The Greater Jefferson County Foundation
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation is a public charity based in Fairfield, Iowa. It makes grants for educational, cultural, civic, and charitable purposes benefiting the greater community of Jefferson County, and also provides scholarships for post-secondary education and training.
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation at a glance
In short: The Greater Jefferson County Foundation gave $428K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in Iowa. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $428,334
- -53.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,796
- -53.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,430
- Total assets
- $7,349,485
- -1.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (5 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Greater Jefferson County Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website describes an annual application process for nonprofit organizations. Applications are submitted online or using the official application form; paper applications are not accepted by mail. Applicants must provide a current IRS tax-exempt status letter if they are a 501(c)(3). Government units qualifying under section 170(b), including counties, cities, and schools, do not need an IRS letter but must identify their status. Applicants that are neither qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations nor 170(b) government units must use an eligible fiscal agent and provide information and a support letter for that agent. The website says applications should use only the space provided and that previous-year applications are not accepted.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 application deadline was June 1, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. CDT; that cycle has passed. The website says the online application will be available again beginning May 1, 2027, at 8:00 a.m. Central.
- Deadline
- The 2026 application deadline was June 1, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1325, Fairfield, IA 52556-1325
Phone: (641) 472-0758
Website: https://greaterjeffersoncountyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Greater Jefferson County Foundation
Who The Greater Jefferson County Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Conservation Foundation of Jefferson County ($100K). Together the top 10 received $359K.
Grant Size Distribution
87 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 87 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s mission identifies the greater community of Jefferson County, Iowa. Its website names Fairfield, Batavia, Libertyville, Lockridge, Pleasant Plain, and Packwood as communities benefiting from its grants. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Greater Jefferson County Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 18 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $12K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $267K (2023) to $925K (2024). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $428K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation Foundation of Jefferson County Fairfield, IA | Campground Updates | $100,000 |
| Greater Jefferson County Fair Fairfield, IA | Speedway Renovations | $62,913 |
| Jefferson County Kids Inc Fairfield, IA | Building Construct | $50,000 |
| Carnegie Historical Museum Fndn Fairfield, IA | Bonnifield House | $26,520 |
| Jefferson County EMS Fairfield, IA | Chest Compress Syst | $21,000 |
| Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Fairfield, IA | Christmas Carol | $20,000 |
| Fairfield Colab Fairfield, IA | Flooring & Lighting | $20,000 |
| Fairfield Productions Fairfield, IA | Production Costs | $19,925 |
| Fairfield Community Center Fairfield, IA | Building Repairs | $19,500 |
| Camp Courageous of Iowa Monticello, IA | Youth Camp Fees | $19,359 |
Ready to take the next step with The Greater Jefferson County Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,349,485 | $702,846 | $712,465 | $428,334 | 18 | $423,300 |
| 2024 | $7,430,751 | $925,403 | $1,200,429 | $925,197 | 18 | $253,974 |
| 2023 | $6,858,863 | $373,225 | $529,463 | $266,606 | 16 | $82,344 |
| 2022 | $7,805,395 | $1,435,385 | $525,715 | $289,724 | 16 | $638,680 |
| 2021 | $7,400,106 | $1,941,081 | $604,279 | $402,046 | 19 | $366,055 |
| 2020 | $4,584,886 | $1,082,401 | $716,383 | $491,440 | 17 | $403,285 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to receive and distribute funds for educational, cultural, civic, and charitable purposes benefiting the greater community of Jefferson County, Iowa. Its website describes grantmaking to local nonprofit organizations, scholarship support, and the administration and investment of funds for ongoing opportunities and services.
The foundation’s 2023 filing described grants to qualified community nonprofit organizations and scholarships for students in Jefferson County. That filing reported 35 organizations benefiting from grants and 49 scholarship recipients that year. The foundation said scholarship checks were payable to both the college and student, and that vendor invoices were required for grants paid to organizations.
Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the types of organizations it has supported. Jefferson County Kids Inc., which received $50,000 in 2025, says it works to foster children’s love of learning and support their development in a safe, nurturing environment. Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Inc., which received $20,000, says it connects people with the arts and one another through a performing arts and community events center. Camp Courageous of Iowa, which received $19,359, says it provides year-round recreational, respite, and travel opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s Annual Community Grant supports local nonprofit projects, traditionally including capital improvements and some operating expenses. Its website identifies Fairfield, Batavia, Libertyville, Lockridge, Pleasant Plain, and Packwood as communities that have benefited. The website reports more than $1.79 million in community grants over the last two decades.
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $428,334. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $100,000, with a median of $19,430. The largest grants included $100,000 to Conservation Foundation of Jefferson County for campground updates, $62,913 to Greater Jefferson County Fair for speedway renovations, and $50,000 to Jefferson County Kids Inc. for building construction. Other notable grants included $26,520 to Carnegie Historical Museum Foundation for the Bonnifield House and $21,000 to Jefferson County EMS for a chest compression system.
The website’s review criteria include countywide distribution of grants, the benefit to Jefferson County residents, the number of residents affected, prior grants to the applicant, and whether the applicant can complete a project with a partial award. The criteria also identify incomplete applications, projects for private residences, and politically sensitive issues as past reasons for no consideration. The website describes a 1998 board policy making churches and related entities ineligible and notes reluctance to fund tax-supported organizations, with decisions made case by case. The grant-program information also lists individuals, religious purposes, and past projects among funding exclusions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Liz Bunnell, Keegan Drish, Leanne Edgeton, Jim Flinspach, Matt Holt, Lisa Martin, and Steve Small as directors; Matt Eakins as vice president; Dale Sue Glass as secretary; and Spencer Peterman as treasurer.
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation is led by Mary Webb, President since 2024 (on filings since 2023); none of the 15 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Webb
President
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Winkleman
Director
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ray Woody
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Flinspach
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leanne Edgeton
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liz Bunnell
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Voorhees
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keegan Drish
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Martin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Holt
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Wheeler
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Small
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Sue Glass
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Eakins
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Peterman
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Jessica Jones (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Joan Fulton (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Justin Engwall (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Ron Haines (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Peggy Mottet (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Ashley Manning (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lucas Helling (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Frank Redeker (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Kara Waugh (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lori Stever (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Sim Buckley (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Angie Atwood (2020) — Director
- Former: Arvin Bogaards (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Nelson Anderson (2020) — Director
- Former: Tammy Dunbar (2020) — Vice President
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 Greater Jefferson County Foundation
How much does The Greater Jefferson County Foundation give each year?
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation gave $428K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $925K across 18 grants.
What is The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's typical grant size?
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $19,430, and its average grant was $23,796, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Greater Jefferson County Foundation that year got $44K on average.
Where does The Greater Jefferson County Foundation give grants?
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fairfield, IA (12 grants).
Does The Greater Jefferson County Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's largest grantees?
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Conservation Foundation of Jefferson County ($100,000), Greater Jefferson County Fair ($62,913) and Jefferson County Kids Inc ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Greater Jefferson County Foundation?
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $703K.
What does The Greater Jefferson County Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to receive and distribute funds for educational, cultural, civic, and charitable purposes benefiting the greater community of Jefferson County, Iowa. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Greater Jefferson County Foundation?
The foundation’s website describes an annual application process for nonprofit organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's EIN?
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0172078. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 12, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Greater Jefferson County Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Greater Jefferson County Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Greater Jefferson County Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-greater-jefferson-county-foundation-morg_75163d9943c047218de7cd7278fd23dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510172078_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Greater Jefferson County Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-greater-jefferson-county-foundation-morg_75163d9943c047218de7cd7278fd23dd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Greater Jefferson County 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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