Otto Schoitz Foundation
The Otto Schoitz Foundation is a private foundation based in Waterloo, Iowa, that makes grants to improve health and wellbeing in the Cedar Valley community. Established in 2016 following the ownership transfer of Charlotte Lee Schoitz Memorial Hospital, it continues the philanthropic legacy of Otto A. Schoitz and the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters.
Otto Schoitz Foundation at a glance
In short: Otto Schoitz Foundation gave $3.7M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $70K), mostly in Iowa. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,726,109
- +8.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- -3.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $70,304
- +12.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $74,423,347
- +6.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (10 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Otto Schoitz Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Apply through the online grant management system during an active cycle.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists a Fall 2026 LOI window of May 26–July 5, an application due date of August 16, and an award date of November 2026. It says submission deadlines are identified in the online grant management system.
- Deadline
- The website lists a Fall 2026 LOI window of May 26–July 5, an application due date of August 16, and an award date of…
- Contact
Application contact: Catherine Showalter
Mailing address: 114 E 4Th Street Suite 300, Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 232-2870
Website: https://ottoschoitzfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Otto Schoitz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northeast Iowa Food Bank ($800K). Together the top 10 received $2.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
257 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 179 grants of 257 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s filing describes a 30-mile funding radius. Its website identifies the Cedar Valley as its community focus and says its preferences favor proposals that impact Waterloo.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Otto Schoitz Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 53 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $72K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $26K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.2M (2021) to $3.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $3.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Iowa Food Bank Waterloo, IA | Operating and Capital Support | $800,000 |
| Waterloo Development Corporation Waterloo, IA | Capital | $500,000 |
| Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity Waterloo, IA | Programmatic Support | $365,000 |
| City of Waterlooleisure Services Waterloo, IA | Capital | $333,334 |
| Christian Community Development DBA House of Hope Waterloo, IA | Operating and Capital Support | $325,000 |
| Cedar Falls Schools Foundation Cedar Falls, IA | Capital | $150,000 |
| Successlink Waterloo, IA | Operating Support | $90,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley Waterloo, IA | Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Cedar Valley Friends of the Family Waterloo, IA | Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Grin and Grow Ltd DBA Growing Minds Early Learning Center Waterloo, IA | Operating Support | $63,750 |
Ready to take the next step with Otto Schoitz Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Grantmaking totals reported in the Foundation’s filings:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,423,347 | $1,191,065 | $4,389,571 | $3,726,109 | 53 | $3,971,872 | $1,052,752 | $3,451,296 |
| 2024 | $70,066,615 | $5,594,893 | $5,289,420 | $3,443,621 | 55 | $3,794,637 | $4,032,081 | $3,158,995 |
| 2023 | $60,720,167 | $1,173,025 | $3,055,079 | $3,503,052 | 56 | $3,763,504 | $1,321,680 | $2,986,217 |
| 2022 | $57,256,021 | $3,584,223 | $5,151,130 | $3,670,612 | 50 | $3,908,128 | $2,476,848 | $3,178,237 |
| 2021 | $68,331,413 | $12,915,755 | $2,432,605 | $2,247,303 | 43 | — | $12,812,963 | $3,081,999 |
| 2019 | $59,448,561 | $1,889,291 | $3,136,339 | $2,805,556 | 32 | — | $1,317,802 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Otto Schoitz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M 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
The Foundation’s mission is to improve health and wellbeing for all in the Cedar Valley. Its funding preferences favor proposals with significant community benefit or that address serious local need. The Foundation identifies priorities including sharing funding with others, impacting Waterloo, demonstrating evidence of success, addressing root causes, creating equitable opportunities—particularly racial and ethnic equity—and meeting the needs of vulnerable people.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in food access, housing, social services, education, youth development, and legal aid. For example, Northeast Iowa Food Bank describes its mission as providing nutritious food and grocery products and offering hunger education. Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity describes its work as providing safe, affordable housing in partnership with people needing adequate shelter. Cedar Valley Friends of the Family describes its services as safe shelter, confidential services, and housing assistance for people in crisis. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
The Foundation awards grants twice a year, in spring and fall. Its 2025 IRS filing lists 53 grants totaling $3,726,109; the median grant was $25,000, with awards ranging from $100 to $800,000. The Foundation’s website separately reports that it awarded $1,062,510 to 22 organizations in Fall 2025.
Among the largest grants listed for 2025 were $800,000 to Northeast Iowa Food Bank for operating and capital support, $500,000 to Waterloo Development Corporation for capital, $365,000 to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity for programmatic support, and $333,334 to City of Waterloo Leisure Services for capital. Other listed awards included $325,000 to Christian Community Development for operating and capital support and $150,000 to Cedar Falls Schools Foundation for capital.
First-time applicants create an account in the Foundation’s grant management system and submit an application through an active grant cycle. The filing instructions call for an application identifying the purpose and amount requested, accompanied by financial statements, proof of 501(c)(3) status or qualifying public-purpose verification, and other supporting documents as requested. The Foundation’s website says it does not fund individuals, for-profit entities, organizations that are not 501(c)(3)s, projects outside its 30-mile radius, multiple applications from one entity in a cycle, religious events or promotions, fundraising events or endowment campaigns, projects misaligned with its mission, or competitors of MercyOne.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Catherine Showalter as executive director; Christine Kemp as chair; Rhonda McRina as vice chair; Blake Hollis as immediate past chair; Eric Locke as treasurer; and Andrew Miehe as secretary. Directors listed are Robert Greenwood, Renee Christoffer, James Corye Johnson, and Karin Rowe.
