Community Foundation for Western Iowa
The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is a tax-exempt public charity based in Council Bluffs, Iowa, that provides grants and allocations to nonprofit charitable organizations. Formed in 2007, it serves people and communities in western and southwest Iowa and helps individuals, families, businesses, and organizations establish charitable funds.
Community Foundation for Western Iowa at a glance
In short: Community Foundation for Western Iowa gave $3.5M across 39 grants in 2024 (avg $91K), mostly in Iowa. 49% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,548,833
- -11.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 39
- +34.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $90,996
- -34.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $83,311,926
- +86.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (19 of 39, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Community Foundation for Western Iowa
- How to Apply
-
Applicants use the foundation’s Online Grants Center to create an account, access available grant listings, and submit applications. Applications can be saved as drafts; grantees can use the center to check award status, due dates, and submit electronic reports. The foundation states that Community Impact, Women’s Fund, and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Fund grantees must sign an online grant agreement before funds are released and submit fiscal and narrative reports by the specified due dates.
- Review Cycle
- The listed 2026 Community Impact Grants deadline of March 15 and Women’s Fund deadline of June 15 have passed. A Women’s Fund grant listing gives a deadline of June 15, 2027. The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Fund is listed as currently open, but no deadline is provided.
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 Community Impact Grants deadline of March 15 and Women’s Fund deadline of June 15 have passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 536 East Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Phone: (712) 256-7007
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Community Foundation for Western Iowa
Henry K. Peterson Foundation Grant
Community Foundation for Western Iowa
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Fund of Southwest Iowa
Community Foundation for Western Iowa
Amount
US $500 - US $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
PCIF Community Impact Grants
Community Foundation for Western Iowa
Amount
US $500 - US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Community Foundation for Western Iowa funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 113 grants of 147 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its service region as western Iowa and its charitable work as serving southwest Iowa. The Community Impact Grants program requires projects to take place in Pottawattamie County. The Women’s Fund and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Fund identify a nine-county service area: Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties in Iowa.
In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa and 33% to recipients in Nebraska; the filing reports less than 1% in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Community Foundation for Western Iowa open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 39 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $83K; repeat grants $99K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $18K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2020) to $5.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 39 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact Omaha, NE | Community Betterment | $1,000,000 |
| Charles E Lakin Human Services Campus Council Bluffs, IA | Human Services | $600,000 |
| Iowa State University Foundation Ames, IA | Youth Support Grants | $360,000 |
| Council Bluffs School District Council Bluffs, IA | Youth Grants | $315,000 |
| Minden Community Club Minden, IA | Disaster Relief | $231,000 |
| Pottawattamie Arts Culture & Entertainment Council Bluffs, IA | Arts & Culture | $193,150 |
| New Visions Homeless Services Council Bluffs, IA | Human Services | $125,562 |
| Revitalization Association of Weeping Water Nebraska Weeping Water, NE | Community Betterment | $100,000 |
| City of Minden Minden, IA | Community Betterment | $85,860 |
| Heartland Family Service Council Bluffs, IA | Human Services | $69,479 |
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation for Western Iowa?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $83,311,926 | $40,729,739 | $5,702,271 | $3,548,833 | 39 | $2,948,452 |
| 2023 | $44,593,080 | $4,632,343 | $5,466,717 | $4,026,979 | 29 | $2,001,198 |
| 2022 | $42,464,983 | $3,918,445 | $6,680,004 | $4,975,971 | 26 | $1,118,951 |
| 2021 | $52,830,943 | $5,532,335 | $2,697,676 | $1,601,720 | 22 | $2,383,794 |
| 2020 | $44,245,009 | $21,206,541 | $1,703,839 | $1,003,439 | 31 | $931,587 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to create a lasting legacy in its region by engaging citizens and communities for durable change and fostering a culture of philanthropy. Its grant opportunities include Community Impact Grants and funds focused on women’s well-being and mental health and substance use.
The organizations it supported in 2024 work in areas including community betterment, human services, education, youth support, disaster relief, and arts and culture. For example, New Visions Homeless Services describes its work as helping neighbors experiencing homelessness and hunger in the Council Bluffs and Omaha communities. The Minden Community Club says it provides facilities for community activities and maintains fields and equipment for youth programs. Centro Latino of Iowa describes its mission as educating and empowering Hispanic and Latino individuals and families toward thriving, self-sufficient, and healthy lives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 39 grants totaling $3,548,833. Individual grants ranged from $5,103 to $1,000,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $1,000,000 to Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact for community betterment; $600,000 to Charles E Lakin Human Services Campus for human services; $360,000 to Iowa State University Foundation for youth support grants; and $315,000 to Council Bluffs School District for youth grants. Other notable awards included $231,000 to Minden Community Club for disaster relief and $125,562 to New Visions Homeless Services for human services.
