Iowa West Foundation
Iowa West Foundation is a private foundation based in Council Bluffs, Iowa, established in 1994. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving lives and strengthening communities for current and future generations. The foundation employs 8 staff members and serves as a major philanthropic force in the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$15.9M
-4.7% YoY
Grant Count
134
-12.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$118K
+8.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation seeks to help communities achieve their dreams through strategic grantmaking aligned with three core priority areas:
- Housing for All – Supporting housing development and related initiatives
- Education with Purpose – Funding educational programs and opportunities
- Recreation for Wellbeing – Supporting recreational and wellness activities
The foundation also maintains program areas including City of Council Bluffs streetscape maintenance, belonging mini-grants and contingency funding, and Southwest Iowa COVID-19 relief efforts.
Grantmaking
Iowa West Foundation offers multiple grant types to support its priority areas:
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on:
- Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Pottawattamie County
- Southwest Iowa
- Iowa and Nebraska regions
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:
- Total Assets: $492,648,687–$495,744,138
- Total Revenues: $25,911,626
- Total Expenses: $23,185,583
- Annual Grants Made: $12,743,204
- Total Liabilities: $32,000,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Iowa West Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Todd Graham – President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TARA SLEVIN | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| TAMMY PAVICH | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| AMY CRAWFORD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RON DICKINSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| STEVE BAUMERT | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JASON JAMES | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KIRK MADSEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JACK RUESCH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| VERGARIE SANFORD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BRENDA MAINWARING | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $303,526 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced significant grant distributions in recent periods, including awards of $2.7 million and $4.3 million in grants and initiatives, demonstrating active and substantial grantmaking activity in support of its priority areas across the region.
Iowa West Foundation Awards $2.7 Million in Grants & InitiativesRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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