Guardian Scholars Foundation
Guardian Scholars Foundation is a private foundation, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $74K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $135K. Net investment income was $10K.
Guardian Scholars Foundation at a glance
In short: Guardian Scholars Foundation gave $135K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $135,000
- +68.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $67,500
- -15.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $67,500
- Total assets
- $73,872
- -41.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Guardian Scholars Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dowling High School ($5K).
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($130,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 10 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Guardian Scholars Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2021) to $135K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $135K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $130,000 |
| Dowling High School West Des Moines, IA | Scholarship to Gutierrez Moran | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,872 | $86,526 | $138,563 | $135,000 | 2 | $135,000 | $9,636 | $4,197 |
| 2024 | $125,909 | $78,670 | $83,512 | $80,000 | 1 | $80,000 | $5,244 | $5,661 |
| 2023 | $130,751 | $71,162 | $86,287 | $82,898 | 2 | $82,898 | $3,516 | $5,872 |
| 2022 | $145,876 | $78,900 | $134,544 | $130,000 | 1 | $130,000 | $5,477 | $7,757 |
| 2021 | $201,520 | $103,604 | $70,320 | $9,915 | 4 | $9,915 | $19,447 | $8,913 |
| 2020 | $171,394 | $17,124 | $127,040 | $37,507 | 8 | — | $3,466 | $10,624 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Guardian Scholars Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Guardian Scholars Foundation is led by Cj Morton, Chairman of the Board on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cj Morton
Chairman of the Board
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Andrea McGinn (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Bill Smith (2020–2021) — Advisor
- Former: Daniel Morton (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Jack Hatch (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nicole Zeien-Cox (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kim Marks (2020) — Advisor
- Former: Thomas Wolff (2020) — Executive Director-Former
- Former: Zachary Bales-Henry (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.
Frequently asked questions about Guardian Scholars Foundation
How much does Guardian Scholars Foundation give each year?
Guardian Scholars Foundation gave $135K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $80K across 1 grant.
How large is Guardian Scholars Foundation?
Guardian Scholars Foundation reported $74K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $135K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Guardian Scholars Foundation operate?
Guardian Scholars Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, Iowa.
What is Guardian Scholars Foundation's EIN?
Guardian Scholars Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2938413. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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