Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation
The Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Waterloo, Iowa. It made 18 grants totaling $195,000 in 2024, supporting organizations in Iowa and Wisconsin across areas including education, healthcare, religious education, the performing arts, and community services.
Key facts about Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation
In short: Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation gave $195K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Iowa. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 42-1480934
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $195,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- Average grant
- $10,833
- Median grant
- $7,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 18, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,810,877
- Primary geography
- Iowa (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$195K
+23.0% YoY
Grant Count
18
-28.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+70.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $210K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 18 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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 (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as primary and religious education, healthcare, LGBTQ community support, childhood cancer, the performing arts, food assistance, and mental health advocacy and education.
Grantee missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Memorial Foundation of Allen Hospital says it strengthens the programs, services, and community relationships of Allen Health System. Northeast Iowa Food Bank says it provides nutritious food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations and individuals in northeast Iowa and offers hunger education. House of Hope says it encourages, equips, and empowers women through classes, community, housing, and therapy. Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity describes itself as a Christian housing ministry working to eliminate poverty housing through safe, simple, affordable housing.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $195,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $7,500. Notable grants included $25,000 to Cedar Valley Catholic Schools for primary school education and $25,000 to Memorial Foundation of Allen Hospital to help impact healthcare needs of the Cedar Valley. Other grants included $20,000 to Friends of Cedar Valley Sports & Entertainment Commission to sponsor a golf tournament, $20,000 to St Edwards Church for religious education, and $20,000 to OneIowa for support of the LGBTQ community. The foundation also gave $15,000 to Little Warrior to fight childhood cancer, $15,000 to Cedar Fallls Community Theater for the performing arts, and $15,000 to MercyOne Foundation for medical purposes.
Review Cycle
None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa and 8% to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $159K (2023) to $206K (2020). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $195K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cedar Valley Catholic Schools ($25K). Together the top 10 received $170K.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 103 grants of 105 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Valley Catholic Schools Waterloo, IA | Primary school education | $25,000 |
| Memorial Foundation of Allen Hospital Waterloo, IA | help impact healthcare needs of the Cedar Valley | $25,000 |
| Friends of Cedar Valley Sports & Entertainment Commission Waterloo, IA | Sponsor golf tournament | $20,000 |
| St Edwards Church Waterloo, IA | Religious education | $20,000 |
| OneIowa Des Moines, IA | Support for the LGTBQ Community | $20,000 |
| Little Warrior Brookfield, WI | Fight childhood cancer | $15,000 |
| Cedar Fallls Community Theater Cedar Falls, IA | Support the performing arts | $15,000 |
| MercyOne Foundation Waterloo, IA | Medical | $15,000 |
| Waterloo Community Playhouse Waterloo, IA | Support performing arts | $10,000 |
| Friends of NCC Charitable Trust Waterloo, IA | Promote National Cattle Congress | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $195,000 | 18 |
| 2023 | $158,500 | 25 |
| 2022 | $185,000 | 27 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,810,877 | $3,816,761 | $3,861,570 |
| Revenue | $222,626 | $145,659 | $89,296 |
| Expenses | $230,615 | $190,487 | $216,692 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $195,000 | $158,500 | $216,692 |
| Net Investment Income | $222,626 | $115,274 | $84,846 |
| Distributable Amount | $209,703 | $196,227 | $204,393 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Frances Molinaro as president and director; Bryan Molinaro-Blonigan as vice president and director; Shirley Schweertman as secretary and director; and Robin Molinaro-Blonigan as treasurer and director.
Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation is led by Frances Molinaro, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Frances Molinaro
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Molinaro-Blonigan
Vice President & Director
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Molinaro-Blonigan
Treasurer & Director
Treasurer & Director → Tresurer, 2022
Tresurer → Treasurer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shirley Schweertman
Secretary & Director
Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Frances Molinaro
Mailing address: 1409 Olympic Drive, Waterloo, IA 50701
Phone: (319) 233-5474
Frequently asked questions about Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation
How much does Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation give each year?
Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation gave $195K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $159K across 25 grants.
What is Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $10,833, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation give grants?
Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wisconsin (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Waterloo, IA (14 grants).
Does Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cedar Valley Catholic Schools ($25,000), Memorial Foundation of Allen Hospital ($25,000) and Friends of Cedar Valley Sports & Entertainment Commission ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation?
Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $195K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $210K (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 Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as primary and religious education, healthcare, LGBTQ community support, childhood cancer, the performing arts, food assistance, and mental health advocacy and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1480934. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Molinaro Family Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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