Athene Charitable Foundation
Athene Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Its philanthropy, community outreach, and volunteer service support work in education, human services, health and well-being, and the environment, with an emphasis on communities where Athene employees live and work.
Athene Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Athene Charitable Foundation gave $3.9M across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $80K), mostly in Iowa. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,904,253
- +23.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 49
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $79,679
- +35.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,865,171
- -11.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (13 of 45, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Athene Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants are directed to contact Athene Foundation Administration and complete a copy of the Donation Request Information Application. Eligible applicants must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, a qualifying foreign public charity, or a government instrumentality applying for charitable purposes; be registered with the secretary of state where located; be based in and serve communities where Athene employees live and work; align their activities with one of Athene’s pillars and with the foundation’s and Athene’s mission and values, including support for diversity, equity, and inclusion; and agree to provide a post-event success report.
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadline.
- Deadline
- No submission deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Athene Foundation Administration
Mailing address: 7700 Mills Civic Parkway Ms 2B 10G, West Des Moines, IA 50266-3862
Phone: (800) 315-3346
Email: athenefoundation@athene.com
Website: https://athene.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Athene Charitable Foundation
Who Athene Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way of Central Iowa ($1.4M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
368 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 344 grants of 368 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated grant eligibility includes organizations based in and serving communities where Athene employees live and work. In 2024, grant dollars were reported as 90% to Iowa recipients, 5% to Pennsylvania, 3% to Michigan, and 2% to Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Athene Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 45 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $140K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 296% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $643K (2020) to $3.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way of Central Iowa Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $1,339,278 |
| Great Outdoors Foudation Granger, IA | Civic & Community | $1,218,333 |
| ChildServe Foundation Johnston, IA | Civic & Community | $333,334 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Pittsburgh, PA | Civic & Community | $181,351 |
| Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $166,667 |
| Scholarship America Detroit, MI | Civic & Community | $119,500 |
| Easter Seals of Iowa Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $115,000 |
| WesleyLife Foundation Johnston, IA | Civic & Community | $100,000 |
| Greenwich United Way Greenwich, CT | Civic & Community | $74,129 |
| DMARC Food Pantry Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Athene Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,865,171 | $3,535,835 | $4,044,157 | $3,904,253 | 49 | $4,034,998 | $535,176 | $259,145 |
| 2023 | $4,373,493 | $4,083,868 | $3,300,460 | $3,168,615 | 54 | $3,299,806 | $83,214 | $308,401 |
| 2022 | $3,590,085 | $4,085,294 | $2,126,629 | $2,038,624 | 66 | $2,126,629 | $85,294 | $202,331 |
| 2021 | $1,642,574 | $1,769,374 | $1,070,613 | $985,976 | 90 | $1,070,613 | $269,374 | $123,573 |
| 2020 | $943,814 | $485,168 | $731,905 | $643,286 | 109 | — | $482,695 | $82,833 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Athene Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $259K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to create positive social impact in education, human services, health and well-being, and the environment through philanthropy, community outreach, and volunteer service. Its stated pillars are education, human services, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of community work. United Way of Central Iowa says its mission is to improve lives by uniting the caring power of its community. ChildServe Foundation says it partners with families so children with special health care needs can live a great life. Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity says it brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope, while WesleyLife Foundation describes supporting older adults’ independence, health, and well-being. Other recipients included organizations whose stated missions involve childhood cancer family support, beds for children in need, and educational and career preparation for young women.
The foundation also funds the Game Changer Scholarship Program, which provides 40 scholarships annually to Iowa residents planning to attend college or university in Iowa. Students may reapply for up to four years; selection criteria include academic performance, leadership, school and community activities, work experience, and future goals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 49 grants totaling $3,904,253. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $1,339,278, with a median of $5,000. It reported 54 grants totaling $3,168,615 in 2023 and 66 grants totaling $2,038,624 in 2022.
The largest 2024 grants included $1,339,278 to United Way of Central Iowa, $1,218,333 to Great Outdoors Foudation, $333,334 to ChildServe Foundation, $181,351 to American Online Giving Foundation, and $166,667 to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity. Other notable awards included $119,500 to Scholarship America, $115,000 to Easter Seals of Iowa, and $100,000 to WesleyLife Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Athene Charitable Foundation is led by James R. Belardi, Director - President on every filing since 2022; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James R. Belardi
Director - President
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Grant Kvalheim
Director - Vice President
Vice President → Director - Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Burma
Director - Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rona Berinobis
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jim Belardi (2020–2021) — Director - President
- Former: Karen Lynn (2020) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Athene Charitable Foundation
How much does Athene Charitable Foundation give each year?
Athene Charitable Foundation gave $3.9M across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.2M across 54 grants.
What is Athene Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Athene Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $79,679, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Athene Charitable Foundation that year got $140K on average.
Where does Athene Charitable Foundation give grants?
Athene Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (25 grants), Johnston, IA (4 grants), West Des Moines, IA (4 grants) and Clive, IA (3 grants).
Does Athene Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 49 grants with a stated purpose on Athene Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic & Community" (49 grants).
Who are Athene Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Athene Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include United Way of Central Iowa ($1,357,912 across 4 grants), Great Outdoors Foudation ($1,218,333) and ChildServe Foundation ($333,334), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Athene Charitable Foundation?
Athene Charitable Foundation reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $259K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Athene Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to create positive social impact in education, human services, health and well-being, and the environment through philanthropy, community outreach, and volunteer service. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Athene Charitable Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Athene Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Athene Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1431745. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Athene Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Athene Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/athene-charitable-foundation-morg_cc97beb8a7bc441882eeb932dda01e0a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421431745_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Athene Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/athene-charitable-foundation-morg_cc97beb8a7bc441882eeb932dda01e0a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Athene Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Athene Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?