Iowa State Fair Foundation
Raise funds for renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds by soliciting gifts, donations, bequests and grants to help finance infrastructure projects to guarantee the Fair continues to be Iowa's great celebration, a salute to the state's best in ag, industry, entertainment and achievement.
Iowa State Fair Foundation at a glance
In short: Iowa State Fair Foundation gave $3.5M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $3.5M), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,453,055
- +0.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,453,055
- +0.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,453,055
- Total assets
- $26,349,924
- +16.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Iowa State Fair Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Iowa State Fair Authority ($3.5M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Iowa State Fair Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2021) to $11.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa State Fair Authority Des Moines, IA | Cost of capital improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. During this fiscal year the funds were spent on *** | $3,453,055 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $26,349,924 | $14,814,061 | $6,456,735 | $3,453,055 | 1 | $404,267 |
| 2023 | $22,677,711 | $5,319,602 | $6,481,287 | $3,428,624 | 1 | — |
| 2022 | $20,880,199 | $13,279,780 | $6,055,861 | $3,404,968 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | $11,154,654 | $3,626,337 | $5,608,672 | $3,079,180 | 1 | $39,987 |
| 2020 | $11,002,682 | $8,403,117 | $12,885,182 | $11,911,261 | 1 | $12,754 |
About Iowa State Fair Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Iowa State Fair Foundation is a public charity focused on Recreation & Sports, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $26.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $3.5M. Net investment income was $404K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Iowa State Fair Foundation is led by Peter Cownie, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 18 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter Cownie
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$170K (2020) → $235K (2024)
Darwin Gaudian
President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wendy Wintersteen
President of Iowa State University
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alan Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
CW Thomas
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gary McConnel
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gary Van Aernam
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John Harms
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Randy Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tennie Carlson
Director
Vice President → President, 2021
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jo Reynolds
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
VerDon Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Robin Taylor
Assistant Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$76K (2021) → $92K (2024)
Curtis Claeys
Vice President
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Deb Zumbach
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kim Reynolds
Governor
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael Naig
Secretary of Agriculture
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeremy Parson
Secretary
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Dave Hoffman (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Gary Slater (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Jerry Parkin (2020–2022) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $235K, to Peter Cownie (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Iowa State Fair Foundation
How much does Iowa State Fair Foundation give each year?
Iowa State Fair Foundation gave $3.5M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.4M across 1 grant.
How large is Iowa State Fair Foundation?
Iowa State Fair Foundation reported $26.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.8M.
What is Iowa State Fair Foundation?
Iowa State Fair Foundation is a public charity focused on Recreation & Sports, based in Des Moines, IA. It holds $26.3M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Iowa State Fair Foundation operate?
Iowa State Fair Foundation has awarded grants in Iowa.
What is Iowa State Fair Foundation's EIN?
Iowa State Fair Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1376689. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Iowa State Fair Foundation funds
Recreation & Sports Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Iowa State Fair Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Iowa State Fair Foundation'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.
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