John Ruan Foundation Trust
The John Ruan Foundation Trust is a corporate foundation established in 1955 and based in Urbandale, Iowa. The foundation was created with deep roots in the Ruan Companies, a business enterprise involved in transportation, banking, financial services, real estate, and trading industries. The foundation operates as a private foundation with a commitment to community philanthropy and local impact.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.0M
-0.2% YoY
Grant Count
52
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$78K
-0.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The John Ruan Foundation Trust supports nonprofit organizations in the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Health and mental health
- Employment and economic opportunity
- Human services
- Community development
- Civic affairs
- Children and youth
- Environmental conservation
The foundation prioritizes funding for program and project support, general support, equipment, and building funds.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Grants typically range between $5,000 and $100,000, with some awards reaching up to $1,510,000.
How to Apply
** The John Ruan Foundation Trust does not maintain a public website with formal grant guidelines, making it a low-key funder with limited transparency regarding application procedures. Prospective applicants may contact the foundation directly for information.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking largely focuses on Des Moines, Iowa and the surrounding area, though it considers funding opportunities in other geographic locations. Past funding has extended to Illinois and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $100,195,996 (as of 2025)
Total Giving: $4,042,500 (most recent filing)
Total Revenues: $5,106,530 (FY 2024)
Total Expenses: $4,434,436 (FY 2024)
Investment Income: $5,119,392 (FY 2024)
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and dividends rather than direct contributions.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Mercy One Foundation ($1,000,000), University of Iowa Foundation ($1,000,000), Mercy One Foundation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATURE CONSERVANCY Des Moines, IA | Conservation, Environment and Beautification Activities | $5,000 |
| MACNIDER ART MUSEUM Mason City, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $2,500 |
| DES MOINES ART CENTER Des Moines, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $10,000 |
| SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA Des Moines, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $10,000 |
| CIVIC CENTER OF GREATER DES MOINES Des Moines, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $10,000 |
| DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL Des Moines, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $5,000 |
| BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES Des Moines, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $100,000 |
| BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION Des Moines, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $10,000 |
| DES MOINES METROPOLITAN OPERA Indianola, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $10,000 |
| IOWA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION Des Moines, IA | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John Ruan III: Current foundation manager and chairman of the World Food Prize Foundation, Ruan Transportation Management Systems, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- John Ruan IV: Trustee (as of 2020-2021)
The foundation was founded by John Ruan (1914-2010), former CEO of the Ruan Companies and chairman emeritus of the World Food Prize.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Ruan IV | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 11207 Aurora Ave, Urbandale, IA 50322-7906
Telephone: 515-245-2552
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John Ruan Foundation Trust fund?
The John Ruan Foundation Trust supports nonprofit organizations in the following areas: • Arts and culture • Education • Health and mental health • Employment and economic opportunity • Human services • Community development • Civic affairs • Children and youth • Environmental conservation The foundation prioritizes funding for program and project support, general support, equipment, and building funds.
How do I apply for a grant from John Ruan Foundation Trust?
**Grant Sizes:** Grants typically range between $5,000 and $100,000, with some awards reaching up to $1,510,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 68 grants in 2024, totaling approximately $2.16 million. Notable recent grants include: • Blank Park Zoo Foundation: $510,000 • Friends of West Des Moines Parks and Recreation: $352,500 • Ballet Des Moines: $255,000 **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $4,042,500 in total giving according to recent IRS filings. **Application Pro…
Where does John Ruan Foundation Trust make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking largely focuses on Des Moines, Iowa and the surrounding area, though it considers funding opportunities in other geographic locations. Past funding has extended to Illinois and Texas.
What size grants does John Ruan Foundation Trust award?
In 2025, John Ruan Foundation Trust awarded 52 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $78K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is John Ruan Foundation Trust's EIN?
John Ruan Foundation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6059463. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John Ruan Foundation Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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