Helen Russo Foundation
Official website for the Helen Russo Foundation (hrussofoundation.org) describing the foundation based in the Green Valley/Tucson area of Arizona and listing supported causes (e.g., Doctors Without Borders, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Honor Flights of Southern Arizona, Reid Park Zoo). The site includes a 'Letters From Helen' section and a page enumerating organizations the foundation supports.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A small, locally based Arizona nonprofit or community group with an existing relationship or visible local presence (e.g., community services, food bank, local arts, animal welfare, or faith-based organizations).
Good Fit
- • Located in Green Valley/Tucson or elsewhere in Arizona with demonstrated local impact
- • Existing relationship, introduction, or prior support history with the foundation or its board
- • Project or need aligned with the foundation’s past beneficiaries (local food security, animal preservation, local arts, medical/children’s causes)
- • Request size appropriate for small one-off grants (low- to mid-hundreds to low-thousands)
Geography
Giving is heavily concentrated in Arizona; in the latest year roughly 80% of dollars remained in AZ despite a few out-of-state grants across three states.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funds a modest number of independent nonprofits (8 distinct recipients in 2024 and up to 13 in earlier years) across varied purposes, but repeat recipients and a high top-five dollar share indicate a moderately concentrated portfolio.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of turnover is limited in the latest year (only one new recipient in 2024) and the foundation explicitly notes it funds only preselected organizations; combined with a high returning-recipient rate, this makes entry for unfamiliar applicants unlikely.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