Otto Schoitz Foundation is led by Catherine Showalter, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Catherine Showalter
Executive Director
Grant Coordinator → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$70K (2022) → $120K (2025)
Christine Kemp
Chair
Director → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Mallaro
Director
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karin Rowe
Director
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meagan Miller
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Greenwood
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Corye Johnson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renee Christoffer
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Locke
Treasurer
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2024
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Blake Hollis
Immediate Past Chair
Treasurer → Chair, 2024
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rhonda McRina
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Miehe
Secretary
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Camille Hogan (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Michele Panicucci (2019–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: David Harris (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Andy Miehe (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Becky Mudd (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Hugh Field (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Rudy Jones (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Will Frost (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Doug Stanford (2022) — Director
- Former: Catherine Young (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Douglas Stanford (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Robert Petersen (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Dennis Clark (2019) — Director
- Former: Donna Nelson (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $120K, to Catherine Showalter (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Otto Schoitz Foundation
How much does Otto Schoitz Foundation give each year?
Otto Schoitz Foundation gave $3.7M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.4M across 55 grants.
What is Otto Schoitz Foundation's typical grant size?
Otto Schoitz Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $70,304, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Otto Schoitz Foundation that year got $61K on average.
Where does Otto Schoitz Foundation give grants?
Otto Schoitz Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waterloo, IA (42 grants) and Cedar Falls, IA (6 grants).
Does Otto Schoitz Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of Otto Schoitz Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Programmatic Support" (16 grants) and "Capital" (3 grants).
Who are Otto Schoitz Foundation's largest grantees?
Otto Schoitz Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northeast Iowa Food Bank ($800,000), Waterloo Development Corporation ($500,000) and Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity ($365,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Otto Schoitz Foundation?
Otto Schoitz Foundation reported $74.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Otto Schoitz Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve health and wellbeing for all in the Cedar Valley. Its funding preferences favor proposals with significant community benefit or that address serious local need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Otto Schoitz Foundation?
Apply through the online grant management system during an active cycle. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Otto Schoitz Foundation's EIN?
Otto Schoitz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1949053. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 23, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Otto Schoitz Foundation funds
Health Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Otto Schoitz Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation
Cedar Falls, IA
The Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation funds social issues, education, family and community betterment, and health, recreation, and fitness, primarily in eight Iowa counties. Its typical grants are $1,000–$35,000, with a 2025 median of $16,000; it accepts applications through its online system once per year.
Assets
$49.9M
Grants
125
Total Given
$2.2M
Cedar Valley United Way
Waterloo, IA
Cedar Valley United Way funds education, financial stability, health, emergency and basic needs, and social innovation programs serving residents within 30 miles of Waterloo, Iowa. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,037 to $283,632, with a median of about $20,000; emergency-needs requests are typically $10,000–$75,000. It accepts applications through online funding processes, with FY2027 program applications due February 26, 2026, and social innovation requests reviewed on a rolling basis.
Assets
$2.7M
Grants
38
Total Given
$1.3M
LSB Foundation
Reinbeck, IA
The LSB Foundation supports education, scholarships, financial literacy, housing, food assistance, human services, and community projects through grants to tax-qualified organizations in Lincoln Savings Bank’s service markets, primarily in Iowa. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $1,000. It accepts applications from eligible organizations; applications are available at Lincoln Savings Bank offices and reviewed quarterly.
Assets
$83K
Grants
130
Total Given
$239K
Trustage Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
TruStage Foundation funds economic mobility through education—especially K–12 literacy, mentoring, and tutoring—and housing, including affordable housing, homelessness support, and rental assistance, with an emphasis on equity and systemic change. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $650,000, with a median of $22,500; it prioritizes Madison/Dane County, Wisconsin, and the Cedar Valley area of Iowa, while employee giving supports organizations nationwide. Its 2024 filing says it funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$14.6M
Grants
74
Total Given
$3.6M
R J McElroy Trust
Waterloo, IA
The R.J. McElroy Trust funds nonprofit and government programs and projects that support young people’s education and well-being, primarily in 12 northeast Iowa counties. Grants vary widely; in 2024 the median was $5,000, though some awards were much larger. It invites letters of intent at any time, so unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$39.7M
Grants
93
Total Given
$2.1M
The Accel Foundation
Waverly, IA
The foundation funds charitable work in human services, education, food assistance, housing, and community support, primarily in Iowa, with some giving in Arizona. Its 2025 grants ranged from $60 to $10,000, with a median of $1,063. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$90K
Grants
27
Total Given
$63K
More similar funders
More Funders in Iowa
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Otto Schoitz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/otto-schoitz-foundation-morg_b546a53b45e8496fadc778d1dcf0bddd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_811949053_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Otto Schoitz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/otto-schoitz-foundation-morg_b546a53b45e8496fadc778d1dcf0bddd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Otto Schoitz 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.
Otto Schoitz Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?