Updated Oct 28, 2026
Private foundations based in Iowa
362 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Iowa, holding $4.8B in assets. Ranked by grants paid in their latest 990-PF; 31 on this page say they accept applications. For foundations ranked by where their grants went, see local funders.
| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy J Carver Charitable Trsince 1982 | Muscatine, IA | $17M87 grants · 2024 | $121K | Yes | $241M |
| Iowa West Foundationsince 1994 | Council Blfs, IA | $16M134 grants · 2024 | $25K | Yes | $496M |
| Principal Financial Group Foundation Incsince 1988 | Des Moines, IA | $13M1 grants · 2024 | $13M | Yes | $204M |
| Transamerica Foundationsince 1994 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $8.1M1 grants · 2024 | $8.1M | Preselected only | $172M |
| Gerdin Charitable Foundationsince 1997 | North Liberty, IA | $6.9M9 grants · 2025 | $500K | Preselected only | $64M |
| Midamerican Energy Foundationsince 1997 | Des Moines, IA | $6.2M1 grants · 2024 | $6.2M | Yes | $40M |
| Hall-Perrine Foundationsince 1957 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $5.6M21 grants · 2025 | $260K | Yes | $144M |
| Thomas and Linda Koehn Foundationsince 1987 | Des Moines, IA | $5.4M23 grants · 2024 | $78K | Preselected only | $63M |
| Vermeer Charitable Foundation Incsince 1977 | Pella, IA | $5.2M122 grants · 2025 | $2,500 | Preselected only | $33M |
| The Wallace Research Foundationsince 1996 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $5.1M34 grants · 2025 | $105K | Preselected only | $84M |
| Charles E Lakin Foundation Incsince 2007 | Council Blfs, IA | $5.1M56 grants · 2025 | $22K | Yes | $130M |
| Seidler Foundationsince 1984 | Des Moines, IA | $4.1M175 grants · 2024 | $10K | Yes | $88M |
| John Ruan Foundation Trustsince 1955 | Urbandale, IA | $4.0M52 grants · 2024 | $10K | Yes | $100M |
| Eric Schwartz Fam Foundationsince 2003 | Fairfield, IA | $3.7M38 grants · 2024 | $10K | Yes | $33M |
| Otto Schoitz Foundationsince 2018 | Waterloo, IA | $3.7M53 grants · 2024 | $25K | Yes | $74M |
| Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundationsince 2015 | Des Moines, IA | $3.6M1 grants · 2024 | $3.6M | Yes | $85M |
| Lauridsen Family Foundationsince 2015 | Ankeny, IA | $3.5M28 grants · 2025 | $50K | Preselected only | $24M |
| The Wellmark Foundationsince 1992 | Des Moines, IA | $3.2M27 grants · 2024 | $32K | Yes | $80M |
| Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation Incsince 2016 | Ottumwa, IA | $3.1M216 grants · 2024 | $1,125 | Preselected only | $74M |
| John K and Luise V Hanson Foundationsince 1990 | Forest City, IA | $3.1M126 grants · 2024 | $9,000 | Yes | $43M |
| Sehgal Foundationsince 1999 | Des Moines, IA | $3.0M30 grants · 2024 | $2,500 | Preselected only | $57M |
| Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundationsince 1991 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $2.8M20 grants · 2024 | $26K | Preselected only | $15M |
| Marie H Bechtel Charitable Trustsince 2010 | Davenport, IA | $2.7M39 grants · 2025 | $35K | Yes | $48M |
| Harold R Bechtel Charitable Trsince 2010 | Davenport, IA | $2.5M41 grants · 2024 | $26K | Yes | $48M |
| Butler Family Foundationsince 1996 | Dubuque, IA | $2.4M69 grants · 2025 | $5,000 | Preselected only | $38M |
| Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundationsince 1997 | Cedar Falls, IA | $2.2M125 grants · 2024 | $16K | Yes | $50M |
| Telligen Community Initiativesince 2005 | West Des Moines, IA | $2.2M44 grants · 2025 | $37K | Preselected only | $41M |
| Van G Miller Family Charitable Foundationsince 2017 | Waterloo, IA | $2.1M20 grants · 2025 | $31K | Preselected only | $35M |
| Holthues Trsince 1998 | Muscatine, IA | $2.1M62 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $27M |
| R J McElroy Trustsince 1989 | Waterloo, IA | $2.1M93 grants · 2024 | $5,000 | Yes | $40M |
| Gilchrist Foundationsince 1999 | Sioux City, IA | $2.0M1 grants · 2025 | $2.0M | Preselected only | $34M |
| Dolezal Charitable Trsince 2021 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $2.0M1 grants · 2025 | $2.0M | Preselected only | $24M |
| Pella Rolscreen Foundationsince 1969 | Pella, IA | $1.9M434 grants · 2024 | $1,014 | Yes | $22M |
| Better Health Foundationsince 2014 | Davenport, IA | $1.9M22 grants · 2024 | $70K | Preselected only | $50M |
