The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation is a private foundation based in West Des Moines, Iowa. It supports nonprofit organizations working to improve communities and enrich children’s lives, with its 2025 grants concentrated largely in Iowa.
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation at a glance
In short: The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation gave $469K across 186 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Iowa. 57% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $468,768
- +124.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 186
- +39.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,520
- +60.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $1,733,332
- +44.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (106 of 186, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The available grant-guidelines page identifies funding priorities, exclusions, and information about the nonprofit organization and requested project, program, or service, but provides no specific application materials or deadline in the information available here.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6700 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266-7754
Phone: (515) 243-8171
Website: https://merchantsbonding.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children's Cancer Connection ($103K). Together the top 10 received $257K.
Grant Size Distribution
598 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 594 grants of 598 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 85% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa. Arizona, Minnesota, Texas, and Florida each accounted for 1%. The Foundation says it supports communities where its associates and partners live and work.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 186 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 106 of 186 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $425 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 28% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 107% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 697% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $186K (2020) to $469K (2025). In 2025 it made 186 grants totaling $469K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Cancer Connection Des Moines, IA | Program Support | $102,805 |
| Great Outdoors Foundation Des Moines, IA | Program Support | $30,000 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation Urbandale, IA | Program Support | $30,000 |
| Mercyone Des Moines Foundation Des Moines, IA | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Variety - the Childrens Charity Des Moines, IA | Program Support | $15,400 |
| Everystep Foundation Des Moines, IA | Program Support | $12,750 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Des Moines Windsor Heights, IA | Program Support | $10,750 |
| Dorothy's House Des Moines, IA | Program Support | $10,250 |
| Blank Children's Hospital Des Moines, IA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Childserve Foundation Johnston, IA | Program Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation?
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 | $1,733,332 | $1,043,325 | $508,430 | $468,768 | 186 | $504,800 | $287,971 | $72,375 |
| 2024 | $1,198,437 | $468,306 | $284,871 | $209,147 | 133 | $234,311 | $23,537 | $66,252 |
| 2023 | $1,015,002 | $647,924 | $619,881 | $461,166 | 137 | $568,530 | $27,235 | $61,569 |
| 2022 | $986,959 | $291,934 | $232,954 | $226,030 | 75 | $231,464 | $25,821 | $57,770 |
| 2021 | $927,979 | $369,893 | $409,058 | $329,073 | 67 | $408,781 | $30,541 | $59,879 |
| 2020 | $967,144 | $306,036 | $205,660 | $186,105 | 52 | — | $12,215 | $47,405 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support nonprofit organizations that improve communities and enrich the lives of children in the communities it serves. Its Memorial Grant materials identify five pillars of giving: Children & Education, Community Betterment, Arts & Culture, Associate & Agent Partner Priorities, and Medical & Research.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work. Children’s Cancer Connection describes its mission as connecting families affected by childhood cancer and strengthening community; ChildServe Foundation says it partners with families so children with special health care needs can live a great life; and Horizon Science Academy Des Moines describes its work as providing a math-, science-, and technology-rich education to students in grades K–3. Other recipients include organizations focused on conservation, public art, plant education, and financial support for families whose children have cancer.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 186 grants totaling $468,768. Grant amounts ranged from $25 to $102,805, with a median of $500. The Foundation’s website separately described its 2025 giving as reaching 188 organizations for the same total.
The largest reported grant was $102,805 to Children’s Cancer Connection. Other large grants included $30,000 each to Great Outdoors Foundation and Make-A-Wish Foundation, $25,000 to MercyOne Des Moines Foundation, and $15,400 to Variety – The Children’s Charity. These grants were reported as program support. The Foundation’s website says its inaugural Memorial Grant was established in 2025 and supports its 2025 charity of choice, Children’s Cancer Connection, and the organization’s Camp Heart Connection program; the grant is intended to be provided every other year.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation is led by Larry Taylor, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Larry Taylor
President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Taylor
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Taylor
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Taylor
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Warner
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Warner Jr.
Director
Secretary & Treasurer → Senior Vice President & Secretary, 2022
Senior Vice President & Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Warner
Director
On filings since 2024
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Taylor
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Therese Wielage
Vice President
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth Sandersfeld
Treasurer & Secretary
Treasurer → Treasurer & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Cale
Vice President
On filings since 2024
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Don Blum (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Lloyd Taylor (2020–2021) — Director
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 Merchants Bonding Company Foundation
How much does The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation give each year?
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation gave $469K across 186 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $209K across 133 grants.
What is The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's typical grant size?
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $2,520, across 186 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation give grants?
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (46 grants), West Des Moines, IA (9 grants), Johnston, IA (4 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 186 grants with a stated purpose on The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (186 grants).
Who are The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's largest grantees?
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Children's Cancer Connection ($102,805), Great Outdoors Foundation ($30,000) and Make-a-Wish Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation?
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $505K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $72K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support nonprofit organizations that improve communities and enrich the lives of children in the communities it serves. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's EIN?
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3035459. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation funds
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-merchants-bonding-company-foundation-morg_ebba4c9fd8354799a1e478d9196b10a3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263035459_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-merchants-bonding-company-foundation-morg_ebba4c9fd8354799a1e478d9196b10a3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Merchants Bonding Company 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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