John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation
The John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. In 2024, it made 13 grants totaling $28,000, with awards recorded for operations at organizations including nonprofits, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and public media.
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation at a glance
In short: John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation gave $28K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Iowa. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $28,000
- -9.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,154
- -9.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $623,256
- +0.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (6 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (96% 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 John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says to contact JOHN H ANN GHRIST FAMILY FOUNDATION. Applications should include all necessary information about the purpose of the grant or loan and where the applicant can be contacted. Awards are restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations that are not private foundations. The filing lists no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: John H Ann Ghrist Family Foundation
Mailing address: 5801 Woodland Road, Des Moines, IA 50312
Phone: (515) 279-5262
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa DBA Everystep ($5K). Together the top 10 received $25K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 59 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa and 4% to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 13 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2024) to $40K (2021). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $28K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa DBA Everystep Des Moines, IA | Operations | $5,000 |
| Iowa State University Foundation Ames, IA | Operations | $5,000 |
| Food Bank of Iowa Des Moines, IA | Operations | $3,000 |
| Des Moines Public Library Foundation Des Moines, IA | Operations | $2,000 |
| Edmundson Art Foundation Inc (Des Moines Art Center) Des Moines, IA | Operations | $2,000 |
| Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Des Moines, IA | Operations | $2,000 |
| Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Des Moines, IA | Operations | $2,000 |
| Iowa Public Radio Inc Des Moines, IA | Operations | $1,500 |
| Iowa Public Television Foundation Johnston, IA | Operations | $1,500 |
| Cass Resources for Enrichment (Care) Darien, IL | Operations | $1,000 |
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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 | $623,256 | $37,413 | $32,142 | $28,000 | 13 | $27,775 | $31,179 | $32,144 |
| 2023 | $617,985 | $29,457 | $35,140 | $31,000 | 13 | $31,916 | $25,140 | $30,842 |
| 2022 | $623,668 | $13,071 | $44,326 | $39,000 | 14 | $39,714 | $7,916 | $33,804 |
| 2021 | $654,923 | $67,164 | $46,479 | $40,000 | 14 | $41,360 | $60,685 | $37,219 |
| 2020 | $634,812 | $91,229 | $37,214 | $33,000 | 5 | — | $87,015 | $33,897 |
| 2019 | $580,304 | $38,898 | $35,520 | $29,000 | 14 | — | $36,231 | $29,495 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K 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 went to organizations whose work includes food distribution, land and wildlife conservation, library services, botanical education, public radio, historic preservation, and other activities.
For example, Food Bank of Iowa describes its mission as receiving and distributing food to nonprofit member agencies serving people in need. Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation says it protects and restores Iowa’s land, water, and wildlife. The Des Moines Public Library Foundation raises funds and advocates for the public library system; Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden focuses on exploring and celebrating the world of plants; Iowa Public Radio connects listeners with news, music, information, and ideas; and Salisbury House Foundation preserves and shares Salisbury House and its collections for public education and cultural benefit.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $28,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, with a median award of $2,000. The largest listed awards were $5,000 each to Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa DBA EveryStep and Iowa State University Foundation, followed by $3,000 to Food Bank of Iowa. Other listed awards included $2,000 each to Des Moines Public Library Foundation, Edmundson Art Foundation Inc. (Des Moines Art Center), Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John H Ghrist, Ann Ghrist, Meredith Ghrist, William Ghrist, and Emily Ghrist as directors.
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ann Ghrist
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John H. Ghrist
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Ghrist
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Ghrist
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Ghrist
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation
How much does John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation give each year?
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation gave $28K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $31K across 13 grants.
What is John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's typical grant size?
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,154, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation give grants?
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (9 grants).
Does John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (13 grants).
Who are John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's largest grantees?
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa DBA Everystep ($5,000), Iowa State University Foundation ($5,000) and Food Bank of Iowa ($3,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation?
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation reported $623K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $28K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose work includes food distribution, land and wildlife conservation, library services, botanical education, public radio, historic preservation, and other activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says to contact JOHN H ANN GHRIST FAMILY FOUNDATION. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's EIN?
John H & Ann GHRIST Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1892120. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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