Blank Park Endowment Corporation
To support the functions of, and to assist in carrying out the purposes of the blank park zoo foundation, inc.
Blank Park Endowment Corporation at a glance
In short: Blank Park Endowment Corporation gave $455K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $455K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $454,802
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $454,802
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $454,802
- Total assets
- $9,762,718
- +0.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Blank Park Endowment Corporation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc ($455K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Blank Park Endowment Corporation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $455K (2025) to $866K (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $455K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc Des Moines, IA | To support the operations and expansion projects of the foundation | $454,802 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,762,718 | $421,585 | $485,054 | $454,802 | 1 | $411,150 |
| 2024 | $9,682,393 | $245,023 | $511,201 | $462,558 | 1 | $189,764 |
| 2023 | $8,677,941 | $222,397 | $527,296 | $477,849 | 1 | $204,376 |
| 2022 | $9,855,398 | $487,434 | $509,143 | $458,632 | 1 | $404,642 |
| 2021 | $9,627,154 | $-61,177 | $913,090 | $865,917 | 1 | $-86,495 |
| 2020 | $7,394,201 | $1,161,275 | $765,256 | $695,475 | 1 | $1,159,275 |
About Blank Park Endowment Corporation
Based on IRS filings
Blank Park Endowment Corporation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $455K. Net investment income was $411K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Blank Park Endowment Corporation is led by Anne Shimerdla, Foundation CEO on every filing since 2022; none of the 15 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne Shimerdla
Foundation CEO
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Hagenbucher
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson → Chairperson, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Irving
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Henson
Director & Board Recorder
Director → Director & Board Recorder, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peg Armstrong-Gustafson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rochelle Burnett
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Gustafson
Director
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
Secretary & Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Smith
Director
Director → Vice Chairperson, 2022
Vice Chairperson → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Karch
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Vukovich
Director
Director & Former Foundation CEO → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Fryar
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Kennedy
Immediate Past Chairperson
Chairperson → Immediate Past Chairperson, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Schwarz
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Toby Joseph
Vice Chairperson
Director → Vice Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary Tucker
Foundation CFO
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Dean Whitaker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jacob Jaacks (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kevin Prust (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: James Fleming (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Wilson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lou Sipolt (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mark Rasmussen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ray Hansen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Todd Mendenhall (2020–2021) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Blank Park Endowment Corporation
How much does Blank Park Endowment Corporation give each year?
Blank Park Endowment Corporation gave $455K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $463K across 1 grant.
How large is Blank Park Endowment Corporation?
Blank Park Endowment Corporation reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $422K.
What is Blank Park Endowment Corporation?
Blank Park Endowment Corporation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Des Moines, IA. It holds $9.8M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Blank Park Endowment Corporation operate?
Blank Park Endowment Corporation has awarded grants in Iowa.
What is Blank Park Endowment Corporation's EIN?
Blank Park Endowment Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0705129. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blank Park Endowment Corporation's focus areas in our free grants database
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