Missouri River Historical Development
Missouri River Historical Development, Inc. (MRHD) is a nonprofit organization based in Sioux City, Iowa, designated as a 501(c)(4) civic league and social welfare organization. Founded in 1989, MRHD serves as the Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) responsible for holding Woodbury County's gaming license and distributing gaming revenues to benefit the community. The organization emerged from the Riverboat Tourism Task Force during Iowa's exploration of riverboat gaming as an economic development tool.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.3M
-5.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
+27.1% YoY
Grant Count
92
+50.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
-15.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To strengthen the community through impactful grants that improve quality of life for all.
MRHD's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
- Civic and community development projects
The organization prioritizes supporting projects that enhance the quality of life for residents of Woodbury County and the broader Siouxland region.
Grantmaking
MRHD distributes substantial annual grants funded by gaming revenues from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City. Recent grant distributions include:
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MRHD primarily funds projects and organizations in Woodbury County, Iowa. The organization has expanded its reach to include Dakota County, Nebraska, reflecting its commitment to serving the broader Siouxland region. Funding also extends to Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $4,214,342 |
| Total Expenses | $4,158,265 |
| Net Income | $56,077 |
| Total Assets | $6,254,047 |
| Total Liabilities | $2,360,000 |
| Net Assets | $3,898,199 |
Revenue Sources:
- Program Services: $3,951,505 (93.8% of total revenue)
- Investment Income: $262,837 (6.2% of total revenue)
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since January 1991. Donations to MRHD are not tax-deductible due to its 501(c)(4) classification.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,254,047 | $6,591,831 | $6,237,285 |
| Revenue | $4,214,342 | $4,281,281 | $4,207,474 |
| Expenses | $4,158,265 | $3,429,652 | $3,723,363 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $262,837 | $267,534 | $92,592 |
| 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
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors: MRHD is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of 13 to 26 voting directors who are residents of Woodbury County. Directors are selected to represent a broad cross-section of the community with experience in business, education, tourism, public safety, human services, rural communities, and civic leadership.
- Voting directors serve three-year terms and may serve up to two consecutive terms
- All voting directors must complete a background investigation and obtain a gaming license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission
- Elected public officials and individuals affiliated with gaming operators are not eligible to serve as voting directors
- The Board meets monthly, with an annual meeting held each November
Executive Leadership: Mark Monson has been identified as President of MRHD. Steve Huisenga has also been referenced in leadership capacity.
Staff: The organization operates with 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINDA KREI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAH KLEBER | PRESIDENT | 8 | $1,200 |
| RENAE BILLINGS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANGELO JAMES | DIRECTOR | 1 | $600 |
| DALE TIGGES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID BERNSTEIN | VICE PRESIDENT | 8 | — |
| RAGEN COTE | SECRETARY | 8 | $1,200 |
| CHRIS GROVES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CRAIG TOOLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUZIE FISCHER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUSIE LUBBERS | AT LARGE | 8 | $600 |
| GINA SITZMANN | TREASURER | 8 | $600 |
| ED VOLOSHEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRUCE LEAR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GARY NILES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JESUS SANCHEZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATIE TOWLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN CLAUSEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JILL WANDERSCHEID | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARISSA MOLLAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANGIE SCHRUNK | FORMER TREASURER | 1 | $600 |
| DAVID GLEISER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $50,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
MRHD continues to expand its grantmaking reach and impact. In February 2026, the organization announced $425,000 in scholarship grants to support Siouxland students, marking an expansion of its scholarship program to include institutions in Nebraska following the closure of St. Luke's College of Nursing.
Missouri River Historical Development to award $500,000 in grants to 31 SiouxlandThe organization's partnership with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City, which opened in August 2014, has enabled sustained and growing grant distributions. Under the current partnership with Hard Rock and Churchill Downs, Inc., MRHD continues to fund projects that strengthen community infrastructure and support educational opportunities across Woodbury County and the Siouxland region.
Missouri River Historical Development to award $500,000 in grants to 31 SiouxlandRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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