Private foundations
Search 74,872 U.S. private foundations by name, cause or the organizations they have funded. Each page shows the foundation's largest grants, where its money goes and — just as important — whether it accepts applications at all.
3,006 foundations that gave to recipients in Iowa, sorted by giving in the state.
| Foundation | Based in | Given in IA | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy J Carver Charitable Trust Largest grant: University of Iowa Foundation | Muscatine, IA | $15.7M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc Largest grant: Community Foundation for Western Iowa | Council Bluffs, IA | $14.3M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Iowa West Foundation Largest grant: City of Council Bluffs and Sinc | Council Bluffs, IA | $14.1M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| The Sherwood Foundation Largest grant: Omaha Community Foundation | Omaha, NE | $13.1M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| The Principal Financial Group Foundation Inc | Des Moines, IA | $13M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Aegon Transamerica Foundation Largest grant: General Donations | Cedar Rapids, IA | $8.09M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| Donald F &charlene K Lamberti Foundation Largest grant: Fellowship of Cath University Students | Ankeny, IA | $6.51M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| The Gerdin Charitable Foundation Largest grant: Luther College | North Liberty, IA | $6.3M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| MidAmerican Energy Foundation | Des Moines, IA | $6.23M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| The Hall-Perrine Foundation Largest grant: Brucemore Inc | Cedar Rapids, IA | $5.57M tax year 2025 | May accept |
| Scanlan Family Foundation Largest grant: Bennington College | Chicago, IL | $4.93M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| Fred Maytag Family Foundation Largest grant: Newton YMCA | San Francisco, CA | $3.91M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Thomas & Linda Koehn Foundation Largest grant: Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | $3.9M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| John Ruan Foundation Trust Largest grant: Mercy One Foundation | Urbandale, IA | $3.75M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Otto Schoitz Foundation Largest grant: Northeast Iowa Food Bank | Waterloo, IA | $3.71M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| TrueNorth Legacy Foundation Largest grant: Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation | Wilmington, DE | $3.63M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation | Des Moines, IA | $3.61M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| John M Campbell Trust | Grinnell, IA | $3.52M tax year 2025 | May accept |
| Athene Charitable Foundation Largest grant: United Way of Central Iowa | West Des Moines, IA | $3.52M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Schwartz Family Foundation Largest grant: Maharishi International University Foundation | Fairfield, IA | $3.12M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation Inc Largest grant: City of Ottumwa | Ottumwa, IA | $3.05M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| Bwd and Sjd Family Foundation Inc Largest grant: National Assistance Foundation | Far Hills, NJ | $2.95M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation Largest grant: Busse Foundation Fund at Dafgiving360 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $2.77M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| Lauridsen Family Foundation Largest grant: Ballet Des Moines | Ankeny, IA | $2.76M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| Marie H Bechtel Charitable Trust | Davenport, IA | $2.62M tax year 2025 | May accept |
| C Richard Stark Jr & Joan E Stark Foundation Largest grant: Iowa State University Foundation | Fort Dodge, IA | $2.61M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| The Lozier Foundation Largest grant: Front Porch Investments | Omaha, NE | $2.49M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| KENT CORPORATION CHARITABLE FOUNDATION fka KENT-STEIN FOUNDATION | Muscatine, IA | $2.48M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| The Bright Foundation Largest grant: Iowa State University Foundation | Des Moines, IA | $2.2M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| Van G Miller Family Charitable Foundation Largest grant: Uni Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $2.14M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| Walton Family Foundation Inc Largest grant: Town Branch Foundation | Bentonville, AR | $2.14M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation Largest grant: Cedar Valley Preschool & Childcare Center | Cedar Falls, IA | $2.12M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| R J Mcelroy Trust Largest grant: Waterloo Leisure Services | Waterloo, IA | $2.04M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| Mark and Mary Ann Kaufman Foundation Largest grant: University of Iowa Foundation (center for Advancement) | Chicago, IL | $2M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| Gilchrist Foundation | Sioux City, IA | $1.99M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| Wells Fargo Foundation Largest grant: Concordance | Minneapolis, MN | $1.99M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| Dolezal Charitable Trust Largest grant: Isu Foundation | Cedar Rapids, IA | $1.96M tax year 2025 | Preselected only |
| Harold R Bechtel Charitable Trust | Davenport, IA | $1.95M tax year 2024 | May accept |
| The Rona and Jeffrey Abramson Foundation Largest grant: Maharishi International University | Rockville, MD | $1.95M tax year 2024 | Preselected only |
| The Wellmark Foundation Largest grant: Charities Aid Foundation America | Des Moines, IA | $1.93M tax year 2024 | May accept |
From IRS Form 990-PF returns (latest e-filed return per foundation; foundations that gave under $5,000 are not listed). “Preselected only” means the foundation reported it does not accept unsolicited requests. Appearing here does not mean a foundation will consider your request.
Frequently asked questions
Do private foundations accept grant applications?
Many do not. Of the 74,872 foundations listed here, about 76% reported on Form 990-PF that they give only to preselected organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests. Use the "Accepts applications" filter to see the rest, and check each foundation's instructions.
Where does this foundation data come from?
From private foundations' Form 990-PF returns, e-filed with the IRS and published in the IRS Form 990 Series downloads. GrantsJunction keeps each foundation's latest return, its 25 largest grants and its giving by state, and refreshes monthly. Grants to individuals are counted but never named.
How can I find foundations that fund organizations like mine?
Search for a similar organization's name or your cause (for example "food bank" or "rural health"). Results include foundations whose grant lists or purposes mention it. Add your state to see foundations that gave to recipients there.