Nonprofit · EIN 81-0544494
HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · HELENA, MT 59601
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $482,054 | $417,475 | $64,579 | $464,377 | $326 | $464,051 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $424,307 | $416,569 | $7,738 | $366,293 | $770 | $365,523 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $407,493 | $340,786 | $66,707 | $361,792 | $4,623 | $357,169 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $478,348
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $3,706
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $85,598
- Other salaries and wages
- $67,599
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $162,687
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $3,210
- Travel
- $1,022
- Program services (functional)
- $344,264
- Management and general (functional)
- $39,523
- Fundraising (functional)
- $33,688
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $361,792
- Total assets, end of year
- $464,377
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $326
- Net assets, end of year
- $464,051
- Publicly traded securities
- $265,122
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $464,051
- Gross receipts
- $482,054
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
- Year formed
- 2002
- State of legal domicile
- MT
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA CORDINGLEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $85,598 |
| TIM MELDRUM | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JANA GARZA | PRESIDENT-ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| GRADEN MARCELLE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| ELLEN FEAVER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KENZIE CRISSWELL | HHS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DELANEY LYNCH | CHS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS CHRISTENSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN DORAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRANDY GARBER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JAKE HEATON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JASON LOBLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TONY PERPIGNANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KYLE SPENCER | PAST-PRESIDENT Former | 1 | $0 |
| SUE SWEENEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| REX WELTZ | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CORY WOOD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA CORDINGLEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $82,385 |
| CHRIS CHRISTENSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN DORAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRANDY GARBER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JACOB HEATON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JASON LOBLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CORY WOOD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SUE SWEENEY | MEMBER AT LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TIM MELDRUM | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JANA GARZA | PRESIDENT-ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| ELLEN FEAVER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| GRADEN MARCELLE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KYLE SPENCER | PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| REX WELTZ | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANNA GATES | CHS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANNIKA NEHRING | HHS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA CORDINGLEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $80,640 |
| TIM MELDRUM | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JANA GARZA | PRESIDENT-ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| ELLEN FEAVER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| GRADEN MARCELLE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KYLE SPENCER | PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| REX WELTZ | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANNA GATES | CHS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANNIKA NEHRING | HHS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS CHRISTENSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN DORAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BRANDY GARBER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JACOB HEATON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JASON LOBLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CORY WOOD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SUE SWEENEY | MEMBER AT LARGE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1325 POPLAR ST, HELENA, MT 59601-0939
- In care of
- % LISA CORDINGLEY
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Rebecca Leaphart, 1325 POPLAR ST, HELENA, MT 59601
- Signed the 990
- Rebecca Leaphart, Executive Director
- Phone
- (406) 443-2545
Mission
The mission of the Helena Education Foundation HEF is to enrich education in the Helena Public Schools through consistent community investment of time talent funding and resources. Activities include educator and student recognition grants for pilot and enrichment programs and community outreach programs.
Program accomplishments
- Adult educator public education and enrichment- events in this program area include Great Conversations Carnival Classic and Celebration of Excellence. These programs offer a range of experiences including innovative discussion of current topics and celebration of the beginning and end of year achievements of students and educators as well as family entertainment and showcasing student talent. They involve all students 8,000 and educators 600 in the school district and over 1,000 members of the public.Expenses $58,140 · revenue $68,941
- Education instructor pilot and enrichment programs in classrooms -events include Great Ideas Grants and Spark Grants - the premier program achievement of the Helena Education Foundation. These dollars target Helena Educators who propose education programs for students in Pre-K-12 Helena School District. Competitively based educators submit a program description and budget. If successful the educator is awarded a one-year grant based on the standards established by the HEF board. Generally 30-40 educators receive awards annually ranging from a low of 100 to a high of 5,000 for an annual budget that totals 65,000. These programs impact between 3000-5000 students. The STEAM-Rolling into Helena Schools special project provided LEGO STEAM kits to classrooms K-8 for hands-on experience with construction & deconstruction simple machines motors & aviation engineering & design and coding & robotics. This project also provided training for staff to help them implement the LEGO STEAM kits into their classrooms.-Expenses $138,889 · grants $135,739 · revenue $115,500
- All other program activities including Fabulous Firsts a book for every 1st grader Pen and Ink Magazine Harrison Writing Awards Up to 4 student competitive writing cash award Going to the Sun Art Award up to 4 student competitive art cash award BisonFest Issues Institutes Trading Places General Fundraising Investment and Education and Outreach activities.Expenses $147,235 · grants $9,244 · revenue $396,906
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-0544494
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2002
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B12)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $464,377
- Income (IRS master file)
- $482,054
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $482,054 | $417,475 | $464,377 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $424,307 | $416,569 | $366,293 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $407,493 | $340,786 | $361,792 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $374,200 | $314,886 | $290,875 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 81-0544494).
Questions about HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION is 81-0544494.
- Is HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2002.
- Are donations to HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Rebecca Leaphart.
- Who are the officers and directors of HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 17 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $85,598 (LISA CORDINGLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $482,054, expenses of $417,475 and total assets of $464,377 at year end.
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