Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust
Helmsley Charitable Trust consistently deploys substantial assets for grant-making with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 137184401 · New York, NY · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $777.7M |
| Total Expenses | $534.9M |
| Program Spending | 95% |
| Net Assets | $6.7B |
| Transparency Score | 95/100 |
Is Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust (EIN: 137184401) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $777.7M and total assets of $7.1B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 26 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -1.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $629.1M |
| Total Expenses | $534.9M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$94.2M |
| Total Assets | $7.3B |
| Total Liabilities | $535.7M |
| Net Assets | $6.7B |
| Operating Margin | 15.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 7.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 162.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust reported a surplus of $94.2M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 162.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 7.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -25.1% | -1.0% | -11.7% |
| 2022 | +16.1% | +46.7% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | -2.7% | -1.4% | +40.6% |
| 2020 | +25.7% | +0.1% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | +275.8% | -5.0% | +9.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2000 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust with a Mission Score of 95 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $94.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 7.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization reports 0% officer compensation across all provided filing periods, indicating that no compensation is paid to officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and asset base, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds towards charitable purposes.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed breakdown for administrative expenses in provided data, though 0% officer comp is positive.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation across all reported periods.
- Substantial and growing asset base (over $7 billion in recent years) ensuring long-term sustainability.
- High proportion of expenses directed towards programmatic activities (grants).
- Strong financial health with revenues consistently exceeding expenses in most recent periods.
Frequently Asked Questions about Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust
Is Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust a legitimate charity?
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust (EIN: 137184401) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 95/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $777.7M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust spend its money?
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust tax-deductible?
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 137184401). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 95/100 (Excellent), Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust located?
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 137184401. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust have?
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $777.7M in total revenue.
How does the Trust manage its administrative costs given its large asset base?
While specific administrative cost breakdowns are not provided in the summary data, the 0% officer compensation suggests a highly efficient or volunteer-driven leadership structure, which would contribute to very low administrative overhead relative to its substantial assets and grant-making volume.
What is the long-term trend of the Trust's asset growth?
The Trust's assets have shown significant growth over the past decade, from $4.1 billion in 2011 to over $7.1 billion in the latest period (202303), indicating robust financial management and investment strategies that support its long-term philanthropic capacity.
Does the Trust rely on external fundraising?
As a private foundation, the Trust primarily uses its endowment for grant-making and does not typically engage in public fundraising, which is reflected in the 0% allocated to fundraising in the spending breakdown.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust's revenue has declined by 19.1%, moving from $777.8M to $629.1M. Total assets increased by 75.1% over the same period, from $4.1B to $7.3B. Total functional expenses rose by 141.1%, from $221.9M to $534.9M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust reported a surplus of $94.2M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $535.7M in liabilities against $7.3B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 7.4%), resulting in net assets of $6.7B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $629.1M | $534.9M | $7.3B | $535.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $839.5M | $540.1M | $8.2B | $517.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $723.2M | $368.3M | $8.3B | $446.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $743.3M | $373.6M | $5.9B | $368.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $591.3M | $373.3M | $6.1B | $335.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $157.4M | $393.1M | $5.5B | $333.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.2B | $289.2M | $5.4B | $273.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $175.5M | $326.1M | $4.2B | $263.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $216.7M | $170.3M | $4.1B | $188.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $777.8M | $221.9M | $4.1B | $196.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $629.1M, expenses of $534.9M, and assets of $7.3B (revenue -25.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $839.5M, expenses of $540.1M, and assets of $8.2B (revenue +16.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $723.2M, expenses of $368.3M, and assets of $8.3B (revenue -2.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $743.3M, expenses of $373.6M, and assets of $5.9B (revenue +25.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $591.3M, expenses of $373.3M, and assets of $6.1B (revenue +275.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $157.4M, expenses of $393.1M, and assets of $5.5B (revenue -86.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.2B, expenses of $289.2M, and assets of $5.4B (revenue +584.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $175.5M, expenses of $326.1M, and assets of $4.2B (revenue -19.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $216.7M, expenses of $170.3M, and assets of $4.1B (revenue -72.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $777.8M, expenses of $221.9M, and assets of $4.1B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.