The Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2006 and based in Des Moines, Iowa. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.2M
+107.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+28.3% YoY
Grant Count
59
+34.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-4.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bookey Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $366K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities focus on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Community Improvement
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants totaling $829,971 in its most recent fiscal year, including:
Average Grant
amount varies by funding cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Iowa (particularly Des Moines and Polk County)
- District of Columbia
- New York
- California
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of June 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,476,070
- Total Revenues: $3,787,180
- Total Expenses: $862,508
- Total Liabilities: $80,000
- Total Giving: $829,971
Investment Performance:
- Investment income and dividends: $69,676 (2024)
- Total grants and contributions received: $3,240,834 (2024)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,228,470 | $3,476,070 | $1,603,133 |
| Revenue | $7,317,304 | $3,787,180 | $176,844 |
| Expenses | $1,142,467 | $862,508 | $692,278 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,099,657 | $841,507 | $1,139,109 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,521,972 | $525,345 | $127,321 |
| Distributable Amount | $365,857 | $173,477 | $93,668 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
178 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Des Moines Metro Opera ($234,999), Center for Gender & Refugee Studies ($125,000), International Crisis Group ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AL OTRO LADO INC SAN YSIDRO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE DES MOINES, IA | TO SUPPORT THE WELLBEING OF ANIMALS | $1,000 |
| BEAVERDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION DES MOINES, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250 |
| BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES DES MOINES, IA | PASSPORT TO CULTURE | $25,772 |
| BY DEGREES FOUNDATION DES MOINES, IA | SUPPORT A SCHOLAR | $1,000 |
| CENTER FOR GENDER & REFUGEE STUDIES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT ACADEMIA RELATED TO GENER STUDIES | $125,000 |
| CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCIATION DES MOINES, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| CREATIVE VISIONS DES MOINES, IA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| DC CENTRAL KITCHEN BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| DC COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Harry Bookey – President, Treasurer & Director
- Pamela Bass-Bookey – Vice President, Secretary & Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAMELA-BASS BOOKEY | VP, SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HARRY BOOKEY | PRESIDENT, TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 400 Locust Street, Suite 790, Des Moines, IA 50309-2347
- Phone: 515-244-2622
- EIN: 20-3828796
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since April 2008
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bookey Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities focus on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Community Improvement
How do I apply for a grant from Bookey Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$327,595 • Average grant amount varies by funding cycle • The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** The foundation made grants totaling $829,971 in its most recent fiscal year, including: • Madre (Women's Rights): $136,892 • Center for Gender and Refugee Studies - California (Academia): $75,000 • We Need Diverse Books (General Support): $56,033 • Des Moines Metro Opera: $117,500 • Mosaic…
Where does Bookey Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Iowa (particularly Des Moines and Polk County) • District of Columbia • New York • California
What size grants does Bookey Family Foundation award?
In 2025, Bookey Family Foundation awarded 59 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bookey Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Bookey Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $366K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bookey Family Foundation's EIN?
Bookey Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3828796. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bookey Family 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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