R J Mcelroy Trust
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.
Key facts about R J Mcelroy Trust
- EIN
- 42-6173496
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,067,110
- Grants made (2024)
- 93
- Average grant
- $22,227
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Primary geography
- Iowa (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who R J Mcelroy Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for R J Mcelroy Trust's 93 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Waterloo, IA (38 grants), Cedar Falls, IA (19 grants), Waverly, IA (5 grants) and Dubuque, IA (4 grants). 12% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (43 grants), "Gold Star Award" (23 grants) and "Fellowship Stipend" (11 grants).
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
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.
Ready to take the next step with R J Mcelroy Trust?
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
Cities
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
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
213 grants across all recorded years
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 recipients include Waterloo Leisure Services ($615,000), Waterloo Community Schools ($216,900), Hawkeye Comm College Foundation ($160,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES WATERLOO, IA | PROGRAM/OPERATING SUPPORT | $615,000 |
| WATERLOO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WATERLOO, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $216,900 |
| HAWKEYE COMM COLLEGE FOUNDATION WATERLOO, IA | SCHOLARSHIPS/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $160,500 |
| UNI FOUNDATION CEDAR FALLS, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $140,000 |
| YOUTH ART TEAM WATERLOO, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| YWCA WATERLOO, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,500 |
| IOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION DES MOINES, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| LEADER VALLEY WATERLOO, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| NASHUA PLAINFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT NASHUA, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| RIYO WATERLOO, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
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
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES WATERBURY | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $6,000 |
| ROBERT SMITH JR | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $6,000 |
| MICHAEL YOUNG | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $6,000 |
| SALLY HOLLIS | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $6,000 |
| MEGAN MCKENZIE | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $87,500 |
| RALEIGH BUCKMASTER | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $3,000 |
| KATHY FLYNN | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | $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.comFrequently 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
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.