Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation logo

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Cedar Falls, IA EIN: 42-1460664 Website

The Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Founded by Max and Helen Guernsey, longtime residents of the Waterloo community, it supports organizations working to improve community vitality.

Key facts about Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation

In short: Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation gave $2.2M across 125 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Iowa. 34% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
42-1460664
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$2,186,400
Grants made (2025)
125
Average grant
$17,491
Median grant
$16,000
New grantees (estimate)
34% first-time grantees (38 of 113, 2025)
Total assets
$49,906,388
Primary geography
Iowa (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
Applicants use the online grants system. Full details ↓
Deadline
The website lists March 15 for a May decision and September 15 for a November decision.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$49.9M

+3.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.2M

-14.6% YoY

Grant Count

125

-8.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

-7.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?

34%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 38 of 113 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $20K. How we count

Medians: $16K first-time, $25K repeat.

  • 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 99% 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 (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s mission is “to work in partnership with others to improve the vitality of our community, addressing issues important now and into the future.” It focuses support on a broad spectrum of needs, including education that builds character, programs that enhance family life, and key social issues.

Grantees’ own missions illustrate the types of work supported. Cedar Valley Preschool & Child Care Center says it provides developmentally appropriate activities supporting children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth. Cedar Valley Hospice says it provides palliative and end-of-life care and services to people who are grieving. SuccessLink says it provides mission-enhancing support services to organizations and institutions serving the Cedar Valley.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 125 grants totaling $2,186,400. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $35,000, with a median of $16,000. The foundation’s application information gives a typical award range of $1,000–$35,000; requests above $35,000 require a conversation with the Executive Director to determine eligibility.

Review Cycle

The website lists March 15 for a May decision and September 15 for a November decision. The foundation’s 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation states that it awards grants to organizations in Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Fayette, Grundy, and Tama counties in Iowa. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to Iowa recipients; 2% went to California, 1% to Kansas, and a rounded less than 1% to Nebraska.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 125 itemized grants.

Cities

WaterlooCedar FallsWaverlyDes MoinesCedar RapidsClarksvilleHudsonIowa CityDysartSumnerDubuqueHazletonIndependenceJanesvilleJohnstonLa Porte CityDunkertonEvansdaleElginGrundy Center

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M92 grants2021 103 grants2022 77 grants2023 136 grants2024 125 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2023) to $2.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 125 grants totaling $2.2M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

City of Waterloo: $55K across 3 grantsCity of Waterloo$55K · 3 grantsCedar Falls Community Theatre: $50K across 2 grantsCedar Falls Community Theatre$50K · 2 grantsWaterloo Community Foundation: $50K across 2 grantsWaterloo Community Foundation$50K · 2 grantsGrout Museum Inc: $45K across 2 grantsGrout Museum Inc$45K · 2 grantsHawkeye Community College Foundation: $45K across 3 grantsHawkeye Community CollegeFoundation$45K · 3 grantsCedar Valley Preschool & Childcare Center: $40K across 2 grantsCedar Valley Preschool &Childcare Center$40K · 2 grantsCity of Tama: $35KCity of Tama$35KSuccesslink Inc: $35KSuccesslink Inc$35KTransformations by Cedar Valley Angels: $35KTransformations by CedarValley Angels$35KUNI Foundation: $34K across 2 grantsUNI Foundation$34K · 2 grants

The largest 2025 recipient was City of Waterloo ($55K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $424K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

533 grants across all recorded years

529<$50K3$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 529 grants of 533 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cedar Valley Preschool & Childcare Center Cedar Falls, IABuilding Bright Futures Program$35,000
City of Tama Tama, IACapital for Safe Routes to School Network$35,000
Successlink Inc Waterloo, IATogether 4 Youth Programming$35,000
Transformations by Cedar Valley Angels Waterloo, IADare to Dream & Love Box Programs$35,000
UNI Foundation Cedar Falls, IAKaleidoscope, theatre 4 very young, talent search series pgms$33,000
Boys & Girls Club of the Cedar Valley Waterloo, IAOperating Support$30,000
Bremer County Fair Association Sumner, IACapital - 4H/FFA Youth Enrichment Center$30,000
Cedar Bend Humane Society Waterloo, IAOperating Support$30,000
Cedar Valley Friends of the Family Waterloo, IAHousing Stability Program$30,000
Cedar Valley Hospice Inc Waterloo, IAOperating Support$30,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grants reported Number of grants
2025 $2,186,400 125
2024 $2,560,800 136
2023 $1,350,500 77
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$49,906,388$48,163,592$45,526,447
Revenue$3,385,190$1,664,539$2,292,504
Expenses$2,540,091$2,891,503$2,160,002
Qualifying Distributions$2,361,726$2,750,144$1,553,207
Net Investment Income$3,256,360$1,531,788$875,879
Distributable Amount$2,381,841$2,256,294$1,773,148

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 20, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 1, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 19, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Gary Nelson as Trustee Chair, Thomas R. Paulsen as Finance Committee Chair, Harold B. Strever Jr. as Admin Committee Chair, Lois M. Johnson as Secretary, and Soo Greiman as Trustee. The foundation’s website identifies Shannon Hickman as Executive Director.

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation is led by Gary Nelson, Trustee Chair on every filing since 2021; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Gary Nelson

    Trustee Chair

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2021) → $10K (2025)

  • Harold B. Strever Jr.

    Administrator Committee Chair

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2021) → $10K (2025)

  • Thomas R. Paulsen

    Finance Committee Chair

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2021) → $10K (2025)

  • Soo Greiman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2021) → $10K (2025)

  • Lois M. Johnson

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $8K (2021) → $10K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Thomas R Paulsen — Finance Committee Chair: $10KThomas R PaulsenFinance Committee Chair$10KGary Nelson — Trustee Chair: $10KGary NelsonTrustee Chair$10KHarold B Strever Jr — Admin Committee Chair: $10KHarold B Strever JrAdmin Committee Chair$10KLois M Johnson — Secretary: $10KLois M JohnsonSecretary$10KSOO Greiman — Trustee: $10KSOO GreimanTrustee$10K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $10K, to Thomas R Paulsen (Finance Committee Chair). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Application contact: Max Helen Guernsey Charitable Found
Mailing address: 3826 Cedar Heights Drive Ste 1, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: (319) 226-3434
Website: https://guernseyfoundation.com

Frequently asked questions about Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation

How much does Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation give each year?

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation gave $2.2M across 125 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.6M across 136 grants.

What is Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $16,000, and its average grant was $17,491, across 125 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation that year got $17K on average.

Where does Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation give grants?

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waterloo, IA (60 grants), Cedar Falls, IA (19 grants), Waverly, IA (10 grants) and Des Moines, IA (4 grants).

Does Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 34% of Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (43 of 125) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Police K9 Program" (4 grants).

Who are Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include City of Waterloo ($55,000 across 3 grants), Cedar Falls Community Theatre ($50,000 across 2 grants) and Waterloo Community Foundation ($50,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation?

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation reported $49.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (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 Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation fund?

The foundation’s mission is “to work in partnership with others to improve the vitality of our community, addressing issues important now and into the future.” See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation?

Applicants use the online grants system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1460664. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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