The Accel Foundation
The Accel Foundation is a private foundation based in Waverly, Iowa. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2025 grants included organizations working in human services, education, food assistance, housing, and community support.
The Accel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Accel Foundation gave $63K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Iowa. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $62,717
- +113.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- -18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,323
- +160.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,063
- Total assets
- $90,043
- -24.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (9 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Accel Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 301 Oak Ridge Circle, Waverly, IA 50677
Phone: (319) 365-8611
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Accel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends of the Family ($10K). Together the top 10 received $54K.
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 193 grants of 193 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa and 16% to recipients in Arizona. The filing also reports 0% for Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Accel Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 25 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $29K (2024) to $63K (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $63K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of the Family Waverly, IA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace - DSM Chapter Phoenix, AZ | General Support | $10,000 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace - Linn CO Cedar Rapids, IA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Lutheran Services in Iowa Des Moines, IA | General Support - 160TH Anniv. | $5,000 |
| Wartburg College Waverly, IA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Waverly Childcare Waverly, IA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Cedar Rapids Community School Foundation Cedar Rapids, IA | McKinney-Vento Homeless Program Support | $2,500 |
| Northeast Iowa Food Bank Waterloo, IA | Capacity Campaign | $2,500 |
| Waypoint Services Cedar Rapids, IA | General Support | $1,667 |
| Willis Dady Cedar Rapids, IA | Hops for Housing Support | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Accel Foundation?
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 | $90,043 | $32,940 | $62,839 | $62,717 | 27 | $62,739 | $3,490 | $6,224 |
| 2024 | $119,942 | $41,376 | $29,451 | $29,388 | 33 | $29,428 | $5,077 | $5,905 |
| 2023 | $108,017 | $57,368 | $56,938 | $56,925 | 45 | $56,938 | $2,814 | $6,035 |
| 2022 | $107,587 | $50,842 | $50,694 | $46,443 | 48 | $50,575 | $1,204 | $6,336 |
| 2021 | $107,439 | $33,152 | $40,559 | $37,228 | 40 | $40,193 | $1,214 | $5,997 |
| 2020 | $114,846 | $37,434 | $55,560 | $55,560 | 49 | — | $1,441 | $6,135 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Accel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K 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 community support through volunteer and financial assistance to help improve quality of life in the areas it serves.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Lutheran Services in Iowa describes its mission as responding to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service. Wartburg College says it challenges and nurtures students for lives of leadership and service. Northeast Iowa Food Bank’s mission is to provide food to nonprofit organizations and individuals in northeast Iowa and offer hunger education. Other grantees include organizations whose stated missions involve children and families, crisis prevention, and organ and tissue donation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $62,717. Individual grants ranged from $60 to $10,000, with a median of $1,063. Notable grants included $10,000 each to Friends of the Family, Sleep in Heavenly Peace – DSM Chapter, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace – Linn Co; and $5,000 each to Lutheran Services in Iowa, Wartburg College, and Waverly Childcare.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jessica Bronson as president, Jessica Rhatigan as secretary, and Candace Graybill as treasurer.
The Accel Foundation is led by Jessica Bronson, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jessica Bronson
President
President-Elect → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Candace Graybill
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Rhatigan
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 The Accel Foundation
How much does The Accel Foundation give each year?
The Accel Foundation gave $63K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 33 grants.
What is The Accel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Accel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,063, and its average grant was $2,323, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Accel Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Accel Foundation give grants?
The Accel Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar Rapids, IA (12 grants), Waverly, IA (5 grants), Waterloo, IA (3 grants) and Des Moines, IA (2 grants).
Does The Accel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of The Accel Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Fundraiser Support" (3 grants).
Who are The Accel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Accel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Friends of the Family ($10,000), Sleep in Heavenly Peace - DSM Chapter ($10,000) and Sleep in Heavenly Peace - Linn CO ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Accel Foundation?
The Accel Foundation reported $90K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $63K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Accel Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide community support through volunteer and financial assistance to help improve quality of life in the areas it serves. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Accel Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Accel Foundation's EIN?
The Accel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8359918. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Accel Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Accel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Accel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-accel-foundation-morg_09f480954ba44cb89a5cdfd238d7140d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208359918_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Accel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-accel-foundation-morg_09f480954ba44cb89a5cdfd238d7140d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Accel 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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