Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat is a private foundation, based in Pella, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $72K. Net investment income was $59K.
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat at a glance
In short: Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat gave $72K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $71,740
- +187.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,957
- +43.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $3,759,794
- +658.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Church of the Way ($25K). Together the top 6 received $72K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 65% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2021) to $161K (2019). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $72K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Church of the Way Newton, IA | Benevolence | $25,000 |
| 725 Ministries Pella, IA | Benevolence | $15,000 |
| Many Hands for Haiti Pella, IA | Benevolence | $10,000 |
| Stories Foundation Anoka, MN | Benevolence | $10,000 |
| The Well Pella, IA | Benevolence | $10,000 |
| Sandy Heerema Trust Pella, IA | Benevolence | $1,740 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,759,794 | $3,347,917 | $84,032 | $71,740 | 6 | $77,886 | $59,079 | $120,512 |
| 2024 | $495,909 | $45,322 | $26,960 | $25,000 | 3 | $25,981 | $13,690 | $27,814 |
| 2023 | $477,547 | $21,114 | $59,797 | $57,500 | 5 | $58,649 | $28,626 | $23,713 |
| 2022 | $516,230 | $33,437 | $84,185 | $82,500 | 5 | $83,343 | $19,545 | $28,060 |
| 2021 | $566,978 | $34,901 | $26,527 | $25,000 | 2 | $25,764 | $34,138 | $34,106 |
| 2020 | $558,604 | $58,486 | $153,913 | $152,500 | 10 | — | $34,322 | $35,390 |
| 2019 | $654,031 | $101,018 | $161,828 | $160,500 | 8 | — | $36,298 | $39,756 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat reported a distributable amount of $121K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat is led by James Mueller, President on the 2025 filing; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Mueller
President
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
M. Timothy Heerema
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Steven Heerema
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Julie Mueller
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sandy Heerema (2019–2025) — Past President · Filing note: Deceased
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat
How much does Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat give each year?
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat gave $72K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $25K across 3 grants.
What is Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's typical grant size?
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,957, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat give grants?
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat gives mostly in Iowa: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pella, IA (4 grants).
Does Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Benevolence" (6 grants).
Who are Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's largest grantees?
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's largest 2025 grantees include Church of the Way ($25,000), 725 Ministries ($15,000) and Many Hands for Haiti ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat?
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $78K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $121K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's EIN?
Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1910689. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bruce & Sandy Heerema Charitable Foundat's focus areas in our free grants database
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