Promise Partners

Public charity · Grantmaker Council Bluffs, IA EIN: 26-1240327

Promise Partners is a public charity based in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The organization’s website says Promise Partners rebranded as Thriving Families Alliance in 2021; the alliance describes its role as bringing Southwest Iowa communities and agencies together to support children and families.

Promise Partners at a glance

In short: Promise Partners gave $1.6M across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $67K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,599,361
+52.9% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
24
+380.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$66,640
-68.1% vs 2024
Median grant
$26,087
Total assets
$1,378,820
+28.3% vs 2024
Primary geography
Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Promise Partners

Contact

Mailing address: 421 W Broadway Ste 540, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Phone: (712) 256-9920

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Promise Partners funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Southwest Iowa Families: $400KSouthwest Iowa Families$400KLutheran Family Services: $198KLutheran Family Services$198KWest Central Community Action: $184KWest Central Community Action$184KVisiting Nurse Association: $96KVisiting Nurse Association$96KCass County Public Health: $95KCass County Public Health$95KBurgess Health Center: $85KBurgess Health Center$85KHarrison County Home and Public Hea: $85KHarrison County Home andPublic Hea$85KMills County Public Health: $70KMills County Public Health$70KMyrtue Medical Center: $61KMyrtue Medical Center$61KISU Extension & Outreach Page Count: $50KISU Extension & Outreach PageCount$50K

The largest 2025 recipient was Southwest Iowa Families ($400K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.

Grant Size Distribution

45 grants across all recorded years

19<$50K9$50–100K9$100–250K8$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 45 (42%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization is based in Council Bluffs, Iowa. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa. The FY27 RFPs listed applicants in Monona, Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, and Page counties as eligible by geography.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Council BluffsHarlanClarindaAtlanticGlenwoodAnitaCrestonElk HornEssexGriswoldLoganOnawaShenandoahSidneyWoodbine

How Promise Partners gives

  • Giving grew 101% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M6 grants2019 5 grants2020 5 grants2021 6 grants2022 5 grants2023 5 grants2024 24 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $797K (2022) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Southwest Iowa Families Clarinda, IAMental Health Healthy FamiliesPAT$400,028
Lutheran Family Services Council Bluffs, IAPATMIECHVCircle of Security$197,875
West Central Community Action Harlan, IAQuality Childcare$184,347
Visiting Nurse Association Council Bluffs, IAProject WIN$96,358
Cass County Public Health Atlantic, IAParents as Teachers$95,000
Burgess Health Center Onawa, IAParents as Teachers$85,000
Harrison County Home and Public Hea Logan, IAParents as teachers$85,000
Mills County Public Health Glenwood, IAParents as Teachers$69,730
Myrtue Medical Center Harlan, IAParents as Teachers$60,506
ISU Extension & Outreach Page Count Clarinda, IAParents as Teachers$49,987
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Promise Partners?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$1,378,820$2,912,128$2,755,248$1,599,36124$485
2024$1,074,475$1,906,107$1,899,561$1,045,8785$594
2023$940,339$1,808,594$1,746,004$884,2315$182
2022$925,581$1,678,671$1,619,476$797,4646$114
2021$838,730$1,788,908$1,688,331$1,048,8825$64
2020$707,594$1,691,391$1,666,258$1,080,9755$98
2019$764,046$1,793,200$1,654,495$1,162,8016$160

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s stated mission is to empower a caring community that promises the well-being of every child. Its website describes interagency and cross-discipline collaboration as a way to coordinate services for children and families. Its 2024 filing describes coordination with multiple agencies, family support, preschool support grants, quality childcare incentives, family stability services, and work to prevent abuse and neglect and divert children from formal systems.

The 2025 grants included support for Parents as Teachers, childcare quality, family mental health, and other family-support services. Among the grantees described in their own words, Southwest Iowa Families says its mission is to enhance the lives of children and families in Southwest Iowa through family counseling and support programs. West Central Community Action says it administers programs to help residents in its 10-county region achieve self-sufficiency. Burgess Health Center describes its mission as improving quality of life through healthcare, while Matura Action Corporation says it provides programming to strengthen families and help people in need achieve self-sufficiency.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the organization reported 24 grants totaling $1,599,361. Grants ranged from $5,058 to $400,028, with a median of $26,086. Larger awards included $400,028 to Southwest Iowa Families for Mental Health Healthy FamiliesPAT, $197,875 to Lutheran Family Services for PATMIECHVCircle of Security, $184,347 to West Central Community Action for Quality Childcare, and $96,358 to Visiting Nurse Association for Project WIN. Other awards included $95,000 to Cass County Public Health and $85,000 each to Burgess Health Center and Harrison County Home and Public Health for Parents as Teachers.

The FY27 Early Childhood Iowa Board RFPs for Early Literacy, Car Seat Safety, and Public Awareness/Child Fairs were posted February 25, 2026. Their stated applicant geography was nine Iowa counties. The funding-opportunities page listed an intent to award for FY27 on May 21, 2026; these dates are past. The RFP materials were provided as PDF applications, with editable documents available upon request. The RFP instructions said to read all instructions and timelines thoroughly and that questions would not be accepted by written or verbal communication to board or staff members unless otherwise noted in the RFP.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Patricia Russmann as Executive Director. It lists Kris Smith, Nosimilo Dube, Brenda Renter, David Clark, Danelle Riley, Travis Heaton, Curtis Hamstra, Mary Ann Hanusa, and Susan Miller as directors.

