Iowa Foundation for Education
The Iowa Foundation for Education is a private foundation based in Windsor Heights, Iowa. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations, including an Iowa music association and organizations working in civic, theatrical, reproductive-health, and educational areas.
Iowa Foundation for Education at a glance
In short: Iowa Foundation for Education gave $149K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $148,843
- +16.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,605
- +30.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $4,959,734
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Iowa Foundation for Education
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1705 Plaza Circle, Windsor Heights, IA 50324
Phone: (602) 253-3588
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Iowa Foundation for Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Civic Music Association ($100K). Together the top 8 received $149K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 71 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing shows that 80% of grant dollars went to Iowa recipients, 7% to California, 7% to Minnesota, and 6% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Iowa Foundation for Education gives
- Giving fell 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 78% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $128K (2024) to $204K (2022). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $149K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Music Association Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $100,000 |
| 1000 Friends of Iowa Des Moines, IA | General Operating Budget | $19,343 |
| B'nai Horin Children of Freedom Los Angeles, CA | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Planned Parenthood North Central Saint Paul, MN | General Operating Budget | $10,000 |
| Irondale Ensemble Project Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Budget | $5,000 |
| Gingold Theatrical Group New York, NY | General Operating Budget | $2,000 |
| Amas Community Theatre New York, NY | General Operating Budget | $1,500 |
| Pratt Institute Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Budget | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Iowa Foundation for Education?
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 | $4,959,734 | $786,538 | $211,303 | $148,843 | 8 | $158,767 | $17,459 | $203,338 |
| 2024 | $3,307,522 | $44,848 | $200,193 | $128,232 | 9 | $141,661 | $3,917 | $162,232 |
| 2023 | $3,282,770 | $43,362 | $194,197 | $139,827 | 7 | $148,794 | — | $154,673 |
| 2022 | $2,998,343 | $25,033 | $294,704 | $204,331 | 24 | $216,212 | — | $164,210 |
| 2021 | $3,670,060 | $92,708 | $304,197 | $190,226 | 23 | $201,641 | — | $179,654 |
| 2020 | $4,551,246 | $343,602 | $249,510 | $141,964 | 13 | — | $252,042 | $185,496 |
| 2019 | $4,049,534 | $89,162 | $288,675 | $180,842 | 24 | — | — | $186,243 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Iowa Foundation for Education reported a distributable amount of $203K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its listed areas of interest include arts and culture, community improvement, education, environment, food banks, human services, legal services, nature, shelter, and youth.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate some of the work represented among its recipients. Civic Music Association of Des Moines says its mission is to engage, enrich, and educate Central Iowa through musical performances. Gingold Theatrical Group describes its work as creating theatre and related programs promoting humanitarian ideals, including human rights and freedom of thought and speech. Pratt Institute describes itself as an institute and community offering programs across creative fields.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 8 grants totaling $148,843. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $7,500.
The largest grant was $100,000 to Civic Music Association in Des Moines for general operating budget. Other grants included $19,343 to 1000 Friends of Iowa for general operating budget; $10,000 each to B’Nai Horin Children of Freedom and Planned Parenthood North Central for general operating support; and $5,000 to Irondale Ensemble Project for general operating budget.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Laura Belin as president, Dr. Thomas Richard Belin as vice president, Joy Elizabeth Belin as director, and James M. Belin as secretary/treasurer.
Iowa Foundation for Education is led by Laura Belin, President on the 2025 filing; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Laura Belin
President
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$15K (2025)
Joy Elizabeth Belin
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James M. Belin
Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$48K (2019) → $41K (2025)
Thomas Richard Belin
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Laurie Belin (2019–2024) — President
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 $41K, to James M Belin (Secretary/Tr). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Iowa Foundation for Education
How much does Iowa Foundation for Education give each year?
Iowa Foundation for Education gave $149K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $128K across 9 grants.
What is Iowa Foundation for Education's typical grant size?
Iowa Foundation for Education's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $18,605, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Iowa Foundation for Education give grants?
Iowa Foundation for Education gives mostly in Iowa: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (7%) and Minnesota (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (2 grants), Brooklyn, NY (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Iowa Foundation for Education give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Iowa Foundation for Education's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Iowa Foundation for Education's largest grantees?
Iowa Foundation for Education's largest 2025 grantees include Civic Music Association ($100,000), 1000 Friends of Iowa ($19,343) and B'nai Horin Children of Freedom ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Iowa Foundation for Education?
Iowa Foundation for Education reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $203K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Iowa Foundation for Education fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its listed areas of interest include arts and culture, community improvement, education, environment, food banks, human services, legal services, nature, shelter, and youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Iowa Foundation for Education?
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 Iowa Foundation for Education's EIN?
Iowa Foundation for Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1333063. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Iowa Foundation for Education 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- 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 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Other open foundation grants in Iowa
Iowa Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Iowa Foundation for Education's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines F/K/a Greater Des Moines Community Fdn
Des Moines, IA
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines supports projects that improve quality of life in Greater Des Moines, including housing and transportation access, health, economic opportunity, inclusive communities, and nonprofit capacity-building. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of about $12,900, though awards ranged from roughly $5,000 to $7.34 million.
Assets
$918.7M
Grants
1,259
Total Given
$55.7M
Cole-Belin Education Foundation
Phoenix, AZ
The foundation supports a varied mix of education, teacher training, arts and culture, environmental work, and other charitable activities, with most funding going to Iowa. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median of $5,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.1M
Grants
33
Total Given
$245K
Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino Inc
Altoona, IA
Prairie Meadows supports Iowa nonprofits in arts and culture, education, economic development, human services, and youth sports and recreation; Legacy grants focus on large-scale projects in central Iowa. Its programs offer $100–$1 million for Legacy, $100–$99,999 for Community Betterment, and $1,000–$50,000 for Youth Sports and Recreation. It accepts applications through its online system; the 2026 deadline was February 27, 2026, and has passed.
Assets
$327.6M
Grants
409
Total Given
$33.0M
Meredith Corporation Foundation
Des Moines, IA
The foundation funds education, human services for families and children at risk, and arts and culture, with particular interest in arts groups reaching broader audiences. Recent grants were all in Iowa and ranged from $10,000 to $315,000, with a median of $12,500. It accepts written requests during January 15–March 15 and July 15–September 15; telephone requests are not accepted.
Assets
$24.6M
Grants
12
Total Given
$600K
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr Charitable Foundation III
Des Moines, IA
Assets
$712K
Grants
43
Total Given
$68K
EMC Insurance Foundation
Des Moines, IA
The EMC Insurance Foundation supports nonprofits serving children and youth, people with health needs, and arts, cultural, and community purposes, generally in Iowa. Its 2025 grants had a median of $5,000, with awards ranging from $5 to $166,500. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations; the profile describes how to submit a request but does not explicitly state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$28.8M
Grants
108
Total Given
$1.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Iowa
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Iowa Foundation for Education'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.
Iowa Foundation for Education down — hundreds of funders to go?