The Nelson Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DES MOINES, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $260K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$260K
+44.4% YoY
Grant Count
11
+57.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-8.1% YoY
About The Nelson Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Nelson Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DES MOINES, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $260K.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with The Nelson Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| 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
38 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Living History Farms ($80,000), Above Beyond Cancer ($28,638), Easter Seals of Iowa ($28,638).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Above Beyond Cancer West Des Moines, IA | Hotel Program Support | $28,638 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa Des Moines, IA | Feeding the Future program | $25,000 |
| By Degrees Foundation Des Moines, IA | children and education support | $20,000 |
| Children and Families of Iowa Des Moines, IA | Child Development Center | $25,000 |
| Cypress Evansville, IN | Journey to Justice | $18,200 |
| Genesis Youth Foundation Des Moines, IA | athletic equipment and tutoring | $5,000 |
| Home Inc Des Moines, IA | appliances for 16 new homes | $8,000 |
| Kirk Day School St Louis, MO | purchase of 3 Chromebook carts | $16,524 |
| Knock and Drop Iowa Des Moines, IA | food pantry services | $5,000 |
| Living History Farms Urbandale, IA | LHF Cultivating Our Future campaign | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Nelson Foundation?
The Nelson Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DES MOINES, IA. It holds — in total assets as of 2024.
Where does The Nelson Foundation operate?
The Nelson Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona, District of Columbia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico.
What size grants does The Nelson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Nelson Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $260K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Nelson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines
DES MOINES, IA
Assets
$918.7M
Grants
1,259
Total Given
$55.7M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Ita Group Foundation
WEST DES MOINES, IA
Assets
—
Grants
93
Total Given
$296K
United Way of Central Iowa
DES MOINES, IA
Assets
$38.6M
Grants
119
Total Given
$12.6M
EMC Insurance Foundation
DES MOINES, IA
Assets
—
Grants
106
Total Given
$1.5M
Chrysalis Foundation
WEST DES MOINES, IA
Assets
$11.4M
Grants
44
Total Given
$278K
Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino
ALTOONA, IA
Assets
$327.6M
Grants
409
Total Given
$33.0M
Helen J and Thomas Nelson Urban Sr
DES MOINES, IA
Assets
—
Grants
43
Total Given
$68K
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Wt and Edna M Dahl Trust
DES MOINES, IA
Assets
$844K
Grants
6
Total Given
$675K
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Mid-iowa Health Foundation
DES MOINES, IA
Assets
—
Grants
52
Total Given
$502K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
What could you do with The Nelson Foundation 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