTRAL MA | WORCESTER, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SAINT ANDREW'S DUNE CHURCH | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $5,150 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS | PALM BEACH, FL | $5,150 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,150 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ATLANTA SPEECH SCHOOL INC | ATLANTA, GA | $5,150 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ATLANTA SYMPHONY (WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER) | ATLANTA, GA | $5,150 | 2025 | SUPPORT ATLANTA SYMPHONY |
| HOSPICE GUILD FFN OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | PALM BEACH, FL | $5,150 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ST JOHN'S PARISH - PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL | NEW YORK, NY | $165,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT RECTOR WARDENS AND |
| CATHEDRAL OF ST PHILIP - EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF ATLANTA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $105,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE CATHEDRAL OF |
| JAMES MERRILL HOUSE FOUNDATION | STONINGTON, CT | $40,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ATLANTA SYMPHONY (WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER) | ATLANTA, GA | $30,250 | 2024 | SUPPORT ATLANTA SYMPHONY |
| THE MACDOWELL COLONY | PETERBOROUGH, NH | $30,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CONCRETE TEMPLE THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BUCKHEAD CHRISTIAN MINISTRY INC | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ALLIANCE FOR CHRISTIAN MEDIA | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ON THE RISE INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SHEPHERD CENTER INC | ATLANTA, GA | $21,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF PONTE VERDA BEACH CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | ORLANDO, FL | $21,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
CHURCH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES
$285,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
GRIOT ARTS INC
$215,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ST JOHN'S PARISH - PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
$102,100SUPPORT RECTOR WARDENS AND
CATHEDRAL OF ST PHILIP - EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF ATLANTA INC
$102,100SUPPORT THE CATHEDRAL OF
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$100,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL INC
$82,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
URBAN RECIPE INC
$62,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ON THE RISE INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FRIENDS OF WORCESTER FREE LIBRARY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
BROADWAY COMMUNITY INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CHILDRENS' HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA INC
$20,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF PONTE VERDA
$20,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CONCRETE TEMPLE THEATRE
$15,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DAMES IN NY
$10,900UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
RECTORS WARDENS & VESTRY- CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION
$10,900UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DONOHO SCHOOL
$10,900SUPPORT THOMAS SIMS POTTS
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ATLANTA INC
$10,900UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF ATLANTA
$10,900UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ST LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$10,900UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
COMMONWEALTH SCHOOL INC
$10,900UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FORWARD ARTS FOUNDATION INC
$10,900UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ATLANTA BALLET INC
$10,300UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FAMILY HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN COALITION OF CENTRAL MA
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SAINT ANDREW'S DUNE CHURCH
$5,150UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ATLANTA SPEECH SCHOOL INC
$5,150UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HOSPICE GUILD FFN OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
$5,150UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ST JOHN'S PARISH - PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
$165,000SUPPORT RECTOR WARDENS AND
CATHEDRAL OF ST PHILIP - EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF ATLANTA INC
$105,000SUPPORT THE CATHEDRAL OF
THE MACDOWELL COLONY
$30,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CONCRETE TEMPLE THEATRE
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ON THE RISE INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF PONTE VERDA BEACH CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$21,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL