The John R and Zelda Z Grubb
The John R and Zelda Z Grubb Charitable Foundation is a private operating foundation based in Urbandale, Iowa. Established in 1995 and tax-exempt since January 1997, the foundation manages substantial assets and maintains an active grantmaking program across multiple states. The foundation has a unique operational history, having previously operated two nursing homes for the elderly with approximately 124 beds before divesting these properties in an asset sale in 2021.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$569K
+46.1% YoY
Grant Count
13
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+57.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on:
- Health and healthcare-related initiatives
- Children and youth services
- Social services
- Education, philanthropy, and voluntarism
The foundation does not specify a narrow focus area, indicating broad philanthropic interests across these general categories.
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
approximately $1,000–$345,250
Average Grant
approximately $1,000–$345,250
Ready to take the next step with The John R and Zelda Z Grubb?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states:
- Primary: Iowa (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids)
- Secondary: Arizona, California, Georgia
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,999,085
- Total Revenues: $436,887
- Total Expenses: $728,735
- Total Liabilities: $205,000 (2023 data)
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $12.5 million
- Total Revenues: $88,200
- Total Expenses: $529,000
The foundation's expense ratio reflects ongoing operational wind-down activities related to the 2021 sale of its nursing home properties, with current activities focused on collections of revenue and refunds of prior expenses.
| 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
82 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Variety Club ($250,250), Iowa Health Care Association Foundation ($84,000), Easter Seals Iowa ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF CENTRAL IOWA DES MOINES, IA | ANIMAL PROTECTION AND WELFARE - PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | $15,000 |
| ASU FOUNDATION TEMPE, AZ | ASU - CHARTER FUND THAT SUPPORTS STUDENT INITIATIVES | $3,000 |
| CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF IOWA DES MOINES, IA | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| EASTER SEALS IOWA DES MOINES, IA | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND | $75,000 |
| FESTIVAL OF TREES AND LIGHTS DES MOINES, IA | 2024 PLEDGE | $15,000 |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DES MOINES, IA | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND | $40,000 |
| HOPE MINISTRIES DES MOINES, IA | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND TO PROVIDE BASIC HUMAN SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED | $5,000 |
| IOWA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION WEST DES MOINES, IA | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND FOR HEALTH CARE SCHOLARSHIPS | $84,000 |
| NORTH HIGH SCHOOL DES MOINES, IA | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| TORI'S ANGELS FOUNDATION PANORA, IA | DONATION TO GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John W. Grubb serves as both President and Secretary of the foundation, working on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN W GRUBB | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KIMBERLY D GRUBB | VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 16131 Sharon Ct, Urbandale, IA 50323-0009
Telephone: 515-707-7202
EIN: 42-6521745
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John R and Zelda Z Grubb fund?
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on: • Health and healthcare-related initiatives • Children and youth services • Social services • Education, philanthropy, and voluntarism The foundation does not specify a narrow focus area, indicating broad philanthropic interests across these general categories.
How do I apply for a grant from The John R and Zelda Z Grubb?
**Grant Activity:** • 2024: 20 grants awarded totaling $569,321 • 2023: 4,995 grants awarded totaling $390,000 • Average grant size: approximately $1,000–$345,250 • Median grant amounts vary by year **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Iowa Health Care Association Foundation: $84,000 (Donation to General Fund for Health Care Scholarships) • Easter Seals Iowa: $75,000 (Donation to General Fund) • First United Methodist Church of Des Plaines: $40,000 (Donation to General Fund) **Application Status…
Where does The John R and Zelda Z Grubb make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states: • **Primary:** Iowa (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids) • **Secondary:** Arizona, California, Georgia
What size grants does The John R and Zelda Z Grubb award?
In 2024, The John R and Zelda Z Grubb awarded 13 grants totaling $569K — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The John R and Zelda Z Grubb's EIN?
The John R and Zelda Z Grubb's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6521745. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John R and Zelda Z Grubb's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Main Street Fort Dodge Inc
FORT DODGE, IA
Assets
$315K
Grants
1
Total Given
$25K
John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust
VINTON, IA
Assets
—
Grants
18
Total Given
$22K
Daniel J & Ann L Krumm Charitable Trus
AMES, IA
Assets
—
Grants
21
Total Given
$228K
Barbara Jean Couturier Charitable T
DAVENPORT, IA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Change Happens Foundation
URBANDALE, IA
Assets
$17.8M
Grants
12
Total Given
$255K
The Joseph Andres Family Foundation
OKOBOJI, IA
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$7K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The John R and Zelda Z Grubb on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The John R and Zelda Z Grubb to a real strategy.