The David & Phyllis Murphy Charitable Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Mason City, Iowa. Established in November 1998, the foundation operates as a private foundation dedicated to supporting charitable causes, with a particular focus on organizations serving North Central Iowa.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$519K
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
47
+6.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-4.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation awards grants to qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, with preference given to those serving North Central Iowa. Primary funding areas include:
- Education and youth programs
- Community development
- Healthcare services
- Disability services and technology accessibility
- Animal welfare
- Arts and culture
- Community improvement initiatives
Grantmaking
Applications should be submitted to Kristen N. Ollenburg, 103 East State Street, Suite 800, Mason City, IA 50401. Phone: (641) 423-4264. The foundation accepts applications and is open to grant proposals.
Grant Range
$500–$61,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation restricts its funding to Iowa, with particular preference for organizations in North Central Iowa, specifically Cerro Gordo County and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2025:
- Total Assets: $10,145,601
- Total Giving: $519,000
- Total Revenue: $904,345
- Total Expenses: $605,606
- Number of Employees: 0
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,846,862
- Total Giving: $514,780
- Total Revenue: $418,844
- Total Expenses: $567,309
The foundation maintains stable assets and consistent annual giving levels, with a giving rate of approximately 5% of assets.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
138 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Mercy One North Iowa Hospice ($50,000), North Ia-southern Mn Veteran Stand ($35,000), Mason City Public School Ed Found ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CARING PREGNANCY CENTER MASON CITY, IA | PURCHASE NON-DONATED ITEMS | $8,000 |
| CITY OF MASON CITY MASON CITY, IA | EQUIPMENT PURCHASE, MATERIALS | $14,200 |
| CITY OF MASON CITY YOUTH SPORTS MASON CITY, IA | SPORTS EQUIPMENT | $5,000 |
| 43 NORTH IOWA MASON CITY, IA | BUILDING AND GENERAL PROGRAM EXPENSE | $12,000 |
| CHARLES H MACNIDER MUSEUM MASON CITY, IA | EXHIBIT FUNDING | $6,000 |
| CITY OF MASON CITY YOUTH TASK FORCE MASON CITY, IA | SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY KITCHEN OF NORTH IOWA MASON CITY, IA | EVENING MEAL PROGRAM | $23,400 |
| CHORAL MUSIC GUILD-MASON CITY HIGH MASON CITY, IA | CUSTOM ROBE SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ELDERBRIDGE AGENCY ON AGING MASON CITY, IA | CLIENT ASSISTANCE | $10,000 |
| FREEDOM IN HIS GRACE MINISTRY MASON CITY, IA | SECOND FLOOR STAIRCASE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John F. Welch – President/Chair
- Becky Elsbernd – Vice-President
- Kristin Salmon – Vice-President
- Kristen N. Ollenburg – Secretary/Treasurer
Historical leadership included Phyllis Murphy (Chairman of Board), who passed away on November 10, 2019, at age 92. Phyllis was a lifetime Mason City resident and accomplished pianist who taught music for 72 years.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN F WELCH | PRESIDENT/CH | 0.04 | — |
| BECKY ELSBERND | VICE-PRESIDE | 0.04 | — |
| KRISTIN SALMON | VICE-PRESIDE | 0.04 | — |
| KRISTEN N OLLENBURG | SECRETARY/TR | 0.04 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The David & Phyllis Murphy fund?
The foundation awards grants to qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, with preference given to those serving North Central Iowa. Primary funding areas include: • Education and youth programs • Community development • Healthcare services • Disability services and technology accessibility • Animal welfare • Arts and culture • Community improvement initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from The David & Phyllis Murphy?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $457,000–$519,000 • Number of grants awarded: 40–70 grants annually • Grant range: $500–$61,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Giving rate: approximately 4.6–5.2% of assets **Recent Grant Examples:** • River City Sculptures on Parade: $24,000 (sculpture purchase and maintenance) • Meals on Wheels of Mason City: $14,300 (meal containers and equipment) • Humane Society of North Iowa: $13,500 (medical/medication/food supply) • Mason City Community…
Where does The David & Phyllis Murphy make grants?
The foundation restricts its funding to Iowa, with particular preference for organizations in North Central Iowa, specifically Cerro Gordo County and surrounding areas.
What size grants does The David & Phyllis Murphy award?
In 2025, The David & Phyllis Murphy awarded 47 grants totaling $519K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The David & Phyllis Murphy's EIN?
The David & Phyllis Murphy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1477942. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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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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