Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
To empower and unite grassroots people of all races to take control of their communities; involve them in identifying problems and needs; and in taking action to address them; and be a vehicle for social, economic and environmental justice.
Key facts about Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
In short: Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement gave $223K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $56K), top state South Dakota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 42-1110721
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $222,750
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- Average grant
- $55,688
- Median grant
- $59,250
- Total assets
- $4,163,100
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$4.2M
+12.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$223K
+285.7% YoY
Grant Count
4
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+285.7% YoY
How Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement gives
- Giving grew 112% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Based on IRS filings
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $223K. Net investment income was $72K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 4 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $58K (2024) to $303K (2021). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $223K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dakota Rural Action ($59K). Together the top 4 received $223K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 29 (79%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dakota Rural Action Brookings, SD | Campaign for family farms and the environment (CFFE) support | $59,250 |
| Land Stewardship Project Minneapolis, MN | Campaign for family farms and the environment (CFFE) support | $59,250 |
| Missouri Rural Crisis Center Columbia, MO | Campaign for family farms and the environment (CFFE) support | $59,250 |
| Illinois Stewardship Alliance Springfield, IL | Campaign for family farms and the environment (CFFE) support | $45,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,163,100 | $3,694,497 | $3,344,657 |
| Revenue | $1,984,766 | $1,798,995 | $1,841,850 |
| Expenses | $1,595,049 | $1,512,269 | $1,651,901 |
| Net Investment Income | $71,745 | $113,734 | $62,230 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 19, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is led by Elisabeth Whelan, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elisabeth Whelan
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
46.5 hrs/week
$74K (2023) → $87K (2025)
Barb Kalbach
President
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Turner
President
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Goodman
Director
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phouthasack Keopraseuth
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Bird
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bri Moss
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Neubert
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Misty Rebik
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Curt Nelson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Shilling
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laural Clinton
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean O'Donnell
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Farley
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Hugh Espey (2019–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Tom Mohan (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Matthea Little-Smith (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Chris Robinson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jan Wann (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Matthew Peirce (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Paul Wittau (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Janis Elliott (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Patti McKee (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Barb Lang (2019) — Director
- Former: Cherie Mortice (2019) — President
- Former: Nick Schutt (2019) — Director
- Former: Phyllis Burget (2019) — Director
- Former: Rosie Partridge (2019) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $87K, to Elisabeth Whelan (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
How much does Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement give each year?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement gave $223K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $58K across 4 grants.
What is Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's typical grant size?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's median grant in 2025 was $59,250, and its average grant was $55,688, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement give grants?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's top state is South Dakota, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Minnesota (27%) and Missouri (27%).
Does Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment (Cffe) Support" (4 grants).
How large is Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement reported $4.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What is Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Des Moines, IA. It holds $4.2M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's EIN?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1110721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement by hand.
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