Foundations that fund organizations in Des Moines, Iowa
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Des Moines nonprofits
669 private foundations gave $64M to Des Moines organizations in their latest filings; 24 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
1,981 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Des Moines around $50K. 57 of these funders are based in Iowa; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 669
- Accept applications
- 24
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Des Moines
- $64M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 1,981
- Typical median grant
- $50K
- Based in IA
- 57%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Des Moines organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krause Gentle Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 3 | $6.5M | $34K | Preselected only | Arts, culture, humanities; Faith; 507(b)(2) transfer of assets |
| Donald F &charlene K Lamberti Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 12 | $6.4M | $25K | Preselected only | Contribution; Charitable |
| Thomas & Linda Koehn Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 13 | $3.7M | $100K | Preselected only | General operating fund; New horizons fund. community betterment project grants; Leadership grant fund, opportunity activation fund, avenue… |
| Bwd and Sjd Family Foundation Inc | Far Hills, NJ | 1 | $3.0M | $3.0M | Preselected only | Charitable |
| John Ruan Foundation Trust | Urbandale, IA | 32 | $2.4M | $10K | Yes | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities; General Operations; Youth Activities |
| Lauridsen Family Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 12 | $2.1M | $88K | Preselected only | General support |
| Athene Charitable Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 27 | $2.0M | $7,000 | Yes | Civic & community |
| Wells Fargo Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 16 | $1.4M | $41K | Preselected only | E3 Program; Crest at Baker Creek Volunteer Project; Increasing Long-Term Savings & Strengthening Financial Heal… |
| Kyle J & Sharon Krause Family Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 32 | $1.2M | $5,000 | Preselected only | Community betterment; Faith; Arts, culture, humanities |
| Burnett Family Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 11 | $1.2M | $10K | Preselected only | General support |
| Centene Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $1.1M | $1.1M | Preselected only | Simplify and educate community members |
| Emc Insurance Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 38 | $1.0M | $10K | Yes | For general support or for a capital fund drive of the resp… |
| Northwest Area Foundation | St Paul, MN | 5 | $1.0M | $150K | Preselected only | General operating support; Iowa rural organizing strategy; 2024 employee discretionary grant |
| Walton Family Foundation Inc | Bentonville, AR | 6 | $1.0M | $163K | Preselected only | To catalyze corporate investment for water quality in the M…; To develop and pilot new financing approaches to scale up w…; To provide support to the Conservation Districts of Iowa to… |
| Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | All contributions made for the intent established by the va… |
| Edwin T Meredith Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 7 | $939K | $50K | Preselected only | Civic and cultural; Health and religion; Educational |
| The Wellmark Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 6 | $905K | $75K | Yes | Bluescare giving matching gifts.; To support the passport to culture program for 20 years int…; Provide financial support for up to six (6) scholarships fo… |
| Carlson Family Foundation | Urbandale, IA | 17 | $865K | $40K | Preselected only | General fund; Youth services; Gen fund |
| Michael L Peterson Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | 1 | $800K | $800K | Preselected only | Support of a local charity that supports the local community |
| The Hws Charitable Foundation Inc | Cedar Rapids, IA | 7 | $727K | $55K | Preselected only | 2025-2027 general operations; Farm incubator & rural business resource center; Meeting the basic needs of the refugee community |
| Center for State Enforcement of Antitrust & Consumer Protection la | Washington, DC | 1 | $694K | $694K | Preselected only | Litigation support for multistate case about anticompetitiv… |
| Larry C Ballard Foundation | Naples, FL | 1 | $628K | $628K | Preselected only | Scholarship fund for qualified educational expenses |
| K2 Charitable Foundation | Urbandale, IA | 8 | $547K | $21K | Yes | Pregnancy counseling; Christian fellowship religious teaching; Assist lost and hurting kids who are without a home in iowa |
| Meredith Corporation Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 10 | $540K | $13K | Yes | General support |
| Ernst Family Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $525K | $525K | Preselected only | Ongoing operating support |
| Stine Family Foundation | Adel, IA | 1 | $500K | $500K | Preselected only | Contribution is for the robert d. and billie ray center. |
| The Seidler Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 13 | $471K | $15K | Yes | General support |
| Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 11 | $449K | $3,000 | Preselected only | General operating budget; Blank children's hospital |
| Gartner Family Foundation % Michael G Gartner | Des Moines, IA | 19 | $424K | $20K | Yes | General fund; Support of open records and information; To support public eduction re the rights of everyone in iowa |
