Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is a public charity based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that serves Linn County. It stewards charitable assets, works with donors and community partners, and awards grants to support local nonprofits and address community needs and opportunities.
Key facts about Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
In short: Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation gave $9.4M across 209 grants in 2024 (avg $45K), mostly in Iowa. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 42-6053860
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,438,781
- Grants made (2024)
- 209
- Average grant
- $45,162
- Median grant
- $17,656
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (47 of 209, 2024)
- Total assets
- $229,293,739
- Primary geography
- Iowa (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 competitive grant deadlines are March 6, July 2, and September 11 at 4:30 p.m.
Data from IRS Form 990, 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 · View filing
Total Assets
$229.3M
+8.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.4M
+8.6% YoY
Grant Count
209
+8.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
-0.2% YoY
Is Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 47 of 209 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to partner with donors, funders, and community collaborators to achieve high-impact philanthropy; support nonprofits addressing community needs and opportunities; and convene people to learn, share ideas, and develop solutions for the future. Its grantmaking emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and capacity building across the nonprofit sector, including education, health and human services, arts and culture, environment, and public benefit.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in a range of fields. For example, United Way of East Central Iowa describes its mission as uniting communities’ caring power to invest in solutions that improve people’s lives. Indian Creek Nature Center says it promotes a sustainable future through environmental education, land protection and restoration, and responsible interaction with nature. Cedar Rapids Museum of Art describes its mission as exciting, engaging, and educating through the arts. Community Health Free Clinic says it works to alleviate human pain and suffering by providing access to compassionate healthcare.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 209 itemized grants totaling $9,438,781 in 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $5,100 to $371,323, with a median grant of $17,656. The foundation also reports that its grantmaking programs and donor funds awarded $13 million to 644 nonprofit organizations in 2025.
Review Cycle
, and decisions are communicated about 12 weeks after the deadline. The foundation encourages applicants to review each program’s guidelines and contact a program officer with questions.
Open Grants
19 open opportunities from Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Competitive Donor-Advised Funds - Bloomhall Family Grant
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Amount
Approximately US $3,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Competitive Donor-Advised Funds - Diamond V Grant
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Amount
Approximately US $7,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Competitive Donor-Advised Funds - Girls with Goals Fund Grant
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Amount
Up to US $1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves Linn County, Iowa. In 2024, 91% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa; reported shares also went to Illinois (2%), Colorado (1%), Pennsylvania (1%), and Minnesota (1%). Linn County Grants support projects outside the metropolitan area, defined by the foundation as Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins, and Fairfax.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 209 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8.7M (2023) to $10.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 209 grants totaling $9.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Foundation 2 Aka Foundation 2 Crisis Services ($371K). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
917 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 675 grants of 917 (74%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation 2 Aka Foundation 2 Crisis Services Cedar Rapids, IA | Putts for prevention, stt, mental health matters, shelter, emergency youth shelter support, capital campaign, group violence intervention fy25 july - june, leadership driven recruitment and retention | $371,323 |
| United Way of East Central Iowa Cedar Rapids, IA | General support, women united, day of caring, 2024 company coordinator breakfast support, program support | $330,730 |
| Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA | Glidden community service scholarship, shot at college rsm scholarship, kalous opportunity scholarship, general support | $314,017 |
| Community Theatre of Cedar Rapids DBA Theatre Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA | General support, capital campaign: capital camp, education support, 2025 spring musical support, tcr's 2023-2024 broadway series support | $281,620 |
| Indian Creek Nature Center Cedar Rapids, IA | Creekside forest school transportation preparation, general support, 50 donors celebrating 50 years campaign, manage, restore and upgrade lands and facilities, operating and maintaining etzel sugar grove farm and associated land, support programming and transportation for at-risk youth, support efforts and programs related to restoration and reconstruction of native ecosystems in Iowa, providing immersive nature programming for all, etzel sugar grove workshop and farm operations '24, billboard, all-terrain wheelchairs, protecting production at the permaculture farm, program support: accessible trails program, creating champions of nature for the next 50 years, immersive outdoor field trips for all | $279,676 |
| Cedar Rapids Museum of Art Cedar Rapids, IA | General support, spring and fall 2024 exhibitions and educational programming, crma gala | $272,691 |
| Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA | Scholarships for female students interested in public service, russell d. Cole library, berry center, capital campaign, football program | $227,545 |
| Orchestra Iowa Cedar Rapids, IA | General support, thee symphony center, symphony school scholarships or instrument rental for young people who have a demonstrated passion and would otherwise be unable to participate, first trumpet, the maestro's baton endowment, support the costs associated with employing a tuba chair, for music instrument maintenance and/or printed music purchase or rental, orchestra Iowa's 2023-24 season, orchestra Iowa's 2025-2030 strategic plan, opus circle donation, celesta | $211,629 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa Cedar Rapids, IA | Event support: bowl for kids sake, general support, maximizing youth mentoring impact, supporting youth experiencing mental health crises, big magic, eliminating barriers & expanding support for mentors & mentees, capital campaign, building and sustaining effective youth mentoring, mentoring girls: empowering littles to be leaders | $207,161 |
