Howard E & Carole E Harkins
Howard E & Carole E Harkins is a private foundation based in Davenport, Iowa. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations in housing, youth programs, and community services.
Howard E & Carole E Harkins at a glance
In short: Howard E & Carole E Harkins gave $255K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Iowa. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $255,000
- +2.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,750
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,286,890
- -9.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (2 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Howard E & Carole E Harkins
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4300 E 53Rd St 103, Davenport, IA 52807
Phone: (563) 340-6111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Howard E & Carole E Harkins funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Vera French Housing ($25K). Together the top 10 received $170K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 90 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa, 16% to recipients in Illinois, and 4% to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Howard E & Carole E Harkins open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 20 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 90% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 223% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $250K (2023) to $334K (2020). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $255K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vera French Housing Davenport, IA | General | $25,000 |
| Humility Homes and Services Inc Davenport, IA | General | $25,000 |
| Project Renewal of Davenport Davenport, IA | General | $25,000 |
| Quad Cities Golf Classic Charitable East Moline, IL | General | $20,000 |
| Hand in Hand Bettendorf, IA | General | $15,000 |
| Friendly House in Davenport Davenport, IA | General | $15,000 |
| Niabi Zoo Coal Valley, IL | General | $15,000 |
| Center for Active Seniors Inc Davenport, IA | General | $10,000 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children Chi Davenport, IA | General | $10,000 |
| Kings Harvest Ministries Davenport, IA | General | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Howard E & Carole E Harkins?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,286,890 | $42,904 | $272,007 | $255,000 | 20 | $255,000 | $71,340 | $114,298 |
| 2023 | $2,515,993 | $79,220 | $256,193 | $250,000 | 19 | $250,000 | $83,513 | $120,587 |
| 2022 | $2,692,966 | $142,552 | $325,012 | $310,000 | 18 | $314,750 | $131,527 | $132,865 |
| 2021 | $2,875,426 | $226,077 | $302,716 | $301,000 | 17 | $301,000 | $217,595 | $150,100 |
| 2020 | $2,952,065 | $3,286,745 | $334,680 | $333,832 | 16 | — | $56,907 | $136,965 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Howard E & Carole E Harkins reported a distributable amount of $114K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include Humility Homes and Services, which says it works to end homelessness through housing and supportive services in the Greater Quad Cities; Project Renewal of Davenport, which describes after-school and summer programs for youth; and Vera French Housing Corporation, which says it provides affordable housing with supportive services for people with serious mental illness and other challenges. Other 2024 recipients describe work in inclusive programs for people of all abilities, services for older adults, and educational, therapeutic, and career programs for people with Down syndrome.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $255,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Among the largest were $25,000 each to Vera French Housing, Humility Homes and Services Inc, and Project Renewal of Davenport; $20,000 to Quad Cities Golf Classic Charitable; and $15,000 each to Hand in Hand, Friendly House in Davenport, and Niabi Zoo.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mark Fensterbusch was listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
Howard E & Carole E Harkins is led by Mark Fensterbusch, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Fensterbusch
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.
Frequently asked questions about Howard E & Carole E Harkins
How much does Howard E & Carole E Harkins give each year?
Howard E & Carole E Harkins gave $255K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $250K across 19 grants.
What is Howard E & Carole E Harkins's typical grant size?
Howard E & Carole E Harkins's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,750, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Howard E & Carole E Harkins that year got $13K on average.
Where does Howard E & Carole E Harkins give grants?
Howard E & Carole E Harkins gives mostly in Iowa: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Davenport, IA (11 grants) and Bettendorf, IA (3 grants).
Does Howard E & Carole E Harkins give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Howard E & Carole E Harkins's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Howard E & Carole E Harkins's largest grantees?
Howard E & Carole E Harkins's largest 2024 grantees include Vera French Housing ($25,000), Humility Homes and Services Inc ($25,000) and Project Renewal of Davenport ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Howard E & Carole E Harkins?
Howard E & Carole E Harkins reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $255K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $114K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Howard E & Carole E Harkins fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Howard E & Carole E Harkins?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Howard E & Carole E Harkins's EIN?
Howard E & Carole E Harkins's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-7109012. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Howard E & Carole E Harkins 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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Howard E & Carole E Harkins funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Howard E & Carole E Harkins's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Vonderhaar Family Foundation
Bettendorf, IA
The Vonderhaar Family Foundation supports charitable, educational, faith-based, food assistance, and community organizations, primarily in Iowa, with some giving to other states. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $150,000, with a median of $5,000. The filing reports no formal application process or required materials and says eligible 501(c)(3) organizations may receive contributions.
Assets
$3.3M
Grants
19
Total Given
$319K
Weigle Family Foundation
Bettendorf, IA
The Weigle Family Foundation supports charitable organizations working in areas including education, health, homelessness, LGBTQ+ welfare, and local giving. Its 2025 grants ranged from $35 to $32,125, with a median of $1,250; most funding went to Iowa, followed by California and Illinois. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$170K
Grants
19
Total Given
$85K
Scott County Housing Council
Davenport, IA
The Quad Cities Housing Council funds affordable housing, including housing development, rehabilitation, and related projects, in the Scott and Rock Island County area. In 2025, its 11 grants ranged from $5,200 to $235,358, with a median of $30,376. Applications are limited to nonprofit housing service providers and developers that are members of the Quad Cities Housing Cluster.
Assets
$1.8M
Grants
11
Total Given
$678K
Harold R Bechtel Charitable
Davenport, IA
Harold R Bechtel Charitable supports capital projects and programs in community facilities, youth services, education, arts, and housing, with most giving focused on Scott County, Iowa. Its 2025 grants ranged from $4,000 to $1,015,000, with a median of about $25,600. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; contact the trustee for application forms, which are provided upon request.
Assets
$48.2M
Grants
41
Total Given
$2.5M
Mary Iva Gittins Knouse Tr Uw
Eagan, MN
The foundation supports preselected charities working in basic needs, community services, heritage preservation, youth programs, education, and environmental education, with recent grants in Iowa, Illinois, Oregon, and Texas. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $2,500, typically around $1,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$510K
Grants
22
Total Given
$26K
United Way Quad Cities
Bettendorf, IA
United Way Quad Cities funds nonprofit programs focused on education, financial security and health for residents of Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois. In 2025, its 62 grants ranged from $5,011 to $263,476, with a median of $25,773. The current Community Impact Grants listing gives a January 13, 2027 deadline, but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$13.1M
Grants
62
Total Given
$3.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Iowa
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Howard E & Carole E Harkins funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/howard-e-and-carole-e-harkins-morg_4a45e4deae4948c58e96640d1d2171b1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_477109012_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Howard E \& Carole E Harkins funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/howard-e-and-carole-e-harkins-morg_4a45e4deae4948c58e96640d1d2171b1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Howard E & Carole E Harkins's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Howard E & Carole E Harkins down — hundreds of funders to go?