South Central Iowa Community Foundation
South Central Iowa Community Foundation is a public charity based in Chariton, Iowa. It grows endowment funds and awards charitable grants and educational scholarships benefiting Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold, and Union Counties in south central Iowa.
South Central Iowa Community Foundation at a glance
In short: South Central Iowa Community Foundation gave $386K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Iowa. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $386,470
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +23.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,864
- -14.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,780
- Total assets
- $16,710,529
- +7.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (7 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to South Central Iowa Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation provides county grant application materials. Applicants should follow the relevant county application instructions and eligibility requirements.
- Review Cycle
- The Lucas County application overview lists March 1, 2025. The Union County overview lists April 1, with grants approved by June 1.
- Deadline
- The Lucas County application overview lists March 1, 2025.
- Contact
Mailing address: 704 Ilion Ave, Chariton, IA 50049
Phone: (641) 217-9105
Website: https://scicf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from South Central Iowa Community Foundation
Lamoni Freedom Fund Grant
South Central Iowa Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
SCICF: Lucas County Grants
South Central Iowa Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
SCICF: Union County Grants
South Central Iowa Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who South Central Iowa Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Decatur County Conservation ($82K). Together the top 10 received $258K.
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 126 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold, and Union Counties in south central Iowa as its service area. Its county grant materials specify service in Lucas County or Union County for the respective opportunities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is South Central Iowa Community Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 26 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $12K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $280K (2023) to $802K (2020). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $386K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur County Conservation | — | $82,350 |
| Ringgold County Fair Mount Ayr, IA | — | $28,500 |
| Ringgold County Public Health Mount Ayr, IA | — | $24,990 |
| Southwestern Community College Creston, IA | — | $23,300 |
| Graceland University Lamoni, IA | — | $23,220 |
| Iowa State University Ames, IA | — | $19,960 |
| Princess Theater Mount Ayr, IA | — | $17,910 |
| University of Iowa | — | $12,900 |
| Southern Prairie Family Fitness Cen Creston, IA | — | $12,780 |
| Ringgold County Teen Center Mount Ayr, IA | — | $12,280 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,710,529 | $1,925,585 | $709,096 | $386,470 | 26 | $1,660,769 |
| 2024 | $15,539,506 | $2,055,319 | $685,413 | $366,720 | 21 | $1,706,429 |
| 2023 | $14,165,099 | $1,248,440 | $560,257 | $279,916 | 24 | $1,169,629 |
| 2022 | $13,478,774 | $-1,711,504 | $655,740 | $296,094 | 22 | $-1,838,294 |
| 2021 | $15,877,246 | $5,307,597 | $7,512,347 | $376,361 | 33 | $4,049,268 |
| 2020 | $18,209,887 | $1,666,903 | $1,507,606 | $802,184 | 63 | $249,405 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to contribute to a better life for people in South Central Iowa by helping donors carry out their charitable intent and providing responsible stewardship of gifts for community purposes. It describes its grantmaking as support for charitable and community organizations, projects, and improvements, as well as educational scholarships.
Examples of supported organizations include Southwestern Community College, which received $23,300 in 2025. The college describes its mission as providing scholarships to its students and grants that encourage its academic development and growth. Graceland University, which received $23,220, describes its mission as helping students develop through intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual growth. Mayflower Heritage Christian School, which received $11,850, describes its mission as providing Christ-centered academic instruction for grades K–8.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $386,470. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $82,350, with a median of $10,780. Among the largest awards were $82,350 to Decatur County Conservation, $28,500 to Ringgold County Fair, $24,990 to Ringgold County Public Health, and $23,300 to Southwestern Community College.
The foundation’s grant materials describe county-specific opportunities. Lucas County’s application overview lists nonprofits and qualifying government units providing services in the county as eligible applicants; applicants without qualifying status must use a fiscal sponsor. It requires prior grant final reports to be on file and asks applicants to include project estimates and photos when applicable. The overview lists existing debt, operating expenses, salaries or labor, and consumable items, freight, or shipping among items generally not funded. Union County materials also identify projects or programs and endowment building as grant types, require prior reports or an approved extension to be on file, and list the same general funding exclusions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dennis Jeter as Board Chair, Shannon Lecy as Vice Chair, Erik Niggemeyer as Secretary, and Melissa Snell as Treasurer. It lists Ray Thurlby, Hanna Gwinn, Mike Frost, Tracy Barnes, and Sarah Long as directors.
South Central Iowa Community Foundation is led by Dennis Jeter, Board Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dennis Jeter
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Frost
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ray Thurlby
Director
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Barnes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hanna Gwinn
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Long
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erik Niggemeyer
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Snell
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Lecy
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Diane Ross (2020–2024) — President & CEO
- Former: Judy Hopkins (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Mary Stogdill (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ann Schlapia (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Adam Bahr (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Alysha Van Laar (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Barb Stephens (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Clint Spurrier (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jim Wright (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kay Herring (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kristen Akers (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kyle Wilson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Liz Justice (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mike Kucera (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Pennie Cheers (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Steve Reynolds (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Dave Hobbs (2021) — Director
- Former: Jodi Briggs (2021) — Director
- Former: Rhonda Giles (2021) — Director
- Former: David Hobbs (2020) — Director
- Former: Don Sheridan (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Mary Stierwalt (2020) — Director
- Former: Molly Murphy (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 South Central Iowa Community Foundation
How much does South Central Iowa Community Foundation give each year?
South Central Iowa Community Foundation gave $386K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $367K across 21 grants.
What is South Central Iowa Community Foundation's typical grant size?
South Central Iowa Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,780, and its average grant was $14,864, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from South Central Iowa Community Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does South Central Iowa Community Foundation give grants?
South Central Iowa Community Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mount AYR, IA (5 grants), Creston, IA (3 grants) and Lamoni, IA (2 grants).
Who are South Central Iowa Community Foundation's largest grantees?
South Central Iowa Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Decatur County Conservation ($82,350), Ringgold County Fair ($28,500) and Ringgold County Public Health ($24,990), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is South Central Iowa Community Foundation?
South Central Iowa Community Foundation reported $16.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.9M.
What does South Central Iowa Community Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to contribute to a better life for people in South Central Iowa by helping donors carry out their charitable intent and providing responsible stewardship of gifts for community purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from South Central Iowa Community Foundation?
The foundation provides county grant application materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is South Central Iowa Community Foundation's EIN?
South Central Iowa Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1411234. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 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 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work South Central Iowa Community Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in South Central Iowa Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). South Central Iowa Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/south-central-iowa-community-foundation-morg_ecea972938cf48baa5cce0b8e49bfce4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421411234_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{South Central Iowa Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/south-central-iowa-community-foundation-morg_ecea972938cf48baa5cce0b8e49bfce4},
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 South Central Iowa Community 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.
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