Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation
The Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation is a private foundation based in Newton, Iowa. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including arts organizations, libraries, a YMCA, and a concert association.
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation at a glance
In short: Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation gave $35K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Iowa. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $34,650
- +128.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,475
- +112.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $300
- Total assets
- $398,653
- -0.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 211 1St Ave W, Newton, IA 50208
Phone: (641) 792-4160
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Centre for Arts and Artists ($16K). Together the top 10 received $33K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 55 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in filing year 2025 went to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $540; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $300 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 433% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 141% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2022) to $35K (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $35K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Centre for Arts and Artists Newton, IA | Workshop Wiring and Clayroom | $16,000 |
| Jasper County Concert Association Newton, IA | Programming | $7,000 |
| Newton Community Theatre Newton, IA | Unrestricted | $3,500 |
| Iowa Sculpture Festival Newton, IA | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Newton YMCA Newton, IA | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Arts Connection Newton, IA | Unrestricted | $1,250 |
| Colfax Library Colfax, IA | Unrestricted | $300 |
| Prarie City Library Prairie City, IA | Unrestricted | $300 |
| Monroe Library Monroe, IA | Unrestricted | $300 |
| Lynnville Library Lynnville, IA | Unrestricted | $300 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $398,653 | $32,830 | $35,646 | $34,650 | 14 | $34,650 | $31,834 | $24,661 |
| 2024 | $401,469 | $18,477 | $15,945 | $15,150 | 13 | $15,150 | $17,682 | $23,241 |
| 2023 | $398,937 | $-6,107 | $12,684 | $12,100 | 13 | $12,100 | $11,112 | $20,847 |
| 2022 | $417,728 | $18,384 | $7,391 | $6,500 | 5 | $6,500 | $17,492 | $20,897 |
| 2021 | $501,117 | $31,182 | $20,805 | $20,150 | 10 | $20,150 | $31,524 | — |
| 2020 | $472,680 | $21,942 | $19,370 | $18,600 | 6 | — | $21,942 | — |
| 2019 | $437,539 | $21,526 | $16,691 | $16,000 | 6 | — | $21,526 | $19,081 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants included support for arts programming and facilities, libraries, and other organizations. The Centre for Arts and Artists describes its own mission as “classes for educational and cultural learning”; this is the grantee’s mission, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $34,650. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $16,000, with a median of $300. Among the largest grants were $16,000 to Centre for Arts and Artists for workshop wiring and a clayroom; $7,000 to Jasper County Concert Association for programming; $3,500 to Newton Community Theatre; $3,000 to an individual recipient; and $1,500 to Newton YMCA. The grants to Newton Community Theatre, an individual recipient, and Newton YMCA were listed as unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Margaret Caldwell, Linda Klepinger, and Robert Lane as trustees.
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Linda Klepinger
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Margaret Caldwell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Robert Lane
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jody Gooch (2019–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation
How much does Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation give each year?
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation gave $35K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15K across 13 grants.
What is Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's typical grant size?
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $300, and its average grant was $2,475, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation that year got $540 on average.
Where does Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation give grants?
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Newton, IA (7 grants).
Does Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's largest grantees?
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Centre for Arts and Artists ($16,000), Jasper County Concert Association ($7,000) and Newton Community Theatre ($3,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation?
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation reported $399K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $35K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for arts programming and facilities, libraries, and other organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's EIN?
Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6131598. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Jean and Murray Nelson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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