Foundations that fund organizations in West Des Moines, Iowa
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for West Des Moines nonprofits
149 private foundations gave $5.6M to West Des Moines organizations in their latest filings; 29 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
268 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to West Des Moines around $10K. 57 of these funders are based in Iowa; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 149
- Accept applications
- 29
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to West Des Moines
- $5.6M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 268
- Typical median grant
- $10K
- Based in IA
- 57%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to West Des Moines organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grove Foundation | Los Altos, CA | 1 | $750K | $750K | Preselected only | General support |
| John Templeton Foundation | West Conshohocken, PA | 1 | $600K | $600K | Yes | Big questions debate, the final round |
| Athene Charitable Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 12 | $536K | $8,500 | Yes | Civic & community |
| Mulready Koehn Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | General operating fund |
| The McKnight Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | to support the launch of an Iowa Green Bank to access feder… |
| Constance L French Charitable Foundation Trust | Waukee, IA | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | Unrestricted gift - general support |
| Lauridsen Family Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | General support |
| Vermeer Charitable Foundation | Pella, IA | 3 | $113K | $22K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Kyle J & Sharon Krause Family Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 2 | $111K | $56K | Preselected only | Community betterment; Education |
| Mary K and Daniel M Kelly Family Foundation C/O Dan Kelly | Des Moines, IA | 3 | $106K | $2,500 | Preselected only | General operations |
| Grey Sparrow Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 2 | $105K | $53K | Preselected only | Missions/outreach/education |
| James & Zita Gavin Foundation | Kenilworth, IL | 2 | $101K | $50K | Preselected only | Unrestricted charitable gift |
| The Nelson Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Science equipment purchase support |
| The Brookhill Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Herbicide exposure research |
| Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation | Bayport, MN | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | General operating |
| R & R Realty Group Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 6 | $93K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operating budget; Peace day international festival |
| Duane Hinkle Charitable Foundation | Eagan, MN | 1 | $86K | $86K | Preselected only | Business development |
| Perrin Foundation | Urbandale, IA | 9 | $84K | $2,500 | Preselected only | General support |
| The John R and Zelda Z Grubb Charitable Foundation | Urbandale, IA | 1 | $84K | $84K | Preselected only | Donation to general fund for health care scholarships |
| Emily Anne Weikert Charitable Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 3 | $84K | $19K | Preselected only | 2025 Spring Scholarships; 2025 Fall Scholarships; To support and enhance communityengagement & outdoor enjoym… |
| John Ruan Foundation Trust | Urbandale, IA | 3 | $80K | $10K | Yes | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities; Health Services and Related Activities; Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| McCullough Family Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 1 | $65K | $65K | Yes | General operations |
| Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 4 | $59K | $6,250 | Preselected only | General operating budget |
| The Denny and Candy Elwell Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 4 | $59K | $3,750 | Preselected only | General fund |
| The Teagle Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $56K | $56K | Preselected only | Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts initiative |
| The Hws Charitable Foundation Inc | Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $55K | $55K | Preselected only | Fy26 transitional operating support |
| The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc | West Des Moines, IA | 16 | $53K | $2,500 | Yes | Funding for ride in the park; Scholarship funds for summer camp for low-income kids with…; Funding for the empowerment plus program |
| Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc | Stamford, CT | 1 | $52K | $52K | Preselected only | Human services |
| Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 2 | $51K | $25K | Preselected only | Community |
| Northwest Area Foundation | St Paul, MN | 2 | $51K | $25K | Preselected only | Advancing system change policies to elevate wages for direc…; 2024 membership dues |
| Emc Insurance Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 7 | $49K | $5,000 | Yes | For general support or for a capital fund drive of the resp… |
| Wells Fargo Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $41K | $41K | Preselected only | 2025 Meal Packaging Volunteer Projects |
| The Jawad Omair Yasin Foundation Inc | Oklahoma City, OK | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Healthcare & education |
| Murphy Charitable Family Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | Support church operation and activities. |
| The Growmark Foundation | Bloomington, IL | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | For support of agricultural activities |
| Henry Albert Fund | Dallas, TX | 1 | $29K | $29K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| The Wildflower Foundation Inc C/O Lou Nostro | Miami, FL | 1 | $28K | $28K | Preselected only | Charitable purpose |
| Greenstate Foundation | North Liberty, IA | 2 | $25K | $13K | Yes | 2024 annual hunger fight; General support |
| The Delaski Family Foundation | Beaverton, OR | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | To support campus capital campaign |
| Donald F &charlene K Lamberti Foundation | Ankeny, IA | 2 | $25K | $13K | Preselected only | Contribution; Charitable |
| Gabus Foundation C/O Iowa State Bank/Matt Spading | Urbandale, IA | 2 | $25K | $13K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| The Lloyd R Wallace Charitable Foundation | Braymer, MO | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Church |
| Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 4 | $24K | $950 | Yes | To further the exempt purpose of the organization |
| Kent Corporation Charitable Foundation Fka Kent-Stein Foundation | Muscatine, IA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | General operations |
| Mid-Iowa Health Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Improving iowa's state family planning program |
| Burke Family Foundation | Ames, IA | 2 | $20K | $10K | Preselected only | Camp attendee use only; Dave and kathie weber fund |
| B E C K Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 5 | $19K | $2,000 | Preselected only | To be used in the organizations exempt mission work; Exempt purpose; To be used in missions exempt purpose |
