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Helen Ruth Gordon Charitable Trust at a glance

· Private foundation

Helen Ruth Gordon Charitable Trust

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$73k
Granted FY2025still arriving
7
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Arts & Culture$141kHuman Services$103kReligion$76kHousing & Shelter$71kYouth Development$56kHealth$49kEducation$48kCommunity Improvement$35kOther$0
02FY2025 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k3 grants · $16k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $57k
$10,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$1.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COMMUNITY LIFE ENRICHMENT FOUNDATION$20,000
LAURELVILLE MENNONITE CHURCH CEN$15,000
BHUTANESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION$12,000
WRITE PITTSBURGH$10,000
EARLY EXCELLENCE PROJECT$8,000
CENTER FOR HEARING & DEAF SERVICES$6,023
YWCA GREATER PITTSBURGH$2,085
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $119k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%INSPIRED HEARTS AND HANDS INC: $2k → 9%NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIES: $10k → 16%LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INC: $13k → 11%FOUNDATION OF HOPE INC: $13k → 11%TREASURE HOUSE: $8k → 11%COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES: $8k → 11%THE BRADLEY CENTER: $16k → 11%HUMAN SERVICES CENTER CORPORATION: $15k → 11%CREATIVE CITIZEN STUDIOS: $17k → 11%BETHLEHEM HAVEN OF PITTSBURGH: $17k → 11%YWCA GREATER PITTSBURGH: $2k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation

To create and distribute trusted content, build connections and strengthen our community through public media.

Arts & Culture
2
Pittsburgh Mercy Health System Inc

We, pittsburgh mercy health system (pittsburgh mercy) and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. pittsburgh mercy is a member of trinity…

Health
3
Pittsburgh Business Group On Health

An employer-led coalition that champions outcomes-based, cost-effective healthcare through education, market expertise, group purchasing, comparative data and decision support.

—
4
Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse

Pittsburgh center for creative reuse inspires creativity, conservation, and community engagement through reuse.

Arts & Culture
5
Point Park University

Provides innovative education in a dynamic urban setting. dedicated to academic excellence and community engagement,we prepare students of diverse backgrounds with the knowledge, skill,and experience to lead meaningful lives as informed…

—
6
Pittsburgh Entertainment Project

To create a vibrant, responsible, and sustainable film and digital media sector in southwestern pennsylvania.

—
7
Jeremiah's Place Pittsburgh Relief Nursery

Jeremiah's place will protect children and strengthen families by providing a safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support for children and families during times of crisis. we strive to serve as a leading voice for child abuse…

Human Services
8
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

By sharing resources and fostering meaningful relationships that strengthen the region's creative community, the greater pittsburgh arts council builds a more resourced, connected, and informed arts sector, empowering artists and arts…

Arts & Culture
9
Pittsburgh Council On Higher Education

To provide a means for sharing resources and information among members, engage in joint projects, and offer a common voice on educational matters.

Education
10
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

The world affairs council of pittsburgh's mission is to convene and connect people around global issues to build a competitive, thriving, and inclusive pittsburgh.

International
11
The Regional Opportunity Center D/B/a Vibrant Pittsburgh

Vibrant pittsburgh's mission is to accelerate the business community toward equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplaces, creating a future-forward region.

Arts & Culture
12
Prevention Point Pittsburgh

To provide health empowerment services to injection drug users and prevent the spread of hiv.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Homeless Children's Education Fund; the most unlike its peers is The Early Excellence Project. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

37 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 37 of the 50 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
36/37
Grantees still filing
20/37
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

