Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III
HELEN J AND THOMAS NELSON URBAN SR is a private foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including recipients in Iowa and other states.
Key facts about Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III
In short: Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III gave $68K across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Iowa. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 42-1441831
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $68,431
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- Average grant
- $1,591
- Median grant
- $500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (6 of 43, 2024)
- Total assets
- $711,631
- Primary geography
- Iowa (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None stated.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 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-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$712K
-12.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$68K
+11.0% YoY
Grant Count
43
-12.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+26.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III reported a distributable amount of $59K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 43 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 51% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported grants show support for organizations working in areas such as community resources, affordable housing, education, religion, health, arts, food access, and outdoor education.
Among the grantees described in their own words, the Capital Area Food Bank says its mission is to help neighbors thrive by creating more equitable access to food and opportunity through community partnerships. Skidmore College describes its work as educating predominantly full-time undergraduates and preparing graduates to make informed, responsible choices. Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s associated foundation says it is organized to benefit or carry out the purposes of the synagogue.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $68,431. Grants ranged from $100 to $18,743, with a median grant of $500. Larger grants included $18,743 to United Way in Des Moines for community resources; $7,000 to Homes of Oakridge in Des Moines for affordable housing; $6,000 to the Dartmouth Alumni Fund for educational purposes; and $5,000 each to Jewish Federation in Chicago for charitable-religious purposes and Wesley Life Foundation in West Des Moines for community health.
Review Cycle
None stated.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa. Other reported recipient-state shares were New Hampshire (9%), Illinois (7%), Washington, D.C. (5%), and New York (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 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 $61K (2020) to $73K (2022). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $68K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way ($19K). Together the top 10 received $55K.
Grant Size Distribution
261 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 261 grants of 261 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Des Moines, IA | Community Resources | $18,743 |
| Homes of Oakrdige Des Moines, IA | Affordable Housing | $7,000 |
| Dartmouth Alumni Fund (Peter Reichard) Hanover, NH | Educational | $6,000 |
| Jewish Federation Chicago, IL | Charitable - Religion | $5,000 |
| Wesley Life Foundation West Des Moines, IA | Community Health | $5,000 |
| Tifereth Israel Synagogue Des Moines, IA | Charitable Giving at Church | $4,098 |
| Blank Park Zoo Fundraiser Des Moines, IA | Charitable-Public Zoo | $2,500 |
| Des Moines Art Center Des Moines, IA | Support for Performing Arts | $2,500 |
| Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY | Charitable - Education | $2,000 |
| Capital Area Food Bank Washington, DC | Charitable - Food Access | $2,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $68,431 | 43 |
| 2023 | $61,644 | 49 |
| 2022 | $72,831 | 49 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $711,631 | $813,703 | $984,710 |
| Revenue | $45,830 | $-78,375 | $40,477 |
| Expenses | $147,902 | $92,632 | $355,280 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $68,431 | $61,644 | $72,831 |
| Distributable Amount | $58,905 | $51,418 | $57,615 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF 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 2024 filing lists Timothy John Urban, Heather Urban Holtzman, Andrew Berk Urban, and Toni Oster Urban as trustees.
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Andrew Berk Urban
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Urban Holtzman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy John Urban
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Toni Oster Urban
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Application contact: Timothy J Urban
Mailing address: 3131 Fleur Drive 1002, Des Moines, IA 50321
Phone: (515) 288-6041
Frequently asked questions about Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III
How much does Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III give each year?
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III gave $68K across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $62K across 49 grants.
What is Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's typical grant size?
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $1,591, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III that year got $4K on average.
Where does Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III give grants?
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III gives mostly in Iowa: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Hampshire (9%) and Illinois (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (17 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants), West Des Moines, IA (2 grants) and Urbandale, IA (2 grants).
Does Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable - Community Resources" (8 grants).
Who are Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's largest grantees?
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's largest 2024 grantees include United Way ($18,743), Homes of Oakrdige ($7,000) and Dartmouth Alumni Fund (Peter Reichard) ($6,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III?
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III reported $712K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $68K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $59K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported grants show support for organizations working in areas such as community resources, affordable housing, education, religion, health, arts, food access, and outdoor education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III?
The foundation states 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 Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's EIN?
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1441831. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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