Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc
The Charles E. Lakin Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation based in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Founded in 1983 by Charles E. Lakin and restructured in 2016 following his death, the foundation operates with a mission to support communities through philanthropic grantmaking. The foundation is governed by a six-member Board of Directors composed of four family members and two local community champions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$134.9M
-11.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.6M
+143.5% YoY
Grant Count
73
-9.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$365K
+170.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to fund programs and organizations that help people in need overcome adversity, restore dignity, and ultimately transform their lives. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Community Development
- Housing
- Childcare
- Community Resilience
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with two grant cycles annually.
Grant Range
$500 to $1,700,000
Review Cycle
annually.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus areas include:
- Southwest Iowa: Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, and Page counties
- Greater Omaha area: Douglas and Sarpy counties, Nebraska
- Secondary funding in California and Texas
The foundation has a particular emphasis on rural communities experiencing population and economic decline in southwest Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $134,912,171 (2024)
- Total giving: $26,638,028 (2024)
- Total revenues: $14,481,125 (2024)
- Total expenses: $32,170,985 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $134,912,171 | $152,016,678 | $183,884,039 |
| Revenue | $14,481,125 | $18,538,112 | $14,726,348 |
| Expenses | $32,170,985 | $16,992,983 | $12,658,139 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $27,657,550 | $11,919,800 | $8,937,998 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,901,260 | $15,529,999 | $5,601,198 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,836,910 | $9,005,931 | $8,535,051 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Charles E. Lakin III — Director and Manager
- Stephen Wild — President
- John L. Hoich — Director and Vice President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES E LAKIN III | DIRECTOR/MANAGER | 18 | $212,628 |
| DEBORAH L JOHNSON | DIRECTOR THRU AUGUST | 18 | $114,605 |
| STEPHEN WILD | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 40 | $416,453 |
| JOHN L HOICH | DIRECTOR/VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $416,453 |
| ROBYN RITSCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | $66,185 |
| CLIFF ROBERTS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $66,185 |
| TINA GARLAND | TREASURER | 8 | $58,644 |
| JENNIFER GREEN | SECRETARY | 8 | $132,757 |
| DAVID GORGANI | DIRECTOR AS OF SEPTEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In October 2024, the Charles E. Lakin Foundation announced a landmark $165 million initiative to revitalize southwest Iowa. The funding, directed through the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, targets 51 small towns across six counties in southwest Iowa. The initiative addresses a significant regional challenge: since 1900, southwest Iowa's population has declined by 17 percent, while neighboring east central Nebraska's population has grown by 380 percent. The foundation's analysis found that the peak population in southwest Iowa occurred in 1930, with a subsequent decline of 26,000 people (12.5 percent) between 1930 and 2000.
Charles E. Lakin Foundation Gives $165 Million for Community Revitalization\The revitalization initiative prioritizes investments in housing, childcare, education, and community development to reverse population and economic decline in rural communities facing what foundation leadership describes as "a stark reality of depopulation, economic stagnation and the looming threat of extinction."
Charles E. Lakin Foundation Gives $165 Million for Community Revitalization\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Main Street Fort Dodge Inc
FORT DODGE, IA
Assets
$315K
Grants
1
Total Given
$25K
John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust
VINTON, IA
Assets
—
Grants
18
Total Given
$22K
Barbara Jean Couturier Charitable T
DAVENPORT, IA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The Joseph Andres Family Foundation
OKOBOJI, IA
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$7K
Lohse Family Foundation
BONDURANT, IA
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$400K
Vande Brake Family Foundation
ORANGE CITY, IA
Assets
$172K
Grants
6
Total Given
$47K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities