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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Main Street Fort Dodge Inc
FORT DODGE, IA
Assets
$315K
Grants
1
Total Given
$25K
John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust
VINTON, IA
Assets
—
Grants
18
Total Given
$22K
Barbara Jean Couturier Charitable T
DAVENPORT, IA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The Joseph Andres Family Foundation
OKOBOJI, IA
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$7K
Lohse Family Foundation
BONDURANT, IA
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$400K
Vande Brake Family Foundation
ORANGE CITY, IA
Assets
$172K
Grants
6
Total Given
$47K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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