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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.3M
+16.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+0.7% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3.5M
+0.7% YoY
About Iowa State Fair Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Iowa State Fair Foundation is a nonprofit organization 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 grants totaling $3.5M. Net investment income was $404K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,349,924 | $22,677,711 | $20,880,199 |
| Revenue | $14,814,061 | $5,319,602 | $13,279,780 |
| Expenses | $6,456,735 | $6,481,287 | $6,055,861 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $404,267 | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Iowa State Fair Authority ($3,453,055).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Cownie | Executive Director | 40 | $235,194 |
| Robin Taylor | Assistant Director | 40 | $91,949 |
| Jo Reynolds | Director | — | — |
| Tennie Carlson | Director | — | — |
| Darwin Gaudian | President | — | — |
| Alan Brown | Director | — | — |
| Gary McConnel | Director | — | — |
| Curtis Claeys | Vice President | — | — |
| John Harms | Director | — | — |
| Deb Zumbach | Secretary | — | — |
| Randy Brown | Director | — | — |
| VerDon Schmidt | Director | — | — |
| CW Thomas | Director | — | — |
| Gary Van Aernam | Director | — | — |
| Kim Reynolds | Governor | — | — |
| Michael Naig | Secretary of Agriculture | — | — |
| Wendy Wintersteen | President of Iowa State University | — | — |
| Jeremy Parson | Secretary | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Iowa State Fair Foundation?
Iowa State Fair Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Recreation & Sports, based in DES MOINES, IA. It holds $26.3M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Iowa State Fair Foundation?
As of 2024, Iowa State Fair Foundation holds $26.3M in total assets with $14.8M in annual revenue. It awarded 1 grants totaling $3.5M in 2024.
Where does Iowa State Fair Foundation operate?
Iowa State Fair Foundation has awarded grants in Iowa.
What size grants does Iowa State Fair Foundation award?
In 2024, Iowa State Fair Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $3.5M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Iowa State Fair Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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