| The John R and Zelda Z Grubb Charitable Foundation | Urbandale, IA | 9 | $415K | $15K | Preselected only | Donation to general fund; Animal protection and welfare - prevention of cruelty to an…; 2024 pledge |
| Iowa West Foundation | Council Bluffs, IA | 3 | $415K | $30K | Yes | Supportive housing gap; Fighting childhood hunger adams, audubon, carroll & taylor…; Switch: equipping career ready students |
| Beer Paul Tw | St Louis, MO | 5 | $401K | $3,000 | Preselected only | General support grant |
| Comfort Family Foundation | Sioux Falls, SD | 9 | $387K | $15K | Preselected only | Unrestricted gift |
| Mid-Iowa Health Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 23 | $375K | $1,500 | Yes | Harkin on wellness symposium 2025; 2025 ipha conference sponsorship; General operations |
| Alliant Energy Foundation Inc | Madison, WI | 35 | $371K | $650 | Yes | Matching gift; Volunteer grant grant; 2025 one million trees plantings |
| Donald C & Doris K Byers Charitable Trust | Fort Collins, CO | 1 | $365K | $365K | Preselected only | Final charitable distribution |
| The Schmidt Family Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $350K | $350K | Yes | Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, worki… |
| The Ronald and Jane Olson Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $350K | $350K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 3 | $335K | $105K | Preselected only | EveryStep MCH "Suitcase" Clinics; Healthy Incentives Programming: Iowa Produce Prescription P…; Advancing Health Equity and Addressing Disparities (AHEAD):… |
| Mary K and Daniel M Kelly Family Foundation C/O Dan Kelly | Des Moines, IA | 55 | $322K | $2,500 | Preselected only | General operations; Park pickleball courts; Authors visiting in des moines |
| The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 46 | $315K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Program support |
| Opus Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 6 | $310K | $50K | Preselected only | Recognition of Opus associate volunteer efforts; Permanent Supportive Housing; Freedom Construction Services Work Training Scholarships |
| Roy J Carver Charitable Trust | Muscatine, IA | 4 | $309K | $58K | Yes | Private college carver scholarship p; Renovate a laboratory for water qual; Assist with wayfinding and informati |
| Adams Family Foundation of Nora Springs Iowa | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $304K | $152K | Yes | General & Unrestricted; Child Abuse Prevention Services in Cerro Gordo and Floyd Co… |
| Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 8 | $303K | $50K | Preselected only | Community |
| The Noble Foundation C/O Claudia Miranda West Bank | West Des Moines, IA | 9 | $300K | $20K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 28 | $297K | $10K | Preselected only | General fund |
| R & R Realty Group Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 11 | $284K | $10K | Preselected only | General operating budget; Men's basketball program; Icon - iowa confluence water trails |
| Vermeer Charitable Foundation | Pella, IA | 9 | $280K | $10K | Preselected only | Charitable; Education |
| William C Knapp Charitable Fdn | West Des Moines, IA | 17 | $259K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operating budget; Annual tallent show; Variety telethon |
| Matovina Family Foundation | Clive, IA | 11 | $252K | $2,000 | Preselected only | Youth programs; Medical facility, services and programs for children; Star/child development center facility campaign |
| Apollo Opportunity Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | General operating |
| The McKnight Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 2 | $250K | $125K | Yes | for general operating support |
| Kruidenier Charitable Foundation | Urbandale, IA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Capital contribution - building fund |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | In support of underserved small business expansion |
| Susan J Glazer Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 9 | $249K | $25K | Preselected only | Educational; Health human services |
| Gabus Foundation C/O Iowa State Bank/Matt Spading | Urbandale, IA | 5 | $225K | $50K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Rosalie Gadient Charitable Tr | Pennington, NJ | 1 | $209K | $209K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Richard McConnell Family Foundation | Johnston, IA | 5 | $204K | $30K | Preselected only | Operating fund |
| Western Union Foundation | Denver, CO | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | Workforce / education |
| Murphy Charitable Family Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 3 | $198K | $50K | Yes | Provide meals to Iowans in need.; Improving quality of life in Polk City.; Support athletes under promotional strategy. |
| Bernard and Pauline Herbert Schlshp Tr | Chicago, IL | 1 | $194K | $194K | Preselected only | Scholarship |
| George F Murphy Perpetual Charitable Trust | St Louis, MO | 2 | $188K | $94K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Pella Rolscreen Foundation C/O Pella Corporation | Pella, IA | 33 | $186K | $2,000 | Yes | General operations; Scholarships |
| Telligen Community Initiative | West Des Moines, IA | 5 | $177K | $25K | Preselected only | Continuing to invest in local research to inform local poli…; Tci board of directors - volunteer service grant directed t…; Ellipsis and our legacy organizations, youth homes of mid a… |
| Ita Group Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 39 | $176K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General fund |
