The Noble Foundation
The Noble Foundation is a private family foundation established in December 1994 and based in West Des Moines, Iowa. The foundation supports charitable organizations primarily in central Iowa through discretionary grants to nonprofits serving the region.
Key facts about The Noble Foundation
- EIN
- 42-1427324
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,185,633
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- Average grant
- $39,521
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Primary geography
- Iowa (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Not publicly disclosed.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Noble Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Noble Foundation's 30 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (52%), Alabama (32%) and North Carolina (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (7 grants), Pell City, AL (5 grants), Birmingham, AL (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 97% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+6.5% YoY
Grant Count
30
+3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+3.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Noble Foundation focuses on supporting charitable work in the following priority areas:
- Scholarships: Educational support for students
- Health and Medical: Healthcare services and medical programs
- Food Security: Food banks and hunger relief programs
- Community Improvement: Projects that enhance local communities
- Child Welfare: Supporting organizations that serve children and families
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s**: Typical grants range from $1,000 to $5,000
How to Apply
**: Not publicly disclosed
Ready to take the next step with The Noble Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Noble Foundation primarily serves three Iowa counties:
- Polk County
- Jasper County
- Madison County
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $28.1 million (2024)
Annual Charitable Disbursements: $1,262,252 (2024)
Growth: The foundation has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with assets increasing from approximately $1 million in 2011 to over $28 million by 2024.
Revenue Sources: The foundation's revenue comes primarily from investment activities, including dividends and sales of assets.
| 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
149 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Drake University ($250,000), Ellipsis ($250,000), Alabama Veteran ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY DES MOINES, IA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| ELLIPSIS JOHNSTON, IA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| ALABAMA VETERAN BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE BOONE, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $60,000 |
| ALABAMA SHERIFF'S YOUTH RANCHES MONTGOMERY, AL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| ST SIMON PETER EPISCOPAL CHURCH PELL CITY, AL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $38,000 |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| LAKESIDE HOSPICE INC PELL CITY, AL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $28,633 |
| ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF IOWA DES MOINES, IA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by the Noble family, with directors including:
- Cynthia Noble
- Jeffery Noble
- Jonine Noble
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYNTHIA L NOBLE | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| JEFFERY D NOBLE | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| JONINE L NOBLE | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 3420 E 38th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
Phone: (515) 265-9898
EIN: 42-1427324
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Noble Foundation fund?
The Noble Foundation focuses on supporting charitable work in the following priority areas: • **Scholarships**: Educational support for students • **Health and Medical**: Healthcare services and medical programs • **Food Security**: Food banks and hunger relief programs • **Community Improvement**: Projects that enhance local communities • **Child Welfare**: Supporting organizations that serve children and families
How do I apply for a grant from The Noble Foundation?
**Grant Sizes**: Typical grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 **Grant Type**: The foundation operates as a private foundation making discretionary grants to charitable organizations in central Iowa. **Application Process**: Not publicly disclosed
Where does The Noble Foundation make grants?
The Noble Foundation primarily serves three Iowa counties: • Polk County • Jasper County • Madison County
What size grants does The Noble Foundation award?
In 2024, The Noble Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Noble Foundation's EIN?
The Noble Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1427324. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Noble Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.