Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
The mission of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement action fund is to build economic, racial, and environmental justice and grassroots democracy through community organizing, education, advocacy, and electoral politics in Iowa and across the country.
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,244,842
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $248,903
- -35.9% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $25,054
- -49.8% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $253,004
- -22.3% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement gives
- Giving fell 81% from 2020 to 2023. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2023) to $104K (2020). In 2023 it made 1 grant totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Black Liberation Collective Des Moines, IA | General Support | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,244,842 | $248,903 | $253,004 | — | — | $25,054 |
| 2024 | $1,240,207 | $388,151 | $325,459 | — | — | $49,907 |
| 2023 | $1,174,350 | $359,355 | $240,808 | $20,000 | 1 | $23,517 |
| 2022 | $1,055,703 | $756,168 | $568,747 | $88,000 | 2 | $4,016 |
| 2021 | $868,282 | $491,082 | $484,069 | $95,591 | 2 | $1,646 |
| 2020 | $861,269 | $1,458,489 | $1,028,212 | $104,000 | 6 | $396 |
| 2019 | $430,992 | $660,737 | $430,678 | — | — | — |
About Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Based on IRS filings
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. Net investment income was $25K.
Focus Areas
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 15 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elisabeth Whelan
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
10.1 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $15K (2025)
Cherie Mortice
President
Director → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barb Kalbach
Director
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia Rendon
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Duhn
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Tews
Director
Director → Secretary, 2020
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evan Burger
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Hurst
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Mohan
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Goodman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Huisinga
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peggy Fitch
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Kuper
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dartanyan Brown
Vice President
Director Beginning July → Director, 2021
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Hagemann
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Hugh Espey (2019–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Cathy Glasson (2023) — Director
- Former: Steven Tews (2023) — Director
- Former: Vern Tigges (2019–2022) — Vice President · Filing note: Through July
- Former: Betty Salmon (2020–2022) — Director · Filing note: Through July
- Former: Katie Biechler (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Alex Andrade (2019–2021) — Director · Filing note: Through July
- Former: Kenn Bowen (2019–2021) — Director · Filing note: Through July
- Former: Shari Hawk (2019–2020) — Director
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 $15K, to Elisabeth Whelan (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
How large is Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $249K.
What is Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Des Moines, IA. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement operate?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Iowa, Illinois.
What is Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's EIN?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3279620. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 26, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 3, 2026)
Live grants for the work Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement funds
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's focus areas in our free grants database
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