AUGUST WILSON CULTURAL CENTER: $25,000 · OtherAUGUST WILSON CULTURAL CENTERIndividual grant recipient: $25,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientPENNSYLVANIA TROLLEY MUSEUM INC: $25,000 · OtherPENNSYLVANIA TROLLEY MUSEUM INCFRIENDS OF THE MONROEVILLE: $24,500 · OtherFRIENDS OF THE MONROEVILLECALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: $23,105 · OtherCALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCHIndividual grant recipient: $20,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION: $20,000 · OtherALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATIONPITTSBURGH LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $17,500 · OtherPITTSBURGH LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONBIBLE CENTER CHURCH: $15,000 · OtherCRIBS FOR KIDS INC: $15,000 · OtherST ANDREWS UNITED PRESBYTERIAN: $12,500 · OtherRONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARTIES OF NORTHEASTERN PENSYLVANIA INC: $12,000 · OtherREBUILDING TOGETHER PITTSBURGH: $19,699 · OtherREBUILDING TOGETHER PITTSBURGH+9 more: $62,843 · Other+9 moreBETHLEHEM HAVEN OF PITTSBURGH: $16,652 · Human ServicesBETHLEHEM HAVEN OF P…CREATIVE CITIZEN STUDIOS: $16,500 · Human ServicesCREATIVE CITIZEN STU…THE BRADLEY CENTER INC: $15,500 · Human ServicesTHE BRADLEY CENTER I…HUMAN SERVICES CENTER CORPORATION: $15,000 · Human ServicesHUMAN SERVICES CENTE…LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INC: $12,500 · Human ServicesLIGHT OF LIFE MINIST…FOUNDATION OF HOPE INC: $12,500 · Human ServicesFOUNDATION OF HOPE I…Neighborhood Allies: $9,875 · Human ServicesNeighborhood AlliesTHE TREASURE HOUSE: $8,000 · Human ServicesTHE TREASURE HOUSECOMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES CORPORATION: $7,606 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY HUMAN SERV…+2 more: $4,442 · Human ServicesPITTSBURGH MUSICAL THEATER: $15,000 · Arts & CulturePITTSBURGH M…BHUTANESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF PITTSBURGH: $12,000 · Arts & CultureBHUTANESE CO…SALTWORKS THEATRE COMPANY: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSALTWORKS TH…Assemble Inc: $10,000 · Arts & CultureAssemble IncWRITE PITTSBURGH: $10,000 · Arts & CultureWRITE PITTSB…WQED MULTIMEDIA: $10,000 · Arts & CultureWQED MULTIME…QUANTUM THEATRE INC: $7,500 · Arts & CultureQUANTUM THEA…UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: $40,000 · EducationUNIVERSIT…THE EARLY EXCELLENCE PROJECT: $8,000 · EducationTHE EARLY…PROTOTYPE PGH INC: $7,500 · EducationPROTOTYPE…Travis Manion Foundation: $20,000 · PhilanthropyHOMELESS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FUND: $8,677 · PhilanthropyPROTOHAVEN: $7,500 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITY LIFE ENRICHMENT FOUNDATION: $20,000 · Community ImprovementBRIDGEWAY CAPITAL INC: $15,000 · Community ImprovementMOVE A MOUNTAIN MISSIONS: $20,000 · ReligionLAURELVILLE MENNONITE CHURCH CENTER: $15,000 · Religion
Other$317,147Human Services$118,575Arts & Culture$74,500Education$55,500Philanthropy$36,177Community Improvement$35,000Religion$35,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: $40,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPENNSYLVANIA TROLLEY MUSEUM INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetTravis Manion Foundation: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMOVE A MOUNTAIN MISSIONS: $20,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetREBUILDING TOGETHER PITTSBURGH: $19,699 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetPITTSBURGH LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $17,500 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetBETHLEHEM HAVEN OF PITTSBURGH: $16,652 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetCREATIVE CITIZEN STUDIOS: $16,500 over 1y, 9.9% of budgetTHE BRADLEY CENTER INC: $15,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBRIDGEWAY CAPITAL INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLAURELVILLE MENNONITE CHURCH CENTER: $15,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetHUMAN SERVICES CENTER CORPORATION: $15,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetLIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INC: $12,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFOUNDATION OF HOPE INC: $12,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetRONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARTIES OF NORTHEASTERN PENSYLVANIA INC: $12,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetSALTWORKS THEATRE COMPANY: $10,000 over 1y, 4.2% of budgetAssemble Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetWRITE PITTSBURGH: $10,000 over 1y, 5.9% of budgetBIKE PITTSBURGH INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetFAMILY HOUSE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWQED MULTIMEDIA: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNeighborhood Allies: $9,875 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetHOMELESS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FUND: $8,677 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetTHE TREASURE HOUSE: $8,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetCOMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES CORPORATION: $7,606 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPROTOTYPE PGH INC: $7,500 over 1y, 9.6% of budgetPROTOHAVEN: $7,500 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetQUANTUM THEATRE INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCENTER FOR HEARING & DEAF SERVICES INC: $6,023 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetYOUNG LIFE: $3,946 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetInspired Hearts and Hands Inc: $2,357 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetYOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION GREATER PITTSBURGH: $2,085 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Pittsburgh Founda…Hillman Family Founda…The Heinz EndowmentsThe Grable FoundationOpportunity FoundationThe United Way of Sou…The Jack Buncher Foun…Richard King Mellon F…Jefferson Regional Fo…The Buhl FoundationMcElhattan FoundationEqt Foundation
The Pittsburgh FoundationPA47.9× affinity24 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Pittsburgh Foundation · Hillman Family Foundations · The Heinz Endowments · The Grable Foundation · Opportunity Foundation · The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania · The Jack Buncher Foundation · Richard King Mellon Foundation · Jefferson Regional Foundation · The Buhl Foundation · McElhattan Foundation · Eqt Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Helen Ruth Gordon Charitable Trust funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Helen Ruth Gordon Charitable Trust. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    15report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 50 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Helen Ruth Gordon’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home