| Matthew 25 Cedar Rapids, IA | So: organic food access through pay-it-forward cafe, general support, cultivate hope program, transform week: improving lives with home repairs, solar partnership w/ vm and electrical concepts, philip hamilton pay-it-forward endowed fund, thrive cohort professional development | $203,601 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $229,293,739 | $20,178,901 | $13,759,796 | $9,438,781 |
| 2023 | $212,302,246 | $15,302,878 | $13,079,026 | $8,692,052 |
| 2022 | $190,014,997 | $13,077,105 | $12,841,062 | $8,909,754 |
The foundation’s website reports that it manages more than $261 million in charitable assets across 1,109 funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $229,293,739 | $212,302,246 | $190,014,997 |
| Revenue | $20,178,901 | $15,302,878 | $13,077,105 |
| Expenses | $13,759,796 | $13,079,026 | $12,841,062 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,125,862 | $2,335,696 | $2,269,015 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website identifies Karla Twedt-Ball as President and CEO. Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing include Jon Landon, Chair; Jim Haddad, Chair-Elect until August 1, 2024; Michelle Niermann, Chair Elect; David Little, Treasurer; Anthony Arrington, Secretary; and directors Jill Ackerman, Ray Brown (until October 7, 2024), Patrice Carroll, Chris Casey, and Nancy Hill.
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is led by Karla Twedt-Ball, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 4 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karla Twedt-Ball
President & CEO
Senior Vice President of Programs → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$137K (2020) → $194K (2024)
Jon Landon
Chair
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Casey
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Lock
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Okpara Rice
Director
Chair → Past Chair, 2023
Past Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrice Carroll
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janice Kerkove
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Junge
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandi Mueller
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Parmley
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Haywood Stowe
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracey Myers
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Smith
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Ackerman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Van Maanen
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Hill
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ray Brown
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Brenneman
CFO
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$136K (2020) → $117K (2024)
Corinne Rahe
Vice President of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$114K (2024)
Joe Heitz
Vice President of Community Impact
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$117K (2024)
Anthony Arrington
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Little
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Ledford
Past Chair
Vice Chair & Chair-Elect → Chair, 2023
Chair → Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Haddad
Chair-Elect
Director → Chair-Elect, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Niermann
Chair Elect
Director → Chair Elect, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Corinne Ramler (2020–2023) — Vice President of Communications
- Former: Jasmine Almoayyed (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Leslie H. Garner Jr. (2020–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Michelle Beisker (2020–2023) — Vice President of Development
- Former: Mike Sheeley (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Molly Altorfer (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Nancy Hill-Davis (2023) — Director
- Former: Charlie Schimberg (2020–2022) — Past-Chair
- Former: Chris Lindell (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rod Dooley (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Salma Igram (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kari Cooling (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Stacey Halyard (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kate Minette (2020–2021) — Past-Chair
- Former: Sue Olson (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Amy Lynch (2020) — Past-Chair
- Former: Jim Choate (2020) — Director · Filing note: Until 8/2020
- Former: Julie Nosek (2020) — Director
- Former: Peggy Hardesty (2020) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $194K, to Karla Twedt-Ball (President & CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 324 3Rd St Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1841
Phone: (319) 366-2862
Website: https://gcrcf.org
Frequently asked questions about Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
How much does Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation give each year?
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation gave $9.4M across 209 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $8.7M across 192 grants.
What is Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,656, and its average grant was $45,162, across 209 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation give grants?
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar Rapids, IA (102 grants), Marion, IA (8 grants), Des Moines, IA (8 grants) and Iowa City, IA (7 grants).
Does Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 62% of Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (129 of 209) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Foundation 2 Aka Foundation 2 Crisis Services ($371,323), United Way of East Central Iowa ($330,730) and Coe College ($314,017), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation?
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation reported $229.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.2M.
What does Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to partner with donors, funders, and community collaborators to achieve high-impact philanthropy; support nonprofits addressing community needs and opportunities; and convene people to learn, share ideas, and develop solutions for the future. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation?
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check gcrcf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's EIN?
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6053860. 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.
Here's the math on researching Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation by hand.
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