Edwin T Meredith Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Des Moines, IA EIN: 42-6059818

The Edwin T Meredith Foundation is a private foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa, incorporated in 1946. The foundation has been tax-exempt since August 1949 and operates as a family foundation with a focus on supporting charitable organizations through strategic grantmaking.

Key facts about Edwin T Meredith Foundation

EIN
42-6059818
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,386,000
Grants made (2024)
19
Average grant
$72,947
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
32% first-time grantees (6 of 19, 2024)
Primary geography
Iowa (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Edwin T Meredith Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Edwin T Meredith Foundation's 19 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (70%), Wyoming (18%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (7 grants). None of its 19 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic and Cultural" (9 grants), "Health and Religion" (5 grants) and "Educational" (5 grants).

Is Edwin T Meredith Foundation open to new grantees?

32%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 19 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $95K. How we count

Medians: $18K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Edwin T Meredith Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$1.4M

+4.3% YoY

Grant Count

19

+35.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$73K

-23.2% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's purpose centers on grants for youth agencies, higher education, cultural programs, and historic preservation. The foundation also provides support for hospitals and health agencies, as well as conservation efforts.

Primary funding interests include:

  • Arts and culture
  • Child welfare
  • Community improvement
  • Education
  • Science
  • Youth agencies
  • Historic preservation

Grantmaking

Grant Range

s:** Typical awards range from $4,000 to $400,000.

How to Apply

** The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, Wyoming, and Colorado. Specific counties of focus include Johnson, Polk, and Warren counties in Iowa.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of all 19 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

ColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaIowaMontanaNew YorkVirginiaWyoming

Cities

Des MoinesSheridanSarasotaBig HornIndianolaLaramieUrbandaleBigforkCheyenneIowa CityWashingtonWest Des MoinesJohnstonBrooklynCasperClearmontMachipongoParkerStonington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

  • Total Assets: $22,653,412 (as of most recent filing)
  • Total Annual Giving: $1,386,000
  • Latest Financial Data: December 2023
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.1201920202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$454K$908K$1M$2M18 grants201918 grants202015 grants202115 grants202214 grants202319 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Drake University: $400KDrake University$400KScience Center of Iowa: $275KScience Center of Iowa$275KThe Brinton Museum: $212KThe Brinton Museum$212KBoys and Girls Club of Central Iowa: $175KBoys and Girls Club of CentralIowa$175KMote Marine Laboratory & Aquar: $100KMote Marine Laboratory & Aquar$100KInvisible Wounds Fdn: $50KInvisible Wounds Fdn$50KBroadlawns Medical Ctr: $50KBroadlawns Medical Ctr$50KFood Bank of Iowa: $25KFood Bank of Iowa$25KWyoming Agriculture in the Classroo: $20KWyoming Agriculture in theClassroo$20KDCHS Annual Appeal: $10KDCHS Annual Appeal$10K

Grant Size Distribution

81 grants across all recorded years

50<$50K4$50–100K15$100–250K12$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Drake University ($400,000), Science Center of Iowa ($275,000), The Brinton Museum ($212,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
DRAKE UNIVERSITY Des Moines, IAEDUCATIONAL$400,000
SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA Des Moines, IACIVIC AND CULTURAL$275,000
THE BRINTON MUSEUM Big Horn, WYCIVIC AND CULTURAL$212,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL IOWA Des Moines, IACIVIC AND CULTURAL$175,000
MOTE MARINE LABORATORY & AQUAR Sarasota, FLCIVIC AND CULTURAL$100,000
INVISIBLE WOUNDS FDN Parker, COHEALTH AND RELIGION$50,000
BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CTR Des Moines, IAHEALTH AND RELIGION$50,000
FOOD BANK OF IOWA Des Moines, IAHEALTH AND RELIGION$25,000
WYOMING AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROO Cheyenne, WYEDUCATIONAL$20,000
DCHS ANNUAL APPEAL West Des Moines, IAEDUCATIONAL$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • D Mell Meredith Frazier – President
  • ET Meredith IV – Vice President
  • Cheri Cipperly – Secretary

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
D Mell Meredith FrazierPresident1—
Et Meredith IV Et Meredith IVVice President1—
Cheri a CipperleyTreasurer1—

Contact Information

Address: 3106 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312

Phone: 515-284-2096

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Edwin T Meredith Foundation fund?

The foundation's purpose centers on grants for youth agencies, higher education, cultural programs, and historic preservation. The foundation also provides support for hospitals and health agencies, as well as conservation efforts. Primary funding interests include: • Arts and culture • Child welfare • Community improvement • Education • Science • Youth agencies • Historic preservation

How do I apply for a grant from Edwin T Meredith Foundation?

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

Where does Edwin T Meredith Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, Wyoming, and Colorado. Specific counties of focus include Johnson, Polk, and Warren counties in Iowa.

What size grants does Edwin T Meredith Foundation award?

In 2024, Edwin T Meredith Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $73K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Edwin T Meredith Foundation's EIN?

Edwin T Meredith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6059818. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Does Edwin T Meredith Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

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

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

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