JD Nelson and Debra Nelson
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson is a private foundation based in Clear Lake, Iowa. Its 2024 filing reports grants to churches, schools, and other organizations, including organizations whose stated missions involve Christian education, evangelism, community development, and youth and family services.
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson at a glance
In short: JD Nelson and Debra Nelson gave $765K across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $31K), top state Iowa. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $764,500
- +101.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- -56.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $30,580
- +358.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $9,067,056
- +12.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (9 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to JD Nelson and Debra Nelson
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Andrew Nelson as the contact and states that requests are made by letter; no standardized forms are used. The filing lists no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Andrew Nelson
Mailing address: PO Box 607, Clear Lake, IA 50428
Phone: (641) 357-2121
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who JD Nelson and Debra Nelson funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Redeemer Bible Church ($100K). Together the top 10 received $537K.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 84 grants of 93 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa (42%), Minnesota (24%), Kansas (18%), Wisconsin (9%), and Pennsylvania (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is JD Nelson and Debra Nelson open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 25 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 186% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $125K (2022) to $765K (2024). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $765K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Redeemer Bible Church Minnetonka, MN | Capital Improvements | $100,000 |
| Plymouth Bible Baptist Church Plymouth, IA | General Support | $80,000 |
| World Harvest Outreach Shell Lake, WI | Bldg. Float Plane, Hangar | $65,000 |
| Open Bible Church Clear Lake, IA | General Support | $59,500 |
| Clear Lake Classical Clear Lake, IA | School Grant | $50,000 |
| Trinity Academy Inc Wichita, KS | Security Vehicle | $50,000 |
| Infaith Exton, PA | Ashley Colman | $50,000 |
| Goserv Global Inc Eagle Grove, IA | Moving Assistance | $30,000 |
| Clear Lake Community Shools Clear Lake, IA | General Support | $27,000 |
| Mason City Family YMCA Mason City, IA | General Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,067,056 | $1,028,345 | $815,049 | $764,500 | 25 | $775,765 | $297,759 | $416,909 |
| 2023 | $8,081,240 | $607,314 | $427,602 | $379,900 | 57 | $402,933 | $162,100 | $361,651 |
| 2022 | $7,140,860 | $6,616,305 | $248,283 | $125,000 | 11 | $146,958 | $238,535 | $114,128 |
| 2021 | $1,000,000 | $1,230,661 | $215,184 | — | — | — | $15,477 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JD Nelson and Debra Nelson reported a distributable amount of $417K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for churches, Christian schools, and nonprofit organizations. For example, Clear Lake Classical describes its mission as providing a classical and biblically based education, while Trinity Academy describes its mission as partnering with parents to provide a Christ-centered, college-preparatory education. INFAITH describes itself as a faith mission focused on evangelism, discipleship, and congregating the unreached. Other supported organizations describe work in disaster response and community development (GoServ Global), youth services (Youth Horizons), and support for struggling parents and children (Together for Good).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $764,500. Grant amounts ranged from $3,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Its largest reported awards included Redeemer Bible Church ($100,000 for capital improvements), Plymouth Bible Baptist Church ($80,000 for general support), World Harvest Outreach ($65,000 for a building, float plane, and hangar), Open Bible Church ($59,500 for general support), Clear Lake Classical ($50,000 for a school grant), Trinity Academy ($50,000 for a security vehicle), and INFAITH ($50,000; purpose listed as Ashley Colman).
Other listed awards included GoServ Global ($30,000 for moving assistance), Clear Lake Community Schools ($27,000 for general support), Mason City Family YMCA ($25,000 for general support), Southwest Christian High School ($25,000 for a building campaign), and River City Community Church ($25,000 for technology upgrades).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Andrew Nelson was listed as president on the 2024 filing.
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson is led by Andrew Nelson, President on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Andrew Nelson
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$6K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Bruce Ouverson (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Jerry Davis (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Sara Briggs (2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $13K, to Bruce Ouverson (Secretary). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about JD Nelson and Debra Nelson
How much does JD Nelson and Debra Nelson give each year?
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson gave $765K across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $380K across 57 grants.
What is JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's typical grant size?
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $30,580, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from JD Nelson and Debra Nelson that year got $24K on average.
Where does JD Nelson and Debra Nelson give grants?
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's top state is Iowa, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (24%) and Kansas (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Clear Lake, IA (5 grants), Mason City, IA (5 grants), Wichita, KS (4 grants) and Chaska, MN (2 grants).
Does JD Nelson and Debra Nelson give general operating support?
Yes: 48% of JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's largest grantees?
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's largest 2024 grantees include Redeemer Bible Church ($100,000), Plymouth Bible Baptist Church ($80,000) and World Harvest Outreach ($65,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is JD Nelson and Debra Nelson?
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson reported $9.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $776K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $417K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does JD Nelson and Debra Nelson fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for churches, Christian schools, and nonprofit organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from JD Nelson and Debra Nelson?
The filing names Andrew Nelson as the contact and states that requests are made by letter; no standardized forms are used. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's EIN?
JD Nelson and Debra Nelson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3928548. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work JD Nelson and Debra Nelson funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). JD Nelson and Debra Nelson funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jd-nelson-and-debra-nelson-morg_f57615b5849d4f429622b9520347766b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873928548_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{JD Nelson and Debra Nelson funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jd-nelson-and-debra-nelson-morg_f57615b5849d4f429622b9520347766b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from JD Nelson and Debra Nelson'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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