Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It supports organizations in specified counties in Iowa and Nebraska; its 2024 grants went to recipients in both states.
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc gave $5.1M across 56 grants in 2025 (avg $91K), mostly in Nebraska. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,111,789
- -80.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 56
- -23.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $91,282
- -75.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,500
- Total assets
- $129,526,197
- -4.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (12 of 56, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists the foundation as the contact, specifies no application form or materials, and gives no deadline. Awards are restricted to Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Fremont, Page, and Cass counties in Iowa, and Douglas and Sarpy counties in Nebraska.
- Contact
Application contact: Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc
Mailing address: 705 North 16Th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: (712) 256-5580
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Avenue Scholars Foundation ($898K). Together the top 10 received $3.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
344 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 206 grants of 344 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing lists award restrictions for six Iowa counties—Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Fremont, Page, and Cass—and two Nebraska counties—Douglas and Sarpy. By grant dollars, 54% went to Iowa recipients and 46% to Nebraska recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 56 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $67K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $17K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 36% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 69% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.1M (2025) to $26.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 56 grants totaling $5.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue Scholars Foundation Omaha, NE | Contribution for General Purposes | $898,001 |
| Boys & Girls Club Council Bluffs, IA | Contribution for General Purposes | $550,000 |
| Completely Kids Omaha, NE | Contribution for General Purposes | $508,100 |
| Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub Hastings, IA | Contribution for General Purposes | $386,922 |
| Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact Council Bluffs, IA | Contribution for General Purposes | $333,333 |
| Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation Omaha, NE | Contribution for General Purposes | $277,732 |
| Glenwood Community Schools Foundation Glenwood, IA | Contribution for General Purposes | $250,000 |
| Together Inc of Metropolitan Omaha Omaha, NE | Contribution for General Purposes | $208,800 |
| African American Empowerment Network Inc Omaha, NE | Contribution for General Purposes | $206,000 |
| New Visions Homeless Services Omaha, NE | Contribution for General Purposes | $164,100 |
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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 | $129,526,197 | $7,505,766 | $10,380,160 | $5,111,789 | 56 | $6,194,886 | $4,606,481 | $9,019,227 |
| 2024 | $134,912,171 | $14,481,125 | $32,170,985 | $26,638,028 | 73 | $27,657,550 | $11,901,260 | $9,836,910 |
| 2023 | $152,016,678 | $18,538,112 | $16,992,983 | $10,940,763 | 81 | $11,919,800 | $15,529,999 | $9,005,931 |
| 2022 | $183,884,039 | $14,726,348 | $12,658,139 | $7,958,343 | 72 | $8,937,998 | $5,601,198 | $8,535,051 |
| 2021 | $146,415,136 | $18,758,116 | $8,823,944 | $5,880,661 | 62 | $6,701,888 | $17,435,694 | $8,417,020 |
| 2020 | $138,467,682 | $12,767,312 | $12,315,740 | $9,228,751 | 53 | — | $2,892,712 | $7,435,817 |
| 2019 | $135,018,645 | $7,104,775 | $11,729,356 | $8,409,473 | 42 | — | $4,541,813 | $7,173,492 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $9.0M 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
The foundation’s own mission is not specified here. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as community philanthropy, shelter and family support, mental health, childcare, and children’s programs. For example, Micah House Corporation describes its mission as providing shelter, food, clothing, and support for homeless families. East Mills Child Care Solutions says it was created to operate a childcare facility serving its local school district and surrounding area. Completely Kids describes its work as empowering children and families through out-of-school-time and family-strengthening programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 73 grants totaling $26,638,028. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $10,677,226, with a median of $11,755. The largest grants included $10,677,226 to Community Foundation for Western Iowa; $6,014,500 to Charles E Lakin Human Service Campus Foundation; and $1,922,403 to Avenue Scholars Foundation. Other notable grants included $1,003,000 to Micah House Corporation, $1,000,000 each to Community Alliance and East Mills Child Care Solutions, and $560,000 to Boys & Girls Club. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 56 grants totaling $5.1 million.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles E Lakin III as director/manager; Stephen Wild as director/president; John L Hoich as director/vice president; Robyn Ritsch and Cliff Roberts as directors; Tina Garland as treasurer; Jennifer Green as secretary; Deborah L Johnson as director through August; and David Gorgani as director as of September.
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc is led by Stephen Wild, Director & President on every filing since 2019; all 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen Wild
Director & President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$200K (2019) → $428K (2025)
Charles E. Lakin III
Director & Manager
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$128K (2019) → $221K (2025)
John L. Hoich
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$155K (2019) → $428K (2025)
Robyn Ritsch
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
$15K (2022) → $85K (2025)
Cliff Roberts
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
$33K (2023) → $68K (2025)
David Gorgani
Director
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$68K (2025)
Tina Garland
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
$37K (2019) → $52K (2025)
Jennifer Green
Secretary
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $142K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Deborah L. Johnson (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Joanna L. Cellone (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Diane Kilzer (2019–2022) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $428K, to Stephen Wild (Director/President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc
How much does Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc give each year?
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc gave $5.1M across 56 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $26.6M across 73 grants.
What is Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $21,500, and its average grant was $91,282, across 56 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc that year got $67K on average.
Where does Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc give grants?
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc gives mostly in Nebraska: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (32 grants) and Council Bluffs, IA (11 grants).
Does Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Avenue Scholars Foundation ($898,001), Boys & Girls Club ($550,000) and Completely Kids ($508,100), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc?
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc reported $129.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.0M (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 does Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not specified here. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as community philanthropy, shelter and family support, mental health, childcare, and children’s programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it 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 Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's EIN?
Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0751233. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/charles-e-lakin-foundation-inc-morg_b59e274fc0f3445aa9f6ccb11920fbee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760751233_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/charles-e-lakin-foundation-inc-morg_b59e274fc0f3445aa9f6ccb11920fbee},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc'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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