The Gerdin Charitable Foundation
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in North Liberty, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $64.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $6.9M. Net investment income was $3.9M.
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gerdin Charitable Foundation gave $6.9M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $762K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,853,500
- +32.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $761,500
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500,000
- Total assets
- $64,029,695
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Gerdin Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Luther College ($3.0M). Together the top 7 received $6.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 9 grants of 26 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Gerdin Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 421% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2022) to $7.7M (2019). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $6.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Luther College Decorah, IA | Regents Center Renovation Project | $3,000,000 |
| University of Iowa Center for Advancement Iowa City, IA | U of I Health Care Catalyst Fund Support | $1,250,000 |
| University of Iowa Center for Advancement Iowa City, IA | Support for Womens Athletics Scholarships | $1,250,000 |
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Seattle, WA | Naive T Cell Depletion Research Support | $550,000 |
| Iowa State University Ames, IA | General Operating Fund | $500,000 |
| Unitypoint Health St Luke's Foundation Cedar Rapids, IA | Support for the abbe center for community mental health | $250,000 |
| Iowa State University Ames, IA | Tahira K. Hira Professorship Fund Support | $50,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association Iowa Chapter West Des Moines, IA | General Operating Fund | $2,500 |
| Community Foundation of Johnson County Coralville, IA | Coralville Asian Festival Support | $1,000 |
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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 | $64,029,695 | $4,013,688 | $7,051,227 | $6,853,500 | 9 | $6,859,615 | $3,868,681 | $6,549,145 |
| 2024 | $67,067,234 | $3,898,859 | $5,446,486 | $5,172,500 | 7 | $5,183,909 | $3,568,726 | $6,467,147 |
| 2023 | $68,618,025 | $7,328,025 | $3,751,168 | $3,550,000 | 3 | $3,552,590 | $7,235,437 | $5,779,464 |
| 2022 | $65,078,286 | $5,597,060 | $1,556,623 | $1,315,000 | 4 | $1,337,298 | $5,406,392 | $5,679,569 |
| 2021 | $61,074,610 | $14,514,227 | $4,510,727 | $4,123,552 | 3 | $4,133,273 | $14,295,961 | $5,600,143 |
| 2020 | $51,132,645 | $3,027,814 | $4,809,576 | $4,605,000 | 4 | — | $2,821,191 | $4,387,715 |
| 2019 | $52,914,407 | $3,561,721 | $7,925,461 | $7,716,788 | 3 | — | $3,405,017 | $4,774,276 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gerdin Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation is led by Ann S. Gerdin, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann S. Gerdin
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela K. Janssen
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie J. Durr
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. Gerdin
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Gerdin Charitable Foundation
How much does The Gerdin Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation gave $6.9M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.2M across 7 grants.
What is The Gerdin Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500,000, and its average grant was $761,500, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Gerdin Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Iowa City, IA (2 grants) and Ames, IA (2 grants).
Does The Gerdin Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 22% of The Gerdin Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Gerdin Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Luther College ($3,000,000), University of Iowa Center for Advancement ($2,500,000 across 2 grants) and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ($550,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Gerdin Charitable Foundation?
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation reported $64.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Gerdin Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Gerdin Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1462088. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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