THE HELEN GURLEY BROWN FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$9.8M+32% YoY
Grants
31
Median Grant
$149K
Organizations Funded
26
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Foundation Overview
Mission
Transforming the world by supporting the development of dreams, however big they may be. The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation operates across three major program areas: Empowering Youth, Empowering Women, and Empowering Innovation. We believe in building a world where all dreams are achievable - and we fund programs to make that world a reality.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
The BOLD Women's Leadership Network cultivating courageous leadership in young people during the college years and beyond; Marshall University awarded $1 million grant to launch BOLD Women's Leadership Experience; The David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute at Columbia University and Stanford University for media innovation; Genius Grants for change-makers and proven leaders in their community
How to Apply
The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Organizations and individuals interested in funding would need to be identified and invited by the Foundation, partner with existing grantee institutions, or be nominated through their existing network.
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$9.8M
Grants
31
Median
$149K
States
12
$7.4M
Grants
21
Median
$175K
States
9
$17.0M
Grants
27
Median
$286K
States
9
Grant Size Distribution
$149K
Typical Grant (Median)
$5K
Smallest
$90K
25th Pctile
$338K
75th Pctile
$1.5M
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $90K and $338K.
Largest Recent Grants
$1.5M
2024
CARDINAL HAYES HIGH SCHOOL
NY · YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" 2.0 GRANT: PURPOSE: "BRIDGEUP: CORE", AND "BRIDGEOUT" PROGRAMS-TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO SUPPORT SELECTED "BRIDGEUP" SCHOLARS FROM CARDINAL HAYES HIGH SCHOOL, ST. CATHERINE ACADEMY, AND THE ACADEMY OF MOUNT ST. URSULA BY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, SCHOLARSHIPS, POST-GRADUATION COLLEGE PREP AND JOB ASSISTANCE, AND ALUMNI SUPPORT.
$1.4M
2024
DANA-FARBER CANCER CENTER
MA · LEADERSHIP-THE HELEN GURLEY BROWN PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE GRANT: PURPOSE: FUNDING "HELEN FELLOWS", "HELEN MENTORS", AND "HELEN TRAILBLAZER" AWARDS AT DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE TO DEVELOP AN INITIATIVE WHICH IS A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND NETWORK FOR RESEARCHERS, AND TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS TO HELP SHEPHERD THE NEXT ERA OF BREAKTHROUGHS IN CANCER MEDICINE AND DISCOVERY.
$1.3M
2024
NORTHERN STAGE COMPANY
VT · LEADERSHIP-"BOLD CIRCLE" GRANT: PURPOSE: TO CREATE A NETWORK OF ARTISTIC DIRECTORS AS WELL AS ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS, AND FELLOWS, WHO IN TURN WILL SUPPORT INNOVATIVE WRITERS, DIRECTORS, AND DESIGNERS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PIECES OF ARTISTIC WORK WRITTEN FOR THE THEATER STAGE.
$858K
2024
SCHOOL SEED FOUNDATION
TN · YOUTH AND EDUCATION- "BRIDGEUP" "GIDDY UP" GRANT:PURPOSE: TO OFFER UNDER-RESOURCED CHILDREN A UNIQUE TRACK TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF HORSEBACK RIDING.
$624K
2024
NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CO · YOUTH AND EDUCATION-"BRIDGEUP" STEM GRANT:PURPOSE: TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO LEARN THE SKILLS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE IN SMALL GROUPS WITH THEIR PEERS.
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.