Foundations that fund organizations in Decorah, Iowa
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Decorah nonprofits
66 private foundations gave $4.6M to Decorah organizations in their latest filings; 24 of the 66 that say either way accept applications.
88 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Decorah around $3,000. 18 of these funders are based in Iowa; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 66
- Accept applications
- 24
- of 66 that state a policy
- Dollars to Decorah
- $4.6M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 88
- Typical median grant
- $3,000
- Based in IA
- 27%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Decorah organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Gerdin Charitable Foundation | North Liberty, IA | 1 | $3.0M | $3.0M | Preselected only | Regents center renovation project |
| Margaret a Cargill Foundation | Eden Prairie, MN | 2 | $465K | $233K | Preselected only | Expanding access and connecting community; Support for restructuring vesterheims website to optimize t… |
| Roy J Carver Charitable Trust | Muscatine, IA | 2 | $217K | $108K | Yes | Private college carver scholarship p; Support the acquisition of equipment |
| John K and Luise V Hanson Foundation | Forest City, IA | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | Vesterheim commons, the inspiring community space |
| The Annenberg Foundation | Conshohocken, PA | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| James C & Norma I Smith Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | General support |
| Tomson Family Foundation Trust | Mason City, IA | 1 | $65K | $65K | Yes | Vesterheim commons project matching pledge |
| The Chuck and Ernestina Kreutzkamp Foundation | Chula Vista, CA | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | Philippine eagle foundation |
| Marion Jerome Foundation Inc | Decorah, IA | 5 | $40K | $3,000 | Preselected only | Operating |
| Edwin E and Janet L Bryant Foundation Inc | Stoughton, WI | 1 | $35K | $35K | Yes | Program support |
| Delman Mortenson Charitable Foundation | Alexandria, VA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Charitable contribution |
| Rukavina Family Foundation | Winona, MN | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | General support |
| Alumbra Innovations Foundation | Bentonville, AR | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | to support general operations |
| Jessie F Hallett Char Trust Ua | Eagan, MN | 1 | $21K | $21K | Yes | General operating |
| Clif Family Foundation | St Helena, CA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Transform Food Systems |
| Mark J Stuart Jr Foundation | Staten Island, NY | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Gen'l Charitble |
| Thompson Family Foundation | Bedford Heights, OH | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Stewards of America?s culturallydiverse and endangeredgarde… |
| Carole and Milo Olson Family Foundation | Wautoma, WI | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | annual operating expenses |
| Independence Bancshares Charitable Foundation Inc | Sumner, IA | 2 | $13K | $6,500 | Preselected only | General Operations |
| Roger L & Agnes C Dell Charitable Trust | Fargo, ND | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | General Operations |
| Twaddell Charitable Trust | Houston, TX | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Functional purpose |
| John W Thompson and Jane a Bartell Charitable Foun | Madison, WI | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Miccio Foundation | Iowa City, IA | 1 | $9,800 | $9,800 | Yes | Veterinary room to medical suite exp |
| Monticello College Foundation | Godfrey, IL | 1 | $8,000 | $8,000 | Yes | Scientific research scholarships |
| St Paul Lutheran Church Mission Endowment | Lime Springs, IA | 3 | $7,500 | $3,000 | Yes | Donation |
| Daniel J & Ann L Krumm Charitable Trus | Ames, IA | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Yes | General support |
| Spahn & Rose Lumber Co Charitable Fdtn C/O Midwestone Bank | Dubuque, IA | 3 | $6,500 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Arlin Falck Foundation | Caledonia, MN | 1 | $5,900 | $5,900 | Yes | Scholarships |
| Cleary-Kumm Foundation Inc | La Crosse, WI | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Donation Alumni - Kristine Cleary |
| The Eric and Joan Norgaard Charitable Trust | Crystal Lake, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Help fund numerous museum activities |
| Thomas P and Patricia a O'Donnell Family Foundation C/O Madden Jiganti | Chicago, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Charitable purpose |
| Lindemann Abend Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General & unrestricted |
| Firstperson Narratives | Winnetka, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Community singing donationcharitable intentions - furtherin… |
| Edgemon Family Foundation | Dallas, TX | 2 | $4,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Operational support |
| The Oliveira R & D Foundation | West Melbourne, FL | 1 | $4,000 | $4,000 | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Stuart D Nevermann Charitable Trust | Mason City, IA | 1 | $3,570 | $3,570 | Preselected only | Education development |
| The Presser Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Yes | Undergraduate scholar awards |
| Bernice M Rise Testamentary Trust | Salem, OR | 1 | $2,867 | $2,867 | Preselected only | Jacob a & sarah ronberg |
| Alliant Energy Foundation Inc | Madison, WI | 8 | $2,637 | $275 | Yes | Matching gift; Volunteer grant grant |
| LA Amundson Ohana Foundation | Sleepy Eye, MN | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Pax Am Foundation Trust | Coon Valley, WI | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | Educational |
| Beasley Family Foundation Inc | Mason City, IA | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| The K2 Family Foundation C/O Andersen Tax LLC | Boston, MA | 2 | $2,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Graybrier Foundation | Excelsior, MN | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | To support the charitable purpose of the organization |
| The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $1,855 | $1,855 | Yes | Human services |
| Thomson Charitable Foundation | Cresco, IA | 2 | $1,064 | $532 | Preselected only | General Operations |
| The Blueflash Foundation C/O Mr Paul Grassfield | Brooklyn, NY | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | General fund |
| Pella Rolscreen Foundation C/O Pella Corporation | Pella, IA | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | General operations |
| Land O'Lakes Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | Member co-op matches |
| Simplot Company Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Education |
| The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Annual fund |
| The Stanley Foundation Dba Stanley Center for Peace and Security | Muscatine, IA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | General fund |
| Zamichow Jabs Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | Conservation |
| The Hermes Foundation | Shaker Heights, OH | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Charitable |
| Sieg Dunlap Foundation | Bloomfield Hills, MI | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | General charitable |
| Posner-Wallace Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $400 | $400 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $340 | $170 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support) |
| Dale & Carolyn Anderson Family Foundation | Warren, OH | 1 | $300 | $300 | Preselected only | Support Norwegian art and History |
| West Family Foundation | Coralville, IA | 1 | $250 | $250 | Preselected only | 2025 ddba lawn chair night sponsorship |
| Scorto 1 Nfp | Chicago, IL | 1 | $250 | $250 | Preselected only | Conservation |
| Church Mutual Insurance Company Foundation Inc | Merrill, WI | 1 | $250 | $250 | Yes | General operating support |
| Norman R & L Racheal Gangestad Davis Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $200 | $200 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| The Pfizer Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $200 | $200 | Preselected only | Matching gifts |
| Benson Family Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $100 | $100 | Preselected only | Preservation of heirloom seeds |
| Assurant Foundation | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $65 | $65 | Preselected only | Financial Assistance |
| Dreamcatcher Fund | Westminster, CO | 1 | — | Preselected only | General Operations |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Decorah, Iowa?
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation, Margaret a Cargill Foundation, Roy J Carver Charitable Trust, John K and Luise V Hanson Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation and 61 others reported grants to Decorah organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Decorah. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.