| Hubbell-Waterman Foundationsince 1967 | Davenport, IA | $1.9M40 grants · 2024 | $20K | Preselected only | $39M |
| Dean J King Family Foundationsince 1999 | Logan, IA | $1.8M74 grants · 2025 | $6,064 | Yes | $35M |
| Gallagher Family Foundationsince 1991 | Waterloo, IA | $1.6M58 grants · 2025 | $10K | Preselected only | $15M |
| Tony Schneiderman Charitable Trsince 2023 | George, IA | $1.6M4 grants · 2025 | $450K | Yes | $31M |
| Carleen and Eugene Grandon Charitable Foundationsince 2004 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $1.5M24 grants · 2025 | $45K | Yes | $33M |
| Emc Insurance Foundationsince 1991 | Des Moines, IA | $1.5M108 grants · 2025 | $5,000 | Yes | $29M |
| Kyle J and Sharon Krause Family Foundationsince 2014 | Des Moines, IA | $1.4M55 grants · 2024 | $3,165 | Preselected only | $121M |
| Edwin T Meredith Foundationsince 1949 | Des Moines, IA | $1.4M19 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $23M |
| Weiler Foundationsince 2009 | Knoxville, IA | $1.4M99 grants · 2025 | $1,000 | Yes | $25M |
| Herbert L and Nancy M Townsend Foundationsince 2016 | Muscatine, IA | $1.3M10 grants · 2025 | $23K | Preselected only | $22M |
| Noble Foundationsince 1994 | Wdm, IA | $1.2M31 grants · 2025 | $23K | Preselected only | $28M |
| Foster and Evelyn Barkema Charitable Trsince 2014 | Hampton, IA | $1.2M1 grants · 2025 | $1.2M | Yes | $18M |
| Ncmic Foundation Incsince 2006 | Clive, IA | $1.1M25 grants · 2025 | $20K | Yes | $15M |
| Stine Family Foundationsince 2000 | Adel, IA | $1.1M6 grants · 2025 | $56K | Preselected only | $20M |
| Martha Ellen Tye Foundationsince 1976 | Marshalltown, IA | $1.0M40 grants · 2024 | $5,000 | Yes | $28M |
| John and Cindy Family Foundationsince 2017 | Ankeny, IA | $990K10 grants · 2025 | $100K | Preselected only | $22M |
| Roland & Ruby Holden Foundationsince 1995 | Mount Vernon, IA | $935K3 grants · 2024 | $243K | Preselected only | $26M |
| Deb & Bob Pulver Foundationsince 2015 | Wdm, IA | $760K27 grants · 2024 | $2,500 | Preselected only | $19M |
| Meredith Corporation Foundationsince 1995 | Des Moines, IA | $600K12 grants · 2025 | $13K | Yes | $25M |
| New Hope Foundationsince 1993 | Muscatine, IA | $519K63 grants · 2025 | $5,000 | Preselected only | $28M |
| Mid-Iowa Health Foundationsince 1986 | Des Moines, IA | $452K32 grants · 2025 | $2,000 | Yes | $20M |
| Richard O Jacobson Foundation Incsince 1976 | Des Moines, IA | $200K1 grants · 2024 | $200K | Yes | $69M |
| Morgan E Cline Perpetual Charitable Foundationsince 2015 | Centerville, IA | $182K5 grants · 2025 | $1,000 | Yes | $16M |
| Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa Citysince 2022 | Iowa City, IA | $13K9 grants · 2024 | $1,500 | Yes | $19M |
| Future Cryonics Foundationsince 2022 | Cedar Rapids, IA | — | — | Preselected only | $101M |
| Adams Family Foundation of Nora Springs Iowasince 2008 | Nora Springs, IA | — | — | Not stated | $23M |
Sources: IRS Business Master File (assets), ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and IRS 990-PF e-file (grants paid, application policy). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own Part XV checkbox.
Open grant programs in Iowa
All 2| Deadline | Grant | Funder | Award ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rollingno deadline | Iowa Arts Council — Organizational GrantsStateIowa Arts Council | Iowa Arts Council | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Humanities Iowa — Humanities GrantsStateHumanities Iowa | Humanities Iowa | Not listed |
Common questions
How many private foundations are based in Iowa?
Our directory lists 362 private grantmaking foundations in Iowa with at least $1 million in assets, holding a combined $4.8B. The data comes from the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File and Form 990-PF.
How do I get a grant from a private foundation?
Start with foundations that already fund organizations like yours nearby. Read the grantee list on each profile, check whether the foundation accepts applications (it says so on its 990-PF), and lead with a short letter of inquiry. Many family foundations fund only organizations they already know; an introduction through a shared grantee or board member works better than a cold proposal.
Can you help us approach foundations?
Yes. Our grant writers research foundation prospects, write letters of inquiry, and build a foundation fundraising plan. Request a free consultation.