First Federal Credit Union

Private foundation · Grantmaker Hiawatha, IA EIN: 82-5181234

FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is a private foundation based in Hiawatha, Iowa, and files as a Form 990-PF. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations and community activities, including education, meals, scholarships, food assistance, youth sports, and flood relief.

Key facts about First Federal Credit Union

In short: First Federal Credit Union gave $25K across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $779.688), mostly in Iowa. 69% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
82-5181234
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$24,950
Grants made (2025)
32
Average grant
$780
Median grant
$1,000
New grantees (estimate)
69% first-time grantees (22 of 32, 2025)
Total assets
$324,853
Primary geography
Iowa (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; 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.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$325K

+6.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$25K

+19.1% YoY

Grant Count

32

+18.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$779.688

+0.5% YoY

Is First Federal Credit Union open to new grantees?

69%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 22 of 32 grantees (69%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $784; repeat grants $770. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $800 repeat.

  • 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. 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 show support for educational programs and scholarships, food assistance, youth activities, community organizations, building repairs, and disaster relief.

Some grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Housing Fund for Linn County says it works to expand affordable housing opportunities in Linn County. Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa says its mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Indian Creek Nature Center describes its work as environmental education, land protection and restoration, and encouraging responsible interaction with nature. Mission of Hope describes itself as a Christ-centered ministry providing emergency relief, restoration, and development services to formerly incarcerated people, people experiencing homelessness or addiction, and others in need. Salute to the Fallen describes its work as raising awareness and providing financial assistance for military causes, veterans, and their families.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation gave 32 grants totaling $24,950. Grants ranged from $100 to $1,500, with a median of $1,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa and 2% to recipients in Massachusetts.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 32 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Cedar RapidsHiawathaMarionSpencerIowa CityWest Des MoinesCenter PointAmesBostonCedar FallsCedar RapdisDallasDes MoinesHiawthaIndianolaLakotaShellsburgSwisherWalker

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K15 grants202022 grants202125 grants202219 grants202327 grants202432 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2023) to $26K (2021). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $25K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

African American Family Resiliency: $2KAfrican American FamilyResiliency$2KGreen Square Meals: $1KGreen Square Meals$1KBig Brothers Big Sisters (Jan): $1KBig Brothers Big Sisters (Jan)$1KClay County Ag Extension: $1KClay County Ag Extension$1KMarion East Cedar Rapids Rotary: $1KMarion East Cedar RapidsRotary$1KHiawatha Public Library: $1KHiawatha Public Library$1KCity of Hiwatha Soccer: $1KCity of Hiwatha Soccer$1KFreedom Foundation: $1KFreedom Foundation$1KUniversity of Northern Iowa (P Ken: $1KUniversity of Northern Iowa (PKen$1KCoe College (E Renshaw): $1KCoe College (E Renshaw)$1K

The largest 2025 recipient was African American Family Resiliency ($2K). Together the top 10 received $11K.

Grant Size Distribution

125 grants across all recorded years

125<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 125 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
African American Family Resiliency Cedar Rapids, IAEducation$1,500
Green Square Meals Cedar Rapids, IASupport Meals Program$1,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters (Jan) Cedar Rapids, IAFundraising Event Sponsor$1,000
Clay County Ag Extension Spencer, IASupport Building Construction$1,000
Marion East Cedar Rapids Rotary Marion, IAEvent Sponsor$1,000
Hiawatha Public Library Hiawatha, IASupport Food Pantry$1,000
City of Hiwatha Soccer Hiawtha, IAYouth Soccer Sponsorship$1,000
Freedom Foundation Cedar Rapids, IAVeterans Food Pantry$1,000
University of Northern Iowa (P Ken Cedar Falls, IAScholarship$1,000
Coe College (E Renshaw) Cedar Rapids, IAScholarship$1,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2025 $324,853 $49,972 $29,982 $24,950 32
2024 $304,863 $35,319 $25,949 $20,950 27
2023 $289,248 $32,699 $19,674 $14,950 19
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20K$40K$60K202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$324,853$304,863$289,248
Revenue$49,972$35,319$32,699
Expenses$29,982$25,949$19,674
Qualifying Distributions$26,945$22,142$16,114
Net Investment Income$34,392$15,624$13,252
Distributable Amount—$14,655$13,319

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 July 21, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Mary Lawrence as president and C. Thomas Chalstrom, Jessica Fergesen, Geneva Williams, Nancy Kahle, Tracy Jackson, and Nicole Osterhaus as directors.

First Federal Credit Union is led by Mary Lawrence, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Mary Lawrence

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Geneva Williams

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy Kahle

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Nicole Osterhaus

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Tracy Jackson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • C. Thomas Chalstrom

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Jessica Fergesen

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    No compensation reported

Former officers (6)
  • Former: Doug Netolicky (2020–2024) — Vice President
  • Former: Tom Chalstrom (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Greta Hart (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Nancy Peterson (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Tracy Yordi (2022) — Director
  • Former: Ann Schreck (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 1035 N Center Point Rd, Hiawatha, IA 52233
Phone: (319) 286-2973

Frequently asked questions about First Federal Credit Union

How much does First Federal Credit Union give each year?

First Federal Credit Union gave $25K across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $21K across 27 grants.

What is First Federal Credit Union's typical grant size?

First Federal Credit Union's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $780, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from First Federal Credit Union that year got $784 on average.

Where does First Federal Credit Union give grants?

First Federal Credit Union gives mostly in Iowa: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar Rapids, IA (21 grants), Spencer, IA (3 grants) and Marion, IA (2 grants).

Does First Federal Credit Union give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on First Federal Credit Union's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Event Sponsor" (9 grants) and "Fundraising Event Sponsor" (3 grants).

Who are First Federal Credit Union's largest grantees?

First Federal Credit Union's largest 2025 grantees include African American Family Resiliency ($1,500), Green Square Meals ($1,000) and Big Brothers Big Sisters (Jan) ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is First Federal Credit Union?

First Federal Credit Union reported $325K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $50K.

What does First Federal Credit Union fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for educational programs and scholarships, food assistance, youth activities, community organizations, building repairs, and disaster relief. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from First Federal Credit Union?

The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is First Federal Credit Union's EIN?

First Federal Credit Union's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-5181234. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does First Federal Credit Union 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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