Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County
The Special Needs Foundation of an individual recipient County is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in Burlington, Iowa. Incorporated in 1951, it supports children and adults with disabilities and chronic health conditions through direct services and assistance related to health, rehabilitation, education, recreation, and daily activities.
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County at a glance
In short: Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County gave $81K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $80,890
- +29.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,996
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,090
- Total assets
- $3,844,951
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its E.B. Gnahn Scholarship Program has application and renewal forms; the foundation describes eligibility requirements and a process that includes scholarship committee review and award notifications.
- Contact
Mailing address: 829 Harrison Ave, Burlington, IA 52601
Phone: (319) 752-8222
Website: https://specialneedsdmc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 106 grants of 106 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s direct-service programs, including medical equipment and supplies, are for an individual recipient County residents. For the E.B. Gnahn Scholarship Program, applicants must be graduates of a an individual recipient County high school or have been county residents for five years before applying. In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa; the remaining reported shares included Missouri (5%), Rhode Island (3%), Nebraska (3%), and Maryland (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
How Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2024) to $96K (2022). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $81K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 27 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $80,890 |
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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 | $3,844,951 | $118,349 | $251,280 | $80,890 | 27 | $191,674 | $58,492 | $189,772 |
| 2024 | $3,603,214 | $184,781 | $218,106 | $62,360 | 21 | $171,578 | $126,683 | $174,888 |
| 2023 | $3,282,537 | $215,822 | $197,895 | $77,238 | 23 | $154,428 | $163,468 | $164,784 |
| 2022 | $3,212,241 | $340,401 | $202,293 | $96,180 | 19 | $162,927 | $287,915 | $172,670 |
| 2021 | $3,688,497 | $153,602 | $181,729 | $82,343 | 16 | — | $35,764 | $170,271 |
| 2020 | $2,987,907 | $85,224 | $188,084 | $92,746 | 17 | — | $53,167 | $156,705 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County reported a distributable amount of $190K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide direct service to children and adults with disabilities and chronic health conditions, and to assist with their health, welfare, rehabilitation, employment, education, recreation, and daily activities in an individual recipient County.
Its E.B. Gnahn Scholarship Program is open to students with disabilities majoring in any field, as well as students majoring in health-related fields or special education. Applicants must have graduated from a an individual recipient County high school or have been county residents for five years before applying; scholarships are renewable. The foundation also supports aquatic classes, activities, and camperships for people with disabilities or chronic health conditions.
In 2025, the foundation’s largest reported grants were for scholarships to colleges and universities. Southeastern Community College, which received $13,030, describes its role as awarding grants to its students; it reported that approximately 300 students received scholarships during the year. Other 2025 scholarship recipients included the University of Iowa, Central College, Drake University, Mount Mercy University, and St. Ambrose University.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $80,890. Grants ranged from $1,290 to $13,030, with a median of $2,090. The largest awards were $13,030 to Southeastern Community College and $9,650 to the University of Iowa, both for scholarships. Central College, Drake University, Mount Mercy University, and St. Ambrose University each received $4,180 for scholarships. Other listed scholarship recipients included Brown University and Creighton University, each receiving $2,090.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Margie Swanner as president, Dennis Stewart as first vice president, Leah Matteson as second vice president, Ed Carter as treasurer, and Barb Garcia as secretary. It lists Ricci Neilson and Kathy Ewinger as staff.
The 2025 filing also lists Dennis Stewart as first vice president and names Ruth Metzger, Sue Kristensen, Jodi Reusch, and Brian Helling as volunteers; Pat Cummings, Jill Mehaffy-Nalley, Christine Ertz, and Mark McGuire as board members; and Burton Prugh as a volunteer.
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County is led by Margie Swanner, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 28 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margie Swanner
President
2nd Vice President → 1st Vice President, 2023
1st Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
US Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$20K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Brian Helling
Volunteer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Burton Prugh
Volunteer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christine Ertz
Board Member
Volunteer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dennis Stewart
1st Vice President
Volunteer → 1st Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ed Carter
Treasurer
Volunteer → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Evelyn Swearingen
Volunteer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Janelle McGuire
Board Member
Volunteer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joanie Power
Volunteer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Judy Riffel
Volunteer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mark McGuire
Board Member
1st Vice President → President, 2023
President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Pat Cummings
Board Member
Volunteer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robin Cushman
Board Member
Volunteer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ruth Metzger
Volunteer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sue Kristensen
Volunteer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William Fry
Board Memeber
Treasurer → Board Memeber, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jill Mehaffy-Nalley
Board Member
Volunteer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Jodi Reusch
Volunteer
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Barb Garcia
Secretary
Volunteer → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Debbie LONGCORE
Volunteer
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Gary ORTH
Volunteer
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Janet SCHNOEBLEN
Volunteer
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Sue SATTLER
Volunteer
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Heather Kienol
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Leah Matteson
2nd Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Rhonda Miller
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Wayne Helmus
Case Services Coordinator
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Briana Martson (2023–2024) — Volunteer
- Former: Roger Schulz (2023–2024) — Volunteer
- Former: Chloe Hayes (2024) — Case Services Coordinator
- Former: Barb Fenton (2020–2023) — Volunteer
- Former: Paula Renard (2020–2023) — Volunteer
- Former: Sam Warner (2020–2023) — Volunteer
- Former: Amy Hayes (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Howard Toops (2021–2023) — Volunteer
- Former: Lisa Daly-Begner (2023) — Volunteer
- Former: Patty Penrod (2020–2022) — Volunteer
- Former: Sue Kristen (2022) — Volunteer
- Former: Dianne Smrdel (2020–2021) — Volunteer
- Former: Mark Rosenberg (2020–2021) — Volunteer
- Former: Jake Hanks (2020) — Volunteer
- Former: Joyce Cross (2020) — Volunteer
- Former: Karen Olson (2020) — Volunteer
- Former: Sherry Zeller (2020) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $23K, to US Bank (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County
How much does Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County give each year?
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County gave $81K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $62K across 21 grants.
What is Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County's typical grant size?
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County's median grant in 2025 was $2,090, and its average grant was $2,996, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County give grants?
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County gives mostly in Iowa: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (5%).
Does Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (27 grants).
How large is Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County?
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $192K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $190K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide direct service to children and adults with disabilities and chronic health conditions, and to assist with their health, welfare, rehabilitation, employment, education, recreation, and daily activities in an individual recipient County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County's EIN?
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1090677. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/special-needs-foundation-of-des-moines-county-morg_512f6374cdbe45ff956e0c70ec3e2657
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421090677_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/special-needs-foundation-of-des-moines-county-morg_512f6374cdbe45ff956e0c70ec3e2657},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County'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.
Special Needs Foundation of Des Moines County down — hundreds of funders to go?