Pennebaker Foundation
Pennebaker Foundation is a private foundation based in New London, Iowa. In its 2025 filing, it reported 18 grants totaling $18,600; its stated award restrictions limit giving to Henry County, Iowa, and exclude grants to individuals.
Pennebaker Foundation at a glance
In short: Pennebaker Foundation gave $19K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Iowa. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $18,600
- -4.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,033
- -20.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $366,377
- -3.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (6 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Pennebaker Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing says an application consists of a letter from the applying group describing the grant’s purpose and how funds will be used. It names Larry Van Syoc as the contact. Giving is limited to Henry County, Iowa, and no grants are awarded to individuals.
- Review Cycle
- December 1; the filing does not specify a year.
- Deadline
- December 1; the filing does not specify a year.
- Contact
Application contact: Larry Van Syoc
Mailing address: 2332 Racine Ave, New London, IA 52645
Phone: (319) 367-2603
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pennebaker Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New London Community Schools ($4K). Together the top 10 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that giving is limited to Henry County, Iowa. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Pennebaker Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 17 grantees (35%) 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 $667; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $11K (2022) to $24K (2019). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $19K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New London Community Schools New London, IA | Readingwriting Materials Tickets to Holocost Mus | $4,250 |
| New London Fire and Rescue New London, IA | 2 Sets of Bunker Gear | $2,000 |
| New London Ag Foundation New London, IA | Classroom Resources Equipment Program Activities | $1,250 |
| Mt Union TTT Mount Union, IA | Summer Camp for Girls in Henry County | $1,000 |
| NL Junior Baseball Association New London, IA | Seeding and Improving Softball Field | $1,000 |
| Dover Historical Society New London, IA | Update Electrical in New Building | $1,000 |
| Mt Pleasant Music Charities Inc Mount Pleasant, IA | New Pianoskeyboards for Classrooms | $1,000 |
| Dollars for Scholars Mount Union, IA | Scholarships for HS Graduates | $1,000 |
| NL Tiger Trap Shooting Mount Union, IA | Team Supplies and Safety Equipment | $1,000 |
| Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra Mount Pleasant, IA | Kidsymphony Family Concerts | $1,000 |
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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 | $366,377 | $7,372 | $19,327 | $18,600 | 18 | $18,866 | $6,911 | $18,243 |
| 2024 | $378,332 | $6,708 | $20,000 | $19,450 | 15 | $19,720 | $6,428 | $18,871 |
| 2023 | $391,624 | $6,023 | $20,196 | $11,300 | 10 | $19,600 | $6,023 | $19,553 |
| 2022 | $405,798 | $7,469 | $23,101 | $10,950 | 10 | $22,510 | $6,994 | $20,921 |
| 2021 | $421,430 | $7,899 | $22,802 | $21,731 | 18 | $22,218 | $7,424 | $21,553 |
| 2020 | $436,333 | $7,875 | $23,665 | $22,655 | 15 | — | $7,475 | $22,364 |
| 2019 | $452,123 | $7,535 | $24,672 | $23,884 | 13 | — | $7,173 | $23,143 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pennebaker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K 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 is provided. The 2025 grants show support for activities including classroom resources, scholarships, fire and rescue equipment, youth sports, music programs, historical preservation, and community assistance.
Among its 2025 grantees, the Swedish Heritage Society Foundation described its mission as preserving Swedish-American heritage and interpreting its significance for the present and future.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $18,600. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $4,250, with a median grant of $1,000.
Notable 2025 grants included $4,250 to New London Community Schools for reading and writing materials and tickets; $2,000 to New London Fire and Rescue for two sets of bunker gear; and $1,250 to New London Ag Foundation for classroom resources, equipment, and program activities. Other $1,000 grants included support for scholarships, youth sports, music education, historical preservation, and conservation. The Swedish Heritage Society Foundation received $500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Larry Van Syoc as president; Stephanie Nelson as secretary and treasurer; and Ana Lair and Matt Fitzpatrick as directors.
Pennebaker Foundation is led by Larry Van Syoc, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Larry Van Syoc
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ana Lair
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Fitzpatrick
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Nelson
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Pennebaker Foundation
How much does Pennebaker Foundation give each year?
Pennebaker Foundation gave $19K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $19K across 15 grants.
What is Pennebaker Foundation's typical grant size?
Pennebaker Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,033, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pennebaker Foundation that year got $667 on average.
Where does Pennebaker Foundation give grants?
Pennebaker Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New London, IA (7 grants), Mount Pleasant, IA (6 grants) and Mount Union, IA (3 grants).
Does Pennebaker Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Pennebaker Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Pennebaker Foundation's largest grantees?
Pennebaker Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include New London Community Schools ($4,250), New London Fire and Rescue ($2,000) and New London Ag Foundation ($1,250), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pennebaker Foundation?
Pennebaker Foundation reported $366K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $19K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Pennebaker Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for activities including classroom resources, scholarships, fire and rescue equipment, youth sports, music programs, historical preservation, and community assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pennebaker Foundation?
The 2025 filing says an application consists of a letter from the applying group describing the grant’s purpose and how funds will be used. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Pennebaker Foundation's EIN?
Pennebaker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1274235. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 21, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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