The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation
THE RALPH & SYLVIA G GREEN CHARITA is a private foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. Its 2024 filing reports grants to 10 organizations, all in Iowa, including organizations working in health care, education, legal aid, housing, arts, and conservation.
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation gave $54K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Iowa. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $54,000
- -32.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- -16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,400
- -19.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,250
- Total assets
- $552,527
- -5.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Mertze Anderson and submit a letter stating the purpose and need, attaching proof of tax-exempt status. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Mertze Anderson
Mailing address: 3500 Southern Hills Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321
Phone: (515) 278-2442
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dental Connections ($8K). Together the top 10 received $54K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 59 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Iowa. The 2024 recipients listed include organizations in Des Moines and Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 10 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 74% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $31K (2021) to $81K (2023). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $54K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Connections Des Moines, IA | General Operating Fund | $7,500 |
| Iowa Legal Aid Foundation Des Moines, IA | Annual Fund | $7,500 |
| YMCA of Des Moines Des Moines, IA | Annual Fund | $7,500 |
| Drake University Des Moines, IA | John Dee Bright College | $7,500 |
| Primary Health Care Des Moines, IA | Annual Fund | $7,500 |
| Polk County Housing Trust Fund Des Moines, IA | Annual Fund | $5,000 |
| Namiiowa Des Moines, IA | Annual Fund | $5,000 |
| Des Moines Public Library Des Moines, IA | Annual Fund | $3,500 |
| Civic Music Association of Des Moin Des Moines, IA | Annual Fund | $2,500 |
| Seed Savers Exchange Decorah, IA | Annual Fund | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $552,527 | $44,931 | $75,125 | $54,000 | 10 | $54,000 | $35,922 | $53,716 |
| 2023 | $582,721 | $181,066 | $152,107 | $80,500 | 12 | $82,258 | $109,348 | $52,104 |
| 2022 | $556,716 | $183,052 | $169,735 | $55,500 | 12 | $57,167 | $67,102 | $54,185 |
| 2021 | $540,036 | $117,878 | $114,257 | $31,000 | 8 | $32,514 | $33,137 | $51,420 |
| 2020 | $531,940 | $79,208 | $102,075 | $38,150 | 17 | — | $23,806 | $49,900 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation reported a distributable amount of $54K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of Iowa organizations. Among its grantees, Primary Health Care describes its work as providing medical, mental health, dental, and supportive services, with access for people including the homeless, children, refugees, and people living with HIV. Iowa Legal Aid Foundation says it supports Iowa Legal Aid’s work to make hope, dignity, and justice available to low-income Iowans. Polk County Housing Trust Fund describes its work as supporting affordable housing and related services in Polk County.
Other 2024 grantees describe their work as providing community access to dental care and education (Dental Connections), preparing students for personal, professional, and civic lives (Drake University), and saving traditional and endangered garden and food-crop seeds through a network of gardeners and orchardists (Seed Savers Exchange).
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded $54,000 across 10 grants in 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $7,500, with a median grant of $6,250. Its largest 2024 grants were $7,500 each to Dental Connections, Iowa Legal Aid Foundation, YMCA of Des Moines, Drake University, and Primary Health Care. Other grants included $5,000 to Polk County Housing Trust Fund and $500 to Seed Savers Exchange.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to submit a letter stating the purpose and need, with proof of tax-exempt status attached. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mertze A Anderson as president, Molly Veenstra as treasurer, and Ian Johnson as vice president.
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation is led by Mertze A. Anderson, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mertze A. Anderson
President
Director & Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ian Johnson
Vice President
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Molly Veenstra
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Ann G. Anderson (2020–2021) — Director, Chair & President
- Former: Sigurd E. Anderson II (2020–2021) — Director & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation
How much does The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation give each year?
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation gave $54K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $81K across 12 grants.
What is The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,250, and its average grant was $5,400, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation give grants?
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (9 grants).
Does The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Dental Connections ($7,500), Iowa Legal Aid Foundation ($7,500) and YMCA of Des Moines ($7,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation?
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation reported $553K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $54K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $54K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of Iowa organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation?
Contact Mertze Anderson and submit a letter stating the purpose and need, attaching proof of tax-exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation's EIN?
The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1208959. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ralph-and-sylvia-g-green-charita-foundation-morg_7b365112e7c6458aa9197e0eee335c7b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421208959_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ralph \& Sylvia G Green Charita Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ralph-and-sylvia-g-green-charita-foundation-morg_7b365112e7c6458aa9197e0eee335c7b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Ralph & Sylvia G Green Charita 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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