Athene Charitable Foundation
Athene Charitable Foundation is a corporate foundation established in 1994 and based in West Des Moines, Iowa. It is the philanthropic arm of Athene Holding Ltd., a retirement services and annuities company. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since October 1995.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+23.2% YoY
Grant Count
49
-9.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$80K
+35.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To create a positive social impact in education, human services, health and well-being, and the environment through philanthropy, community outreach, and volunteer service.
Vision: To build a brighter future in the communities where we live and work.
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Arts and culture
- Education initiatives
- Community development
- Civic affairs
- Environmental sustainability
- Health and well-being
A signature program is the Coats and Boots Initiative, which prepares elementary school children for harsh Iowa winters by donating winter clothes to Des Moines' most needy families.
Grantmaking
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Average Grant
award: approximately $23,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Iowa, with secondary focus in Pennsylvania and Michigan. These three states account for approximately 82% of all grants. The foundation has supported 154 unique organizations across its history.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $3,865,171
- Total Revenue: $3,535,835
- Total Expenses: $4,044,157
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $1.6 million in 2011 to $3.9 million in 2024
- Annual giving has grown from $643,000 in 2020 to $3.2 million in 2023
- Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $4.1 million distributed across 132 grants
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
249 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Athene Charitable Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include United Way of Central Iowa ($1,339,278), Great Outdoors Foudation ($1,218,333), ChildServe Foundation ($333,334).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Young Women's Resource Center Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $2,500 |
| American Heart Association Johnston, IA | Civic & Community | $10,000 |
| Job Rides Inc Clive, IA | Civic & Community | $3,000 |
| Hip-Hope Inc West Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $7,000 |
| New Canaan Country School New Canaan, IA | Civic & Community | $5,000 |
| Capital City Pride Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $2,500 |
| Friends of Bermuda Community Foundation | Civic & Community | $7,917 |
| Tech Journey Inc Urbandale, IA | Civic & Community | $5,000 |
| One Voice DSM Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $5,000 |
| DMARC Food Pantry Des Moines, IA | Civic & Community | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: Rona Berinobis
- CEO of Athene: Grant Kvalheim
- Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer: Kristi Kaye Burma (serves on Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity board)
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025:**
Announced a $500,000 donation to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity to be distributed over five years, bringing total contributions to Habitat to $1 million in recent years. The initiative is expected to help more than 900 central Iowans access safe, affordable housing.
Athene Announces $500,000 Donation to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity**2024:**
Donated $4 million from the Athene Foundation
Great Outdoors Foundation Announces $1M Gift from the Athene ...Employees contributed 8,500 volunteer hours
$3.03 million in employee and foundation matching giving through United Way campaign
Provided 40 scholarships to Iowa students
Collected 16,390 books for Stuff the Bus initiative
**Employee Engagement:**
Athene's employee-driven Corporate Social Responsibility program is supported by the foundation and emphasizes employee involvement and volunteering alongside philanthropic giving.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Athene Charitable Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To create a positive social impact in education, human services, health and well-being, and the environment through philanthropy, community outreach, and volunteer service. **Vision:** To build a brighter future in the communities where we live and work. The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Arts and culture • Education initiatives • Community development • Civic affairs • Environmental sustainability • Health and well-being A signature program is the Coats and Boo…
How do I apply for a grant from Athene Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 54 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $3,904,253 • Grant amounts have ranged from $1,000 to $1,339,278 • Average grant award: approximately $23,000 • Median grant: $1,000 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • United Way of Central Iowa: $1,339,278 • Childserve Foundation: $333,334 • Habitat for Humanity - Greater Des Moines: $166,667 **Application Process:** The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Where does Athene Charitable Foundation make grants?
Grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Iowa, with secondary focus in Pennsylvania and Michigan. These three states account for approximately 82% of all grants. The foundation has supported 154 unique organizations across its history.
What size grants does Athene Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Athene Charitable Foundation awarded 49 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $80K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Athene Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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