R J Mcelroy Trust logo

R J Mcelroy Trust

WATERLOO, IA EIN: 42-6173496 Website

The R J McElroy Trust is a private foundation based in Waterloo, Iowa, established in 1989. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity dedicated to supporting young people and building stronger communities for children and youth development.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$2.1M

-19.5% YoY

Grant Count

93

-20.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$22K

+1.2% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The trust's core mission is to move McElroy's vision forward, with a stated commitment to creating a better community for young people. The organization focuses on building a region where every child grows up healthy, safe, and thriving.

Primary funding areas include:

  • Youth development
  • Education
  • Human services
  • Philanthropy and volunteerism

Grantmaking

The trust operates a general purpose grant program with one active opportunity listed as the McElroy Trust Grant Program.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The trust primarily funds organizations in Iowa, with some activity in Oklahoma and Virginia.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Cities

ALEXANDRIAAPLINGTONBOSTONCEDAR FALLSCEDAR RAPIDSCHARLES CITYCLARKSVILLEDECORAHDELAWAREDELHIDES MOINESDUBUQUEDUNKERTONDYSARTELGINELKADERFAIRBANKGRUNDY CENTERHOPKINTONHUDSON

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2024):

  • Total assets: $39,687,281
  • Total revenues: $2,338,001
  • Total expenses: $2,741,413
  • Investment income and dividends: $837,831

Assets & Revenue (2023):

  • Total assets: $40,090,693
  • Total revenues: $1,686,954
  • Total expenses: $3,497,048
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$642K$1M$2M$3M1 grants20201 grants20211 grants2022117 grants202393 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

HAWKEYE COMM COLLEGE FOU…$161KUNI FOUNDATION$140KIOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FO…$50KLEADER VALLEY$50KNASHUA PLAINFIELD SCHOOL…$50KRIYO$50KKEYSTONE AREA EDUCATION …$33KGROUT MUSEUM DISTRICT$30KJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EA…$25KLITTLE KNIGHTS LEARNING …$25K

Grant Size Distribution

103 grants across all recorded years

89<$50K8$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from R J Mcelroy Trust

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hawkeye Comm College Foundation ($160,500), Uni Foundation ($140,000), Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation ($50,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
BLACK HAWK COUNTY CONSERVATION WATERLOO, IAPROGRAM SUPPORT$500
CEDAR FALLS HIGH SCHOOL CEDAR FALLS, IAPROGRAM SUPPORT$6,000
CEDAR VALLEY ANGELS WATERLOO, IAPROGRAM SUPPORT$15,000
CEDAR VALLEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WATERLOO, IAPROGRAM SUPPORT$1,000
CEDAR VALLEY PRESCHOOL & CHILDCARE CEDAR FALLS, IAOPERATING SUPPORT$7,000
CENTRAL RIVERS AEA FOUNDATION CEDAR FALLS, IATEACHING GRANTS$20,000
CITY OF DELAWARE DELAWARE, IAPARK ENHANCEMENTS$5,000
CITY OF WELLSBURG WELLSBURG, IAPROGRAM SUPPORT$20,000
ELGIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY ELGIN, IAPROGRAM SUPPORT$2,500
EMBRACING EXPLORATIONS WATERLOO, IAPROGRAM SUPPORT$15,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Board of Trustees:

  • Mike Young
  • Kathy Flynn
  • Jim Waterbury
  • Sally Hollis
  • Robert Smith, Jr.
  • Raleigh Buckmaster

Staff:

  • Megan McKenzie, Executive Director
  • Katie Hinders, Program Officer
  • Holly Stanic, Gold Star Coordinator

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

MEGAN MCKENZIEEXECUTIVE DI$88KJAMES WATERBURYTRUSTEE$6KROBERT SMITH JRTRUSTEE$6KMICHAEL YOUNGTRUSTEE$6KSALLY HOLLISTRUSTEE$6KKATHY FLYNNTRUSTEE$6KRALEIGH BUCKMASTERTRUSTEE$3K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JAMES WATERBURYTRUSTEE0.1$6,000
ROBERT SMITH JRTRUSTEE0.1$6,000
MICHAEL YOUNGTRUSTEE0.1$6,000
SALLY HOLLISTRUSTEE0.1$6,000
MEGAN MCKENZIEEXECUTIVE DI40$87,500
RALEIGH BUCKMASTERTRUSTEE0.1$3,000
KATHY FLYNNTRUSTEE0.1$6,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The trust has been active in supporting educational initiatives, including a $250,000 grant to Allen College for simulation lab expansion. The organization has also announced award programs for teachers and continues to support youth-focused organizations across Iowa.

Allen College sim lab gets $250K boost from R.J. McElroy Trust | News | kwwl.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What does R J Mcelroy Trust fund?

The trust's core mission is to move McElroy's vision forward, with a stated commitment to creating a better community for young people. The organization focuses on building a region where every child grows up healthy, safe, and thriving. Primary funding areas include: • Youth development • Education • Human services • Philanthropy and volunteerism

How do I apply for a grant from R J Mcelroy Trust?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $2,067,110 • Total giving (2023): $2,793,609 • Giving rate: 6.8% of assets **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $50,000–$615,000 • Recent grants have included awards of $75,000, $50,500, and $50,000 to organizations such as Youth Art Team, YWCA Black Hawk County, and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation **Recent Grants (2024):** • Youth Art Team: $75,000 (Program Support) • YWCA Black Hawk County: $50,500 (Program Support) • Iowa Natural Herit…

Where does R J Mcelroy Trust make grants?

The trust primarily funds organizations in Iowa, with some activity in Oklahoma and Virginia.

What size grants does R J Mcelroy Trust award?

In 2024, R J Mcelroy Trust awarded 93 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is R J Mcelroy Trust's EIN?

R J Mcelroy Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6173496. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in R J Mcelroy Trust's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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