| Winifred Stevens Foundation | Tempe, AZ | 1 | $18K | $18K | Preselected only | Mid-america union (mau) acfi & iowa state university (isu)… |
| The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 9 | $18K | $1,200 | Preselected only | Program support |
| Richards Family Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 3 | $18K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Contribution |
| New Hope Foundation | Muscatine, IA | 1 | $16K | $16K | Preselected only | Pregnancy support |
| Ted & Rowena Crosbie Foundation | Earlham, IA | 2 | $15K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Support |
| Mulcahy Foundation | Adel, IA | 3 | $13K | $5,000 | Yes | Promote youth swimming in the Des Moines Community.; Youth swimming in Des Moines, Iowa |
| Ernst & Gertrude Ticho Foundation Charitable Foundation | Delray Beach, FL | 1 | $13K | $13K | Preselected only | Memory care program development |
| Helle Family Foundation | Edwards, CO | 1 | $12K | $12K | Preselected only | To further program services |
| Sue and Rod Kubat Private Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 3 | $12K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General fund |
| The Podiatry Foundation | Berea, OH | 2 | $12K | $6,100 | Preselected only | Optimal fixation for subtalar joint research grant and bima…; Heartland foot & ankle conference 2024 |
| Mellecker Family Foundation | Salt Lake City, UT | 1 | $12K | $12K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| William C Knapp Charitable Fdn | West Des Moines, IA | 5 | $11K | $629 | Preselected only | General operating budget; 65 roses gala donation |
| Dierberg Family Foundation | Clayton, MO | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Alzheimer's research |
| Edwin T Meredith Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Educational |
| Agva Foundation | Mason City, IA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Help for students in ag |
| The Sidhu Family Foundation | Orlando, FL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Provide scholarships to foster care young adults |
| The Hearthstone Charitable Foundation | Moultonborough, NH | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Humanitarian |
| Alma Pedretti Charitable Foundation | Altoona, IA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Medical research |
| Nancy D Aldera Charitable Trust | West Des Moines, IA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestricted gift |
| The Clinton Family Foundation | Chappaqua, NY | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | General |
| Roehl Family Foundation | Maple Plain, MN | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Career training |
| The Linda and Harvey Saligman Charitable Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | General support |
| Fred Maytag Family Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | 2025 grant awards - general support |
| Ita Group Foundation | West Des Moines, IA | 6 | $9,000 | $1,500 | Preselected only | General fund |
| Opus Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Preselected only | Meal Packing Program |
| McCarthey Family Foundation | Salt Lake City, UT | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Yes | Program Funding |
| Campbell Foundation Carmen D Campbell Trustee | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Preselected only | Team member scholarships, general support |
| Union Pacific Foundation | Omaha, NE | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Yes | Environment |
| Stempower Inc | Swampscott, MA | 1 | $7,370 | $7,370 | Preselected only | To provide a higher level of science, technology, engineeri… |
| Kinney-Lindstrom Foundation Inc | Mason City, IA | 1 | $7,200 | $7,200 | Yes | Camperships |
| Norkaitis Family Charities Inc | Tucson, AZ | 2 | $7,000 | $3,500 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Hildred B F Elson Marital Trust Fbo West Des Moines Methodist Church | Urbandale, IA | 1 | $6,593 | $6,593 | Preselected only | Religious - support church |
| Gabus Family Foundation II C/O Shunk Financial/Drew Snodgrass | Springfield, IL | 2 | $6,500 | $3,250 | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III | Des Moines, IA | 2 | $5,100 | $2,550 | Preselected only | Charitable - health and wellbeing; Community health |
| Sonnentag American Foundation Inc | Marathon, WI | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Charitable |
| The Pearle and Glen Foundation | San Bernardino, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General fund |
| Sehgal Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 2 | $5,000 | $2,500 | Preselected only | Support the charitable purpose of eliminating alzheimer's d…; Support the charitable purpose of providing an environment… |
| Brenton Foundation C/O Jc Brenton | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| Watts Family Foundation | Coralville, IA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | For unrestricted use by recipient |
| Iowa Peo Project Fund Inc | Washington, IA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Grant |
| Dorothy Ann Weitzel and Thomas F W | Clear Lake, IA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | "camperships" |
| The Pfizer Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 3 | $4,840 | $800 | Preselected only | Matching gifts; Volunteer program |
| Wittern Family Charitable Foundation | Clive, IA | 2 | $4,400 | $2,200 | Preselected only | To provide college scholarships to graduating seniors and t…; Maintain historical information on the underground railroad… |
| Dupaco Rw Hoefer Foundation | Dubuque, IA | 2 | $4,350 | $2,175 | Yes | Needs based |
| Lions Boys Basketball Club Inc C/O Halley Griess | Urbandale, IA | 2 | $4,100 | $2,050 | Preselected only | Basketball Practice Facility; Gym Rental |
| Chubb Charitable Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | 2 | $4,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Matching Gifts |
| Wolfe Cataract Foundation | Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $3,937 | $3,937 | Yes | Indingent patient care |
| The Westfield Insurance Foundation | Westfield, OH | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Yes | General operating support |
| Oshkosh Corporation Foundation Inc | Oshkosh, WI | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Yes | To cure cystic fibrosis and improve the lives of people wit… |
| Baird Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 3 | $3,100 | $850 | Preselected only | Education; Ethnic and religious; Youth organizations |
| Duroe Family Foundation C/O Rodney Duroe | Waterloo, IA | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | General Fund |
| Spahn & Rose Lumber Co Charitable Fdtn C/O Midwestone Bank | Dubuque, IA | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | General operating support |
| W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust | Creston, IA | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | Scholarship |
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 West Des Moines, Iowa?
The Grove Foundation, John Templeton Foundation, Athene Charitable Foundation, Mulready Koehn Foundation, The McKnight Foundation and 95 others reported grants to West 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 West Des Moines. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.