The Coons Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and granted tax-exempt status in August 1997. The foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the primary purpose of making gifts, grants, and loans to other organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$296K
+16.8% YoY
Grant Count
23
+21.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-3.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including:
- Arts and culture
- Education (higher education and undergraduate education)
- Health (in-patient medical care and hospital care)
- Religion (specifically Christian agencies and churches)
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. Board meetings are held in April and October. No grants are made to individuals.
Grant Range
approximately $58,000
Average Grant
approximately $58,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Iowa, with additional giving in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $3,723,412
- Total revenues: $513,601
- Total expenses: $330,518
- Investment income and dividends: $254,391
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $155,888
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $3,659,315
- 2013: $4,039,996
| 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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wesleylife ($80,000), Blank's Children's Hospital ($50,000), Des Moines Metro Opera ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Almost Home Animal Rescue Chariton, IA | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Appanoose County Historical Society Centerville, IA | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Blank's Children's Hospital Des Moines, IA | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Chariton High School Chariton, IA | General Operations | $3,500 |
| Des Moines Metro Opera Indianola, IA | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Des Moines Performing Arts Des Moines, IA | General Operations | $4,000 |
| Des Moines Playhouse Des Moines, IA | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Des Moines Symphony Association Des Moines, IA | General Operations | $3,000 |
| Humeston Public Library Humeston, IA | General Operations | $2,000 |
| Iowa Public Television Foundation Johnston, IA | General Operations | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a volunteer board with no paid employees:
- Kevin Coons (Director/President)
- Kyle Coons (Director/Secretary/Treasurer)
- Kenton Coons (Director)
- Christine Coons (Director)
- Karen Dixson (Director)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Coons | Director/President | 1 | — |
| Kyle Coons | Director/Secretary/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Kenton Coons | Director | 1 | — |
| Christine Coons | Director | 1 | — |
| Karen Dixson | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 17112 480th Lane Chariton, IA 50049
Additional Address: 90 N Perkins Rd Memphis, TN 38117-2426
Phone: 773-485-2270
Contact: In care of Kenton R. Coons
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Coons Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including: • Arts and culture • Education (higher education and undergraduate education) • Health (in-patient medical care and hospital care) • Religion (specifically Christian agencies and churches) • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Coons Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 25 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $295,500–$330,518 • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $105,000 • Average grant size: approximately $58,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • WesleyLife: $80,000 (General Operations) • Des Moines Metro Opera: $50,000 (General Operations) • St. George's Independent School: $15,000 (General Operations) **Application Process:** The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applicat…
Where does The Coons Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Iowa, with additional giving in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.
What size grants does The Coons Foundation award?
In 2024, The Coons Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $296K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Coons Foundation's EIN?
The Coons Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1898965. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Coons Foundation'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.
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