Gartner Family Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Des Moines, IA EIN: 42-1422699

The Gartner Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including service dogs, youth and family services, education, public information, parks, and the arts.

Key facts about Gartner Family Foundation

In short: Gartner Family Foundation gave $624K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in Iowa. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
42-1422699
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$624,000
Grants made (2024)
33
Average grant
$18,909
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
17% first-time grantees (5 of 29, 2024)
Primary geography
Iowa (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation’s filing says applications should include all necessary information about the grant’s purpose, applicant contact information, and proof of 501(c)(3) public charity status. Full details ↓
Deadline
N/A.

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 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.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$624K

+9.7% YoY

Grant Count

33

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$19K

+9.7% YoY

Is Gartner Family Foundation open to new grantees?

17%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 29 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $21K. How we count

Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method

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.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Assistance Dogs of Hawaii says it helps people with disabilities gain independence through partnerships with trained dogs. Youth and Shelter Services describes its work as providing prevention, education, treatment, and residential services to youth and families. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden says its mission is “exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants.” Drake University describes its mission as preparing students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship; Des Moines Metro Opera says it creates theatrical experiences and learning opportunities for artists and audiences.

Grantmaking

The foundation reported 33 grants totaling $624,000 in 2024, compared with 33 grants totaling $568,800 in 2023 and 41 grants totaling $620,520 in 2022. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $52,500, with a median of $10,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, grant dollars went primarily to Iowa recipients (78%) and Hawaii recipients (16%). Minnesota, Washington, D.C., and New York each accounted for 2%, 2%, and 1%, respectively.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of all 33 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

Des MoinesUrbandaleIndianolaMakawaoJohnstonNorthfieldWashingtonWest Des MoinesNew YorkWest BranchDavenportCliveManteoAmesColumbiaLansingMakenaMauiRochester

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K30 grants202032 grants202141 grants202233 grants202333 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Assistance Dogs of Hawaii: $103K across 2 grantsAssistance Dogs of Hawaii$103K · 2 grantsCentral Presbyterian Church: $50KCentral Presbyterian Church$50KGray's Lake Park Playground and Sprayground Fund: $50KGray's Lake Park Playgroundand Sprayground Fund$50KGreater Des Moines Botanical Garden: $50KGreater Des Moines BotanicalGarden$50KIowa Freedom of Information Council: $50K across 2 grantsIowa Freedom of InformationCouncil$50K · 2 grantsYouth and Shelter Services: $50KYouth and Shelter Services$50KDrake University: $30K across 2 grantsDrake University$30K · 2 grantsScattergood Friends School: $30K across 2 grantsScattergood Friends School$30K · 2 grantsAlliance for a Better Iowa Education Fund: $25KAlliance for a Better IowaEducation Fund$25KBlank Park Zoo: $25KBlank Park Zoo$25K

Grant Size Distribution

169 grants across all recorded years

150<$50K19$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
ASSISTANCE DOGS OF HAWAII Makawao, HIDEVELOPMENT OF SERVICE DOGS$52,500
ASSISTANCE DOGS OF HAWAII Makawao, HIDEVELOPMENT OF SERVICE DOGS$50,000
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Des Moines, IAGENERAL FUND PLEDGE$50,000
GRAY'S LAKE PARK PLAYGROUND AND SPRAYGROUND FUND Des Moines, IAFUND TO REPLACE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND ADDITION OF NEW SPRAYGROUND AT GRAY'S LAKE PARK$50,000
GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN Des Moines, IACAPITAL CAMPAIGN$50,000
YOUTH AND SHELTER SERVICES Des Moines, IAFUND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES$50,000
ALLIANCE FOR A BETTER IOWA EDUCATION FUND Des Moines, IAGENERAL FUND$25,000
BLANK PARK ZOO Des Moines, IAGENERAL FUND$25,000
DES MOINES UNIVERSITY Des Moines, IASUPPORT EDUCATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS$25,000
IOWA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COUNCIL Des Moines, IASUPPORT OF OPEN RECORDS AND INFORMATION$25,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grant total Grant count
2024 $624,000 33
2023 $568,800 33
2022 $620,520 41
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.5$1$1.520202021202220232024
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 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Michael C. Gartner as president, Michael G. Gartner as treasurer, and Barbara M. Gartner as secretary. River M. Gartner and Michelle Gartner are listed as directors.

Gartner Family Foundation is led by Michael C. Gartner, Treasurer & President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Michael C. Gartner

    Treasurer & President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $10K (2020) → $10K (2024)

  • Michelle Gartner

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $10K (2021) → $10K (2024)

  • River M. Gartner

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $10K (2021) → $10K (2024)

  • Barbara M. Gartner

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Melissa M. Gartner (2020) — Vice President

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

Michael C Gartner — President: $10KMichael C GartnerPresident$10KRiver M Gartner — Director: $10KRiver M GartnerDirector$10KMichelle Gartner — Director: $10KMichelle GartnerDirector$10K

Contact

Application contact: Gartner Family Foundation
Mailing address: 100 Market Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 279-6155

Frequently asked questions about Gartner Family Foundation

How much does Gartner Family Foundation give each year?

Gartner Family Foundation gave $624K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $569K across 33 grants.

What is Gartner Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Gartner Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,909, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gartner Family Foundation that year got $26K on average.

Where does Gartner Family Foundation give grants?

Gartner Family Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The next largest state was Hawaii (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (19 grants), Makawao, HI (2 grants), West Branch, IA (2 grants) and Indianola, IA (2 grants).

Does Gartner Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 33% of Gartner Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

Who are Gartner Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Gartner Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Assistance Dogs of Hawaii ($102,500 across 2 grants), Central Presbyterian Church ($50,000) and Gray's Lake Park Playground and Sprayground Fund ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

What does Gartner Family Foundation fund?

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Assistance Dogs of Hawaii says it helps people with disabilities gain independence through partnerships with trained dogs. Youth and Shelter Services describes its work as providing prevention, education, treatment, and residential services to youth and families. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden says its mission is “exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants…

How do I apply for a grant from Gartner Family Foundation?

The foundation’s filing says applications should include all necessary information about the grant’s purpose, applicant contact information, and proof of 501(c)(3) public charity status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Gartner Family Foundation's EIN?

Gartner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1422699. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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