The foundation’s Community Impact Grants are for eligible projects in Pottawattamie County, with awards ranging from $500 to $5,000. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt nonprofits, governmental entities, and churches using funds for charitable purposes. Projects must address one of the listed focus areas: arts and culture, community improvement, education, environment and animals, health, human services, or youth. The foundation’s listed limitations include clinical or medical research, capital campaigns, operating deficits or debt retirement, annual fund drives, real estate acquisitions, political projects, and organizations that practice discrimination on specified grounds.
The Women’s Fund of Southwest Iowa supports eligible projects serving the specified nine-county southwest Iowa area; at least 60% of people served must be residents of those counties, and at least 60% of people served or impacted must be women. Its listed focus areas include women’s self-sufficiency, safety, health and support, and engagement as community members. The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Fund of Southwest Iowa supports provider training and public education and awareness initiatives addressing issues including mental health, addiction, teen suicide, isolation, and stigma.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Henry McKinley as chair, Katheryne Cutler as vice chair, Anthony Fahrenkrog as secretary, and Christy Sauser as treasurer. It also lists Connie Casson, Alan Gardner, Sheryl Garst, Lucy Hough, John Jerkovich, and Dan Peterson as members.
Community Foundation for Western Iowa is led by Donna Dostal, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 17 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donna Dostal
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $174K (2024)
Henry McKinley
Chair
Treasurer → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alan Gardner
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Fahrenkrog
Secretary
Vice Chair → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Casson
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Peterson
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Schoeppner
Member
Secretary → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katheryne Cutler
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Hough
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Schulze
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheryl Garst
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Wild
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christy Sauser
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Jerkovich
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Bateman
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Cabbage
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Jacobs
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Anthony Tauke (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Lowell Forristall (2020–2021) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $174K, to Donna Dostal (President/CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation for Western Iowa
How much does Community Foundation for Western Iowa give each year?
Community Foundation for Western Iowa gave $3.5M across 39 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $4.0M across 29 grants.
What is Community Foundation for Western Iowa's typical grant size?
Community Foundation for Western Iowa's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $90,996, across 39 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Foundation for Western Iowa that year got $83K on average.
Where does Community Foundation for Western Iowa give grants?
Community Foundation for Western Iowa gives mostly in Iowa: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nebraska (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Council Bluffs, IA (17 grants), Omaha, NE (5 grants) and Minden, IA (2 grants).
Does Community Foundation for Western Iowa give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on Community Foundation for Western Iowa's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Betterment" (10 grants), "Human Services" (7 grants) and "Education" (4 grants).
Who are Community Foundation for Western Iowa's largest grantees?
Community Foundation for Western Iowa's largest 2024 grantees include Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact ($1,000,000), Charles E Lakin Human Services Campus ($600,000) and Iowa State University Foundation ($360,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Community Foundation for Western Iowa?
Community Foundation for Western Iowa reported $83.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $40.7M.
What does Community Foundation for Western Iowa fund?
The foundation’s mission is to create a lasting legacy in its region by engaging citizens and communities for durable change and fostering a culture of philanthropy. Its grant opportunities include Community Impact Grants and funds focused on women’s well-being and mental health and substance use. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation for Western Iowa?
Applicants use the foundation’s Online Grants Center to create an account, access available grant listings, and submit applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Community Foundation for Western Iowa's EIN?
Community Foundation for Western Iowa's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1382215. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 27, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 25, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation for Western Iowa's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Iowa West Foundation
Council Bluffs, IA
Iowa West Foundation funds community organizations and projects focused on belonging, financial stability, opportunity, and well-being, including work in housing, education, recreation, and community development. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from $1,585 to more than $3 million; it primarily supports Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, within a 14-county southwest Iowa footprint. It accepts unsolicited Letters of Inquiry year-round through its online process.
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Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc
Council Bluffs, IA
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The Hawks Foundation
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The Sherwood Foundation
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Assets
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Total Given
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Community Foundation for Western Iowa funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-for-western-iowa-morg_f1788a2108bc4fb484429da768db4827
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261382215_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Community Foundation for Western Iowa funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-for-western-iowa-morg_f1788a2108bc4fb484429da768db4827},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. 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 Community Foundation for Western Iowa'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.
Community Foundation for Western Iowa down — hundreds of funders to go?