Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker West Des Moines, IA EIN: 93-3908911

The DAN AND JOANIE HOUSTON FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in West Des Moines, Iowa. It reported 15 grants totaling $603,600 in filing year 2025; its filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Key facts about Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation

In short: Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation gave $604K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
93-3908911
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$603,600
Grants made (2025)
15
Average grant
$40,240
Median grant
$50,000
Total assets
$6,377,302
Primary geography
Iowa (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$6.4M

+207.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$604K

+3126.9% YoY

Grant Count

15

+650.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$40K

+330.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation reported a distributable amount of $274K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation gives

  • In 2025 it paid out 221% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including charities, educational institutions, and community organizations. For example, ChildServe describes its mission as partnering with families to help children with special health care needs live a great life. Iowa Confluence Water Trails describes its work as connecting culture, conservation, and adventure by empowering waterways. Starts Right Here says it educates, equips, and empowers young people in disadvantaged and oppressive circumstances.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $603,600. Grants ranged from $300 to $50,000, with a median of $50,000. Among the listed recipients receiving $50,000 each were ChildServe, Iowa Confluence Water Trails, Mercy College of Health Sciences, and Starts Right Here. The West Des Moines Historical Society received $800.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa, 8% to Minnesota, and 8% to Colorado.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of all 15 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Des MoinesAmesWest Des MoinesDelanoDenverJohnstonPrince Frederick

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K0 grants20232 grants202415 grants2025

From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2024) to $604K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $604K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Iowa State University: $100K across 2 grantsIowa State University$100K · 2 grantsAbove Beyond Cancer: $50KAbove Beyond Cancer$50KChildserve: $50KChildserve$50KDrake University - College of Business: $50KDrake University - College ofBusiness$50KIowa Confluence Water Trails: $50KIowa Confluence Water Trails$50KIowa State Fair Blue: $50KIowa State Fair Blue$50KLegacy Woods: $50KLegacy Woods$50KMercy College of Health Sciences: $50KMercy College of HealthSciences$50KPrincipal Charity Classic: $50KPrincipal Charity Classic$50KStarts Right Here: $50KStarts Right Here$50K

The largest 2025 recipient was Iowa State University ($100K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $550K.

Grant Size Distribution

17 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K12$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 12 grants of 17 (71%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Above Beyond Cancer West Des Moines, IACommunity$50,000
Childserve Johnston, IACommunity$50,000
Drake University - College of Business Des Moines, IACommunity$50,000
Iowa Confluence Water Trails Des Moines, IACommunity$50,000
Iowa State Fair Blue Des Moines, IACommunity$50,000
Iowa State University Ames, IACommunity$50,000
Iowa State University Ames, IACommunity$50,000
Legacy Woods Delano, MNCommunity$50,000
Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IACommunity$50,000
Principal Charity Classic Des Moines, IACommunity$50,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $6,377,302 $4,913,849 $608,733 $603,600
2024 $2,072,186 $1,134,029 $23,379 $18,705
2023 $961,536 $961,536 — $0
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$6,377,302$2,072,186$961,536
Revenue$4,913,849$1,134,029$961,536
Expenses$608,733$23,379—
Qualifying Distributions$603,740$19,005—
Net Investment Income$622,975$142,798$23,131
Distributable Amount$273,742$207,981$18,705

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Daniel J. Houston as president/treasurer and Joan M. Houston as vice president/secretary.

Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation is led by Daniel J. Houston, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2023; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Daniel J. Houston

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joan M. Houston

    Vice President & Secretary

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 501 Grand Oaks Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Phone: (515) 248-2604

Frequently asked questions about Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation

How much does Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation give each year?

Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation gave $604K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $19K across 2 grants.

What is Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation's typical grant size?

Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $40,240, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation give grants?

Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (8%) and Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (8 grants), Ames, IA (2 grants) and West Des Moines, IA (2 grants).

Does Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (15 grants).

Who are Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation's largest grantees?

Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Iowa State University ($100,000 across 2 grants), Above Beyond Cancer ($50,000) and Childserve ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation?

Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $604K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $274K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including charities, educational institutions, and community organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation's EIN?

Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-3908911. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.

Does Dan and Joanie Houston Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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