Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation
The Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation is a private foundation based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with the largest listed awards supporting organizations in Iowa and New York.
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation at a glance
In short: Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation gave $760K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $28K), mostly in Iowa. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $759,552
- +45.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +17.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $28,132
- +23.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $19,194,441
- +4.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (9 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1310 Tulip Tree Ln, West Des Moines, IA 50266-6674
Phone: (515) 669-6081
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation ($250K). Together the top 10 received $725K.
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 103 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Iowa (70%) and New York (26%). Smaller shares went to recipients in Arizona (3%) and California (1%); Kentucky is listed at 0%. The state shares are reported as percentages and may be rounded.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 26 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 184% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% 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 (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 $267K (2021) to $760K (2024). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $760K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $250,000 |
| Manhattan College Riverdale, NY | General Operating Budget | $200,000 |
| Blank Park Zoo Foundation Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $150,000 |
| Strands of Strength Inc West Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $45,750 |
| Iowa State University Foundation Ames, IA | General Operating Budget | $21,052 |
| Mercyone Des Moines Foundation Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $20,000 |
| Above & Beyond Cancer Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $10,500 |
| Highlands Church Scottsdale, AZ | General Operating Budget | $10,000 |
| Lutheran Church of Hope West Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $10,000 |
| Variety - the Children's Charity in Iowa Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $7,250 |
Ready to take the next step with Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,194,441 | $1,809,896 | $984,552 | $759,552 | 27 | $772,520 | $1,301,208 | $974,695 |
| 2023 | $18,329,343 | $17,731,936 | $671,999 | $522,709 | 23 | $525,234 | $242,745 | $467,458 |
| 2022 | $1,269,406 | $480,181 | $484,874 | $463,716 | 21 | $465,529 | $23,236 | $41,422 |
| 2021 | $1,274,099 | $1,401,784 | $279,803 | $267,061 | 13 | $267,599 | $136,033 | $20,525 |
| 2020 | $439,017 | $1,289,656 | $568,537 | $561,388 | 19 | — | $351,173 | $7,682 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation reported a distributable amount of $975K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including public art, zoos and conservation, cancer-patient services, higher education, health care, and animal welfare.
The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation says it places art in public spaces through public and private collaborations. Blank Park Zoo Foundation says it aims to inspire appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education, and recreation. Strands of Strength says it provides wigs free of charge to cancer patients following radiation treatment or chemotherapy. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $759,552. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest reported awards included $250,000 to the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation, $200,000 to Manhattan College, and $150,000 to Blank Park Zoo Foundation. Other notable grants were $45,750 to Strands of Strength, $21,052 to Iowa State University Foundation, and $20,000 to MercyOne Des Moines Foundation. The filing lists the purposes of these grants as general operating budgets.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Debra L. Pulver as president and director, and Sherry Wilkinson as secretary, treasurer, and director.
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation is led by Debra L. Pulver, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Debra L. Pulver
President & Director
Vice President, Treasurer & Director → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Wilkinson
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert G. Pulver (2020–2021) — President, Secretary & Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation
How much does Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation give each year?
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation gave $760K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $523K across 23 grants.
What is Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation's typical grant size?
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $28,132, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation that year got $45K on average.
Where does Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation give grants?
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (11 grants), West Des Moines, IA (4 grants), Scottsdale, AZ (3 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (3 grants).
Does Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation's largest grantees?
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation ($250,000), Manhattan College ($200,000) and Blank Park Zoo Foundation ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation?
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation reported $19.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $773K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $975K (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 Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including public art, zoos and conservation, cancer-patient services, higher education, health care, and animal welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Deb & Bob Pulver 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 Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation's EIN?
Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3734956. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/deb-and-bob-pulver-foundation-morg_561fac8e16eb4115b43bc7acbc130547
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_463734956_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Deb \& Bob Pulver Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/deb-and-bob-pulver-foundation-morg_561fac8e16eb4115b43bc7acbc130547},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Deb & Bob Pulver Foundation'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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