The Nelson Foundation
The Nelson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $300K. Net investment income was $117K.
The Nelson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Nelson Foundation gave $300K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $60K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $300,000
- +15.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -54.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,000
- +153.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $4,078,178
- +3.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who The Nelson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dowling Catholic High School ($100K). Together the top 5 received $300K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 41 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Nelson Foundation gives
- Giving grew 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% 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 $65K (2019) to $300K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $300K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dowling Catholic High School West Des Moines, IA | Science Equipment Purchase Support | $100,000 |
| By Degrees Foundation Des Moines, IA | Project Support | $75,000 |
| Living History Farms Foundation Urbandale, IA | Capital Campaign Support | $60,000 |
| Easter Seals of Iowa Des Moines, IA | General Support | $35,000 |
| University of California San Francisco Foundation San Francisco, CA | Research Support | $30,000 |
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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 | $4,078,178 | $479,814 | $328,815 | $300,000 | 5 | $304,115 | $116,790 | $281,725 |
| 2024 | $3,936,573 | $519,306 | $277,872 | $260,000 | 11 | $262,600 | $166,313 | $239,608 |
| 2023 | $3,697,879 | $374,795 | $197,077 | $180,000 | 7 | $183,110 | $78,057 | $196,201 |
| 2022 | $3,520,297 | $395,632 | $220,141 | $205,000 | 10 | $207,866 | $43,102 | $176,504 |
| 2021 | $3,344,806 | $352,498 | $180,546 | $165,000 | 8 | $169,822 | $46,327 | $14,935 |
| 2020 | $3,172,854 | $1,588,423 | $91,354 | $85,000 | 2 | — | $84,491 | $82,481 |
| 2019 | $1,675,785 | $105,258 | $73,637 | $65,000 | 18 | — | $94,631 | $80,763 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $282K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Nelson Foundation is led by Dan Ryan, President since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dan Ryan
President
Chair & President → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary A. Nelson
Foundation Manager
President, Treasurer & Director → Foundation Manager, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R. W. Nelson
Foundation Manager
Secretary & Director → Foundation Manager, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Massey
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kirlin
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Elizabeth NELSON (2024) — Vice President & Secretary
- Former: Molly Ryan (2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Ben Ryan (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: David Nelson (2022–2023) — Trasurer & Secretary
- Former: Ebony Nelson (2022–2023) — President
- Former: Madeline Ryan (2022–2023) — Vice President
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 Nelson Foundation
How much does The Nelson Foundation give each year?
The Nelson Foundation gave $300K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $260K across 11 grants.
What is The Nelson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Nelson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $60,000, and its average grant was $60,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Nelson Foundation give grants?
The Nelson Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (2 grants).
Does The Nelson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 20% of The Nelson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Nelson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Nelson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Dowling Catholic High School ($100,000), By Degrees Foundation ($75,000) and Living History Farms Foundation ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Nelson Foundation?
The Nelson Foundation reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $304K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $282K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Nelson Foundation's EIN?
The Nelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1207818. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 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 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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