| The Richard Morton Root and Ruth Bailey Root Charitable Trust Fund Ud 082103 | Urbandale, IA | 2 | $172K | $86K | Preselected only | Promote education |
| Evans Family Charitable Foundation | San Diego, CA | 4 | $160K | $43K | Preselected only | To aid the organization in their stated mission.; Help organization continue its mission of providing low cos… |
| Bookey Family Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 22 | $153K | $2,500 | Preselected only | General support |
| The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc | West Des Moines, IA | 40 | $146K | $2,500 | Yes | Funding for scholarship program; Funding for general operating support; Funding for permanent supportive housing program |
| Winfield & Margaret Scott Charitable Trust | Eagan, MN | 2 | $140K | $70K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Annie E Casey Foundation Inc | Baltimore, MD | 3 | $135K | $50K | Preselected only | Support continued participation in the State Priorities Par…; Support various KIDS COUNT activities; Support Jim Casey Initiative Iowa co-site lead partner |
| Greenstate Foundation | North Liberty, IA | 8 | $134K | $16K | Yes | General operation youth food delivery; Hand in hand's inclusive child care; Financial empowerment navigator program |
| C Richard Stark Jr & Joan E Stark Foundation | Fort Dodge, IA | 2 | $125K | $63K | Preselected only | Student Athletes; Sustainably increase the quality quantity and availability… |
| Windsor Charitable Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 8 | $120K | $15K | Preselected only | Prevent animal cruelty - medical & surgical services; Capital campaign - remodel project; 2015 applause series |
| Iowa Foundation for Education Environment and the Arts | Windsor Heights, IA | 2 | $119K | $60K | Preselected only | General operating budget |
| The Nelson Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 2 | $110K | $55K | Preselected only | Project support; General support |
| F William Beckwith Charitable Foundation | Ames, IA | 1 | $110K | $110K | Preselected only | Charitable purposes |
| Ochylski Family Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 2 | $107K | $54K | Yes | Exempt purpose |
| Wallace Genetic Foundation II Inc | Washington, DC | 4 | $105K | $20K | Preselected only | General support |
| Andersen Corporate Foundation | Bayport, MN | 9 | $105K | $5,000 | Yes | New directions shelter; Framing our future campaign support; Navigating housing together (nht) initiative |
| Ross Roland & Dorothy Tw | St Louis, MO | 1 | $101K | $101K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Margaret Ruth Boys Charitable Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $101K | $101K | Preselected only | Charitable Purposes |
| Evans Family Foundation | San Diego, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Help organization continue its mission of providing low cos… |
| Schultz Family Foundation | Seattle, WA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | Further charitable goals |
| Pohlad Family Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | For research, data and homeless management information syst… |
| The Ford Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | Core support for the annual harkin international disability… |
| The Bergstrom Family Foundation | The Woodlands, TX | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Gleeson Family Foundation | Sioux City, IA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Hormel Foods Corporation Charitable Trust | Austin, MN | 2 | $100K | $50K | Preselected only | Community support |
| Cole-Belin Education Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | 16 | $91K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operating budget; Program support; Education programs |
| Ted & Rowena Crosbie Foundation | Earlham, IA | 9 | $88K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Support; Education |
| The Levitt Foundation | Potomac, MD | 6 | $88K | $3,250 | Preselected only | General support |
| Duane Hinkle Charitable Foundation | Eagan, MN | 1 | $86K | $86K | Preselected only | Ia civil liberties union |
| Sehgal Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 7 | $86K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Support the charitable purpose of supporting cancer survivo…; Support the organization's educational and literary activit…; Support the charitable purpose of the university's scholars… |
| Pritzker Family Foundation C/O Pritzker Group | Chicago, IL | 1 | $78K | $78K | Preselected only | Research and education on family economic stability |
| Des Moines Area Association of Realtors Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 15 | $78K | $5,200 | Preselected only | Afforable low-income housing; Help women in crisis; Provide shelter/food to the homeless |
| B D Charitable Trust | Newton, IA | 1 | $77K | $77K | Preselected only | Community support |
| Z Garland and Content B Ferguson Charitable | Chicago, IL | 1 | $77K | $77K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Sherwood Foundation | Omaha, NE | 1 | $77K | $77K | Preselected only | Ne farmworker health initiative |
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 Des Moines, Iowa?
Krause Gentle Foundation, Donald F &charlene K Lamberti Foundation, Thomas & Linda Koehn Foundation, Bwd and Sjd Family Foundation Inc, John Ruan Foundation Trust and 95 others reported grants to Des Moines 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 Des Moines. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.