Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation
The Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation is a private family foundation based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Established in 1990, the foundation focuses on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors including education, community improvement, human services, and environmental initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.0M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+43.5% YoY
Grant Count
20
-71.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$142K
+402.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary areas of interest include:
- Community improvement
- Education
- Environment
- Food banks
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation has awarded grants to organizations including:
Grant Range
s & Range:**
Average Grant
amount varies by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with a particular emphasis on the Cedar Rapids area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of December 2023):
- Total assets: $15,041,226
- Total annual giving: $2,837,487
- Number of grants awarded: 68 (2023 data)
- Giving rate: 13.4% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,041,226 | $14,694,164 | $14,225,934 |
| Revenue | $1,033,335 | $1,902,612 | $1,554,358 |
| Expenses | $3,071,505 | $2,055,306 | $1,545,939 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,938,090 | $1,979,247 | $1,431,300 |
| Net Investment Income | $612,585 | $834,667 | $712,463 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,415,928 | $2,565,231 | $1,978,305 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
208 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Busse Foundation Fund at Dafgiving360 ($1,754,990), Boys & Girls Club of the Cooridor ($455,998), Mercy Medical Center Foundation ($103,920).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUBLIC CHARITY INC CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $9,591 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE COORIDOR CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $455,998 |
| CHURCH OF THE LIVING WORLD HAMPTON, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY CORALVILLE, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $50,121 |
| GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WI | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $1,000 |
| HEDRICK FIRE DEPARTMENT HEDRICK, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $7,500 |
| HOUSE OF HOPE WATERLOO, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $2,500 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA INC CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $26,600 |
| KEOKUK COUNTY HOSPICE SIGOURNEY, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $5,000 |
| BUSSE FOUNDATION FUND AT DAFGIVING360 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $1,754,990 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Lavern T. Busse (President/Trustee)
- Audrey Busse (Treasurer/Trustee)
- Monica Busse (Vice President/Trustee)
- Jeffrey Busse (Secretary/Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAVERN T BUSSE | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| AUDREY BUSSE | TREASURER/TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JEFFREY BUSSE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 12 | $77,500 |
| MONICA BUSSE | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ANNA BUSSE | ASST SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| GRACE BUSSE | ASST TREASURER/TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| MICHELE BUSSE | TRUSTEE | 5 | $11,375 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025:** Mount Mercy University announced a $2.1 million lead gift from the Lavern T. and Audrey Busse Foundation for the development of the Busse Football Center.
Library Foundation receives grant for adjustable changing table at New Busse**2014:** Mount Mercy University received a lead gift from the foundation for the development of a new softball complex. Busse Field was established within the outdoor athletic complex at 909 17th Street NE in Cedar Rapids, and an endowed scholarship for softball was created as a result of this contribution.
Library Foundation receives grant for adjustable changing table at New Busse**Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation has continued to support local institutions, including a grant to the Library Foundation for an adjustable changing table at the New Busse Branch.
Library Foundation receives grant for adjustable changing table at New BusseContact Information
Address: 2129 North Towne Lane N.E., Suite B Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 United States
Phone: (319) 395-9636
Fax: (319) 395-0557
EIN: 75-2342746
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary areas of interest include: • Community improvement • Education • Environment • Food banks • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Range:** • Minimum grant: $1,500 • Maximum grant: $178,355 • Median grant amount: $5,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Recent Grant Examples:** The foundation has awarded grants to organizations including: • Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids ($842,488) • Mayo Clinic Department of Development, Rochester, MN ($59,396) • Catherine McCauley Center ($49,656) • Community Health Clinic ($35,000) • Camp Courageous, Monticello ($10,500) • Benton Community Foundation ($10,000) •…
Where does Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with a particular emphasis on the Cedar Rapids area and surrounding communities.
What size grants does Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation award?
In 2024, Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $142K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation's EIN?
Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2342746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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