Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Algona, IA EIN: 42-6336481

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust is a private foundation, based in Algona, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $818K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $26K. Net investment income was $27K.

Key facts about Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust

In short: Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust gave $26K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
42-6336481
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$25,500
Grants made (2025)
9
Average grant
$2,833
Median grant
$1,500
Total assets
$817,876
Primary geography
Iowa (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$818K

-1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$26K

-2.9% YoY

Grant Count

9

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

-2.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust gives

  • Giving grew 72% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

Cities

AmesSioux CityAlgonaCedar FallsDes MoinesIndianolaIowa CitySheldonStorm LakeWaterlooCookevilleForest CityJohnstonManhattanOrange CitySewardWaverlyAnkenyBrookingsCouncil Bluffs

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K1 grant2020 1 grant2021 13 grants2022 17 grants2023 9 grants2024 9 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2022) to $53K (2020). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $26K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

49 grants across all recorded years

49<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 49 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
9 individual scholarships Recipients not named —$25,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20K$40K$60K$80K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$817,876$828,044$841,007
Revenue$23,160$21,569$18,730
Expenses$33,216$34,238$39,912
Qualifying Distributions$31,968$32,947$38,617
Net Investment Income$26,593$25,525$24,060
Distributable Amount$35,628$35,497$35,963

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 25, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust's only listed officer is Iowa State Bank, Trustee on every filing since 2022 (uncompensated).

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Iowa State Bank

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Iowa State Bank Kristie A Brown (2020–2021) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust

How much does Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust give each year?

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust gave $26K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $26K across 9 grants.

What is Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust's typical grant size?

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,833, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust give grants?

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust gives mostly in Iowa: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was South Dakota (12%).

Does Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships for Pocahontas Area High School Graduates" (9 grants).

How large is Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust?

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust reported $818K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $36K (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 is Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust's EIN?

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6336481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Louis J Elbert Trust

Algona, IA

Assets

$216K

Grants

10

Total Given

$8K

Bernice E Peterson Scholarship Trust

Algona, IA

Education

Assets

$653K

Grants

9

Total Given

$24K

Roy J Carver Charitable Trust

Muscatine, IA

The Trust funds 501(c)(3) organizations working in Iowa and parts of Illinois, with interests in education, biomedical and scientific research, scholarships, libraries, and youth programs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.45 million, with a median grant of about $121,000. Applicants may submit a letter of inquiry; the Trust may invite a full proposal if there is a clear fit.

Assets

$241.5M

Grants

87

Total Given

$16.5M

W E Ruebush Foundation

Milwaukee, WI

The foundation supports students attending qualifying educational institutions, especially in journalism, athletics, and other fields selected by its board. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,500 to $12,000, with a median of $3,000; recipients were concentrated in Iowa, with others in several states. It accepts no stated unsolicited-request policy; the filing advises contacting the foundation and lists no application form or deadline.

Assets

$1.2M

Grants

24

Total Given

$92K

Pella Rolscreen Foundation

Pella, IA

The Pella Rolscreen Foundation supports charitable organizations working in education and community betterment, including civic, cultural, social, and physical-environment programs in communities where Pella Corporation employees live. Large grants generally range from $10,000 to $50,000 and typically cover no more than 25% of project costs; its 2024 grants had a median of $1,029. It accepts unsolicited requests from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government entities in communities where Pella has manufacturing plants.

Assets

$22.4M

Grants

433

Total Given

$1.9M

Iowa College Foundation

Des Moines, IA

The Iowa College Foundation supports scholarships and institutional initiatives at Iowa’s independent colleges and universities, with recent grants ranging from $5,250 to $79,154 and a median of $58,742. Its reported grants all went to Iowa recipients; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$8.8M

Grants

26

Total Given

$1.4M

Mahana-Cong Church Scholar Found

Algona, IA

The Mahana-Cong Church Scholar Foundation funds post-secondary scholarships for Algona High School graduates, with recent grants ranging from $5,500 to $22,000. It is based in Iowa and has supported educational institutions in Iowa and other states; it accepts only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.7M

Grants

14

Total Given

$113K

Fahrney Education Fdtn Trust

Milwaukee, WI

The Fahrney Education Foundation Trust funds scholarships at educational institutions, with recent grants going to colleges and universities in Iowa. In 2025, grants ranged from $2,500 to $52,500, with a median of $7,500. It accepts scholarship applications by request; applicants submit a form, transcript, and signed personal letter, with an annual February 15 deadline.

Assets

$5.4M

Grants

17

Total Given

$233K

Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation Inc

Ottumwa, IA

The foundation funds community enrichment, nonprofit capacity building, health care, education, housing, and other priorities in Ottumwa and Wapello County, Iowa. Bright Ideas grants are typically $2,500–$30,000; 2024 grants ranged from $20 to $554,112. Its 2024 filing says it does not accept unsolicited funding requests and gives only to preselected organizations.

Assets

$73.8M

Grants

216

Total Given

$3.1M

Gwendolyn and Lucian L Hinecker

Marshalltown, IA

Education

Assets

$2.6M

Grants

8

Total Given

$121K

The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation

Minneapolis, MN

The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation funds education, health care, and human services, including college scholarships, with most support benefiting working- and middle-class families in specified Minnesota and Florida counties; it also makes some national grants. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $10 million. It plans to move to invitation-only grantmaking in 2027; whether it currently accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Assets

$218.3M

Grants

1,431

Total Given

$47.9M

Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines F/K/a Greater Des Moines Community Fdn

Des Moines, IA

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines supports projects that improve quality of life in Greater Des Moines, including housing and transportation access, health, economic opportunity, inclusive communities, and nonprofit capacity-building. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of about $12,900, though awards ranged from roughly $5,000 to $7.34 million.

Assets

$918.7M

Grants

1,259

Total Given

$55.7M

More Funders in Iowa

Joseph J Sinek Scholarship Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?