Promise Partners is led by Patricia Russmann, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Patricia Russmann

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $71K (2019) → $81K (2025)

  • Wendy Richter

    Chair

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kris Smith

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tom Buska

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Curtis Hamstra

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Miller

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Brenda Renter

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Danelle Riley

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Clark

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Ann Hanusa

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Nosimilo Dube

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Travis Heaton

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Scott Belt

    Vice Chair

    Vice Chairperson → Vice Chair, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Baker

    Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (11)
  • Former: Gayle Strickland (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Melvyn Houser (2019–2024) — Chair
  • Former: Alexis Johnson (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Justin Schultz (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Hollie Thompson (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jonathan Riek (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Tim Ross (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jim Schalley (2022) — Director
  • Former: Alex Johnson (2019) — Director
  • Former: Christine Gochenour (2019) — Director
  • Former: Lanette Plambeck (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

Patricia Russmann — Executive Director: $81KPatricia RussmannExecutive Director$81K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $81K, to Patricia Russmann (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about Promise Partners

How much does Promise Partners give each year?

Promise Partners gave $1.6M across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 5 grants.

What is Promise Partners's typical grant size?

Promise Partners's median grant in 2025 was $26,087, and its average grant was $66,640, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Promise Partners give grants?

Promise Partners gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Council Bluffs, IA (4 grants), Harlan, IA (3 grants), Atlantic, IA (3 grants) and Clarinda, IA (2 grants).

Does Promise Partners give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Promise Partners's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Parents as Teachers" (7 grants) and "Quality Improvement" (5 grants).

Who are Promise Partners's largest grantees?

Promise Partners's largest 2025 grantees include Southwest Iowa Families ($400,028), Lutheran Family Services ($197,875) and West Central Community Action ($184,347), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Promise Partners?

Promise Partners reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.9M.

What does Promise Partners fund?

The organization’s stated mission is to empower a caring community that promises the well-being of every child. Its website describes interagency and cross-discipline collaboration as a way to coordinate services for children and families. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Promise Partners?

Promise Partners has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Promise Partners's EIN?

Promise Partners's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1240327. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

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

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 21, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Promise Partners's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

First Interstate BancSystem Foundation

Billings, MT

The First Interstate BancSystem Foundation funds poverty reduction, youth development, financial education, and community development, as well as civic, arts, education, health, human services, and sustainability efforts in communities served by First Interstate Bank across 10 states. Its 2025 grants had a median award of $2,500, though amounts varied widely; the stated minimum grant is $2,500. Organizations can submit grant requests online, which are traditionally reviewed monthly, but grants must be recommended by a local First Interstate branch.

Assets

$19.2M

Grants

767

Total Given

$5.0M

Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation

Johnston, IA

The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation funds Iowa projects in oral health, vision, mental health, and related health access, prevention, education, workforce, and system-change efforts. Its 2024 grants ranged from about $5,000 to $413,000, with a median award of $25,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$45.4M

Grants

61

Total Given

$2.9M

The Sunderland Foundation

Overland Park, KS

The Sunderland Foundation supports organizations serving Greater Kansas City, focusing on affordable housing, economic stability, health and behavioral health, youth development, and select legacy institutions. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,750 to $25 million, with a median of $375,000; it is invitation-only and is not currently accepting applications or proposals.

Assets

$927.0M

Grants

25

Total Given

$102.1M

United Way of the Midlands

Omaha, NE

United Way of the Midlands funds programs addressing community resilience, youth opportunity, financial security, and healthy communities, primarily for economically vulnerable people in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $503,557, with a median of $50,000. It uses an application process beginning with a letter of intent; only invited applicants proceed to a formal application.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$23.9M

Grants

84

Total Given

$7.5M

Iowa West Foundation

Council Bluffs, IA

Iowa West Foundation funds community organizations and projects focused on belonging, financial stability, opportunity, and well-being, including work in housing, education, recreation, and community development. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from $1,585 to more than $3 million; it primarily supports Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, within a 14-county southwest Iowa footprint. It accepts unsolicited Letters of Inquiry year-round through its online process.

Assets

$495.7M

Grants

134

Total Given

$15.9M

Todd and Mary Heistand Family Foundation

Woodbine, IA

The Todd and Mary Heistand Family Foundation supports nonprofits and government entities serving children in poverty and families in crisis, as well as workforce development—especially construction trades—and collaborative or rural community programs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with a median of $25,000; it favors the Omaha/Council Bluffs area and western Iowa within 100 miles of Omaha, particularly southwest Iowa. It accepts Letters of Interest through its online portal, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full application.

Assets

$922K

Grants

65

Total Given

$2.3M

More similar funders

More Funders in Iowa

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Promise Partners funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/promise-partners-morg_b9cb14deba32445899fd88758fe30f92

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261240327_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Promise Partners funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/promise-partners-morg_b9cb14deba32445899fd88758fe30f92},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Promise Partners'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.

Promise Partners down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?