Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation
The Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation is a private foundation based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Its 2024 filing reports 30 grants totaling $51,650 to charitable recipients, mostly in Iowa. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 17 grants totaling $35,640.
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation at a glance
In short: Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation gave $36K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Iowa. 65% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,640
- -31.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -43.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,096
- +21.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $451,571
- -1.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 65% first-time grantees (11 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists Mark Larson as the contact and says applications may be submitted in any form. Awards are restricted to qualified institutions under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Mark Larson
Mailing address: 800 Se Browns Wood Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Phone: (515) 491-3109
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Tim's Church ($22K). Together the top 10 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 78 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa. The remaining shares went to Florida (4%), Minnesota (1%), and Colorado (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation open to new grantees?
65%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 17 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $591; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 18% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2021) to $52K (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $36K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Tim's Church West Des Moines, IA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $21,500 |
| Chapel by the Sea Church Clearwater Beach, FL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $4,100 |
| YMCA of Greater Des Moines Des Moines, IA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $2,500 |
| Dowling Catholic High School West Des Moines, IA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $1,500 |
| Clearwater for Youth Clearwater, FL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $1,000 |
| Des Moines Carousel Foundation Des Moines, IA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $1,000 |
| A Thousand Summers - John Austin Cheley Foundation Denver, CO | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $500 |
| American Foundation for Suicide Prevention New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $500 |
| Assistance League of Boise Idaho Garden City, ID | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $500 |
| Blank Children's Hospital - Central Iowa Hospital Corporation Des Moines, IA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $500 |
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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 | $451,571 | $35,968 | $38,253 | $35,640 | 17 | $36,787 | $34,820 | $32,134 |
| 2024 | $457,320 | $27,706 | $56,135 | $51,650 | 30 | $53,718 | $22,905 | $29,312 |
| 2023 | $485,749 | $65,782 | $31,117 | $29,940 | 11 | $29,940 | $25,145 | $25,146 |
| 2022 | $451,084 | $22,716 | $35,545 | $31,433 | 15 | $31,433 | $21,004 | $24,571 |
| 2021 | $463,913 | $120,917 | $10,319 | $6,950 | 5 | $6,950 | $15,693 | $19,493 |
| 2020 | $356,014 | $17,245 | $20,305 | $18,550 | 6 | — | $15,930 | $17,937 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K 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 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including conservation, outdoor education, food assistance, addiction treatment, and golf. For example, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation describes its work as protecting and restoring Iowa’s land, water, and wildlife; Great Outdoors Foundation says it advances conservation through innovation, collaboration, and stewardship. Food Bank of Iowa says it distributes food to member agencies serving people in need, while Bridges of Iowa describes treatment, education, and counseling for people with addictions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $51,650. Grants ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $500. Notable grants included two grants of $10,000 each to St Tim’s Church in West Des Moines; $5,050 to YMCA in Des Moines; $5,000 each to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, DMARC, and Marshalltown Art and Civic Center and Fisher Art Museum; and $3,000 to Great Outdoors Foundation. Other reported grants included $500 each to Bridges of Iowa, Food Bank of Iowa, and Colorado Outdoor Education Center. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 17 grants totaling $35,640.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation is led by Kathy Larson, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathy Larson
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mark Larson
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation
How much does Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation give each year?
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation gave $36K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $52K across 30 grants.
What is Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation's typical grant size?
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $2,096, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation that year got $591 on average.
Where does Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation give grants?
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were West Des Moines, IA (4 grants) and Des Moines, IA (4 grants).
Who are Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation's largest grantees?
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Tim's Church ($21,500), Chapel by the Sea Church ($4,100) and YMCA of Greater Des Moines ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation?
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation reported $452K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $37K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including conservation, outdoor education, food assistance, addiction treatment, and golf. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists Mark Larson as the contact and says applications may be submitted in any form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation's EIN?
Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1613615. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation funds
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Figures come from Mark & Kathy Larson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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