Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr

Private foundation · Grantmaker Saint Louis, MO EIN: 46-3633660

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr is a private foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Its 2025 filing reports scholarship grants to educational institutions, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Iowa.

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr at a glance

In short: Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr gave $120K across 63 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$120,006
+11.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
63
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$1,905
+11.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$1,468
Total assets
$2,082,317
-0.8% vs 2024
Primary geography
Iowa (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr

How to Apply

The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing describes an online application and requests a scholarship award agreement, official transcript, SAT scores, personal essay, W-9 form, SAR report, and any academic awards. Applicants covered by the stated restrictions must be graduates of the Dallas Center-Grimes district or Bestenlehner recipients with a Dallas Center, Iowa address, attend full time, and demonstrate financial need.

Review Cycle
March 29.
Deadline
March 29.
Contact

Application contact: Darlene F Bestenlehner Dallas Cente
Mailing address: 4320 Wade Hampton Blvd, Taylors, SC 29687
Phone: (866) 608-0001

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Iowa State University: $30K across 15 grantsIowa State University$30K · 15 grantsUniversity of Iowa: $15K across 10 grantsUniversity of Iowa$15K · 10 grantsUniversity of Northern Iowa: $12K across 5 grantsUniversity of Northern Iowa$12K · 5 grantsBuena Vista University: $9K across 5 grantsBuena Vista University$9K · 5 grantsColorado School of Mines: $4KColorado School of Mines$4KDrake University: $4KDrake University$4KSoutheastern Community College: $3KSoutheastern Community College$3KUniversity of South Dakota: $3K across 2 grantsUniversity of South Dakota$3K · 2 grantsUniversity of Wisconsin La Crosse: $3K across 2 grantsUniversity of Wisconsin LaCrosse$3K · 2 grantsBriar Cliff University: $3K across 2 grantsBriar Cliff University$3K · 2 grants

The largest 2025 recipient was Iowa State University ($30K across 15 grants). Together the top 10 received $86K.

Organizations only. It also paid 11 individual scholarships ($24,552), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

241 grants across all recorded years

240<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 240 grants of 241 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Iowa recipients received 83% of grant dollars. The remaining listed shares went to an individual recipient (5%), Minnesota (4%), Colorado (3%), and Wisconsin (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 63 itemized grants.

Cities

AmesCedar FallsIowa CitySioux CityStorm LakeBrookingsLa CrosseDes MoinesVermillionGoldenWayneBemidjiDetroitMason CityOmahaSaint PeterStephenvilleWaterlooWest BurlingtonWinona

How Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr gives

  • Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K60 grants2020 1 grant2021 57 grants2022 57 grants2023 63 grants2024 63 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2020) to $120K (2025). In 2025 it made 63 grants totaling $120K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IAScholarship$4,000
9 individual scholarships Recipients not named —$21,616
Colorado School of Mines Golden, COScholarship$4,000
Drake University Des Moines, IAScholarship$4,000
University of Iowa Ames, IAScholarship$3,000
Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IAScholarship$3,000
Iowa State University Ames, IAScholarship$3,000
Iowa State University Ames, IAScholarship$3,000
Iowa State University Ames, IAScholarship$3,000
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IAScholarship$3,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$2,082,317$150,777$174,073$120,00663$142,123$107,732$133,445
2024$2,099,392$95,387$159,872$107,37263$127,375$65,623$132,020
2023$2,154,751$161,928$147,216$102,00057$119,216$130,720$119,419
2022$2,133,680$66,825$147,575$99,00257$115,667$45,508$130,977
2021$2,203,242$268,908$142,278$93,1571$109,988$239,242$132,804
2020$2,073,493$172,864$132,963$90,00060—$146,600$112,049

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr reported a distributable amount of $133K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants are identified as scholarships and include support to universities and community colleges. Among the recipients, Drake University describes its mission as preparing students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. Southeastern Community College’s foundation says it awards grants to the college’s students and supports the college.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 63 grants totaling $120,006. Grants ranged from $734 to $4,000, with a median of $1,468. The largest listed grants included $4,000 each to the University of two individual recipients Community College, Colorado School of Mines, and Drake University. Other listed awards included $3,000 to Southeastern Community College and $3,000 to Buena Vista University.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Wells Fargo Bank N.A. is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's only listed officer is Wells Fargo Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Wells Fargo Bank N A

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $33K (2020) → $38K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Wells Fargo Bank N a — Trustee: $38KWells Fargo Bank N aTrustee$38K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $38K, to Wells Fargo Bank N a (Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr

How much does Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr give each year?

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr gave $120K across 63 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $107K across 63 grants.

What is Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's typical grant size?

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's median grant in 2025 was $1,468, and its average grant was $1,905, across 63 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr give grants?

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr gives mostly in Iowa: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ames, IA (19 grants), Iowa City, IA (9 grants), Cedar Falls, IA (5 grants) and Storm Lake, IA (4 grants).

Does Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 63 grants with a stated purpose on Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (63 grants).

Who are Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's largest grantees?

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's largest 2025 grantees include Iowa State University ($29,616 across 15 grants), University of Iowa ($15,478 across 10 grants) and University of Northern Iowa ($12,138 across 5 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 11 individual scholarships ($24,552), which are not listed by name. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr?

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $142K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $133K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants are identified as scholarships and include support to universities and community colleges. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr?

The foundation 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 Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's EIN?

Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3633660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 30, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 4, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 17, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bestenlehner-d-and-f-educational-tr-morg_eb03e525d2ea44d5b8785d195580259d

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_463633660_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/bestenlehner-d-and-f-educational-tr-morg_eb03e525d2ea44d5b8785d195580259d},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

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Figures come from Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr'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.

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