The Rock Island Community Foundation
The Rock Island Community Foundation is a private foundation based in Rock Island, Illinois. Founded in 1967, it supports local charitable organizations and community projects intended to improve or preserve quality of life in Rock Island.
The Rock Island Community Foundation at a glance
In short: The Rock Island Community Foundation gave $233K across 62 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $232,632
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 62
- -8.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,752
- +17.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $3,651,703
- +0.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (12 of 62, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (87% 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 Rock Island Community Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and **does not accept unsolicited requests**. Its website also describes an application process for applicants. These published instructions differ; the filing lists a letter stating the purpose and use of funds, while the website describes a two-page application and online submission.
- Review Cycle
- The website’s listed deadline, June 27, 2026, has passed. The 2024 filing lists July 31 as its deadline.
- Deadline
- The website’s listed deadline, June 27, 2026, has passed.
- Contact
Application contact: The Rock Island Community Foundatio
Mailing address: PO Box 3331, Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: (309) 794-2846
Website: https://rockislandcommunityfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Rock Island Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Christian Care Center of Rock Island ($21K). Together the top 10 received $138K.
Grant Size Distribution
313 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 313 grants of 313 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website says it supports community projects that improve or preserve quality of life in Rock Island and normally does not fund organizations or causes outside the Rock Island metropolitan area. Its 2024 filing describes award restrictions as the City of Rock Island and vicinity. In 2025, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 13% to recipients in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Rock Island Community Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 62 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $106K (2020) to $233K (2025). In 2025 it made 62 grants totaling $233K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Care Center of Rock Island Rock Island, IL | Supports Family Needs | $21,000 |
| Friendship Manor Rock Island, IL | Support for the Elderlyhelps Support the Elderly | $18,500 |
| Rock Island Parks Department Rock Island, IL | Offers a wide variety of activities and programs for all ages and includes 27 sites with over 850 acres of parks and green space to the community. | $17,500 |
| Rock Island Library Foundation Rock Island, IL | Offering wide variety of services and materials to the community | $16,000 |
| YWCA of the Quad Cities Rock Island, IL | Helping Local Women and Families | $16,000 |
| Niabi Zoo Coal Valley, IL | Supports the Community Zoo | $13,000 |
| Quad City Botanical Center Rock Island, IL | Supports Improvemnts to the Invironment | $12,084 |
| Unity Point VNA Rock Island, IL | Supports the Well-Being of the Community | $11,523 |
| Rock Island - Milan Education Foundation Rock Island, IL | Supports Education | $7,500 |
| Martin Luther King Community Center Rock Island, IL | Provides Support for at-Risk Youth | $4,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Rock Island Community 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 | $3,651,703 | $327,807 | $324,945 | $232,632 | 62 | $232,632 | $251,488 | $217,038 |
| 2024 | $3,648,841 | $230,085 | $314,412 | $216,321 | 68 | $216,321 | $51,894 | $207,277 |
| 2023 | $3,733,168 | $137,451 | $313,056 | $211,330 | 56 | $211,330 | $77,001 | $194,222 |
| 2022 | $3,908,773 | $375,323 | $308,660 | $214,219 | 61 | $214,219 | $309,482 | $198,020 |
| 2021 | $3,842,110 | $236,401 | $263,956 | $176,355 | 66 | — | $170,053 | $116,510 |
| 2020 | $3,869,665 | $2,049,562 | $164,884 | $106,410 | 51 | — | $55,144 | $133,994 |
| 2019 | $1,984,987 | $382,963 | $169,776 | $109,850 | 57 | — | $77,140 | $97,255 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rock Island Community Foundation reported a distributable amount of $217K 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 website states that its mission is to enhance the lives of Rock Island citizens. Its funding guidelines describe support for a wide variety of community projects that improve or preserve quality of life in Rock Island.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Friendship Manor describes itself as a continuing-care retirement community serving mature adults. The YWCA of the Quad Cities says it works to empower women and eliminate racism and provides childcare, youth, aquatic, and recreational programs. Other 2025 recipients include Ballet Quad Cities, which provides dance performances and educational outreach; Bethany for Children & Families, whose mission is to keep children safe and strengthen families; and Humility Homes and Services, which works to end homelessness through housing and supportive services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation made 62 grants totaling $232,632. Grants ranged from $500 to $21,000, with a median award of $2,000. Among the largest were $21,000 to Christian Care Center of Rock Island, $18,500 to Friendship Manor, $17,500 to the Rock Island Parks Department, $16,000 each to the Rock Island Library Foundation and YWCA of the Quad Cities, and $13,000 to Niabi Zoo.
The Foundation’s website describes a two-page application requiring a project description and verification of the applicant’s IRS 501(c)(3) status, submitted through an online grant portal. It lists restrictions including individuals; organizations outside the Rock Island metropolitan area; certain religious organizations; lobbying or election-related activities; benefit-related trips, tickets, tables, or advertising; and several kinds of operating, educational-program, and grantmaking expenses.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary Rowe as executive director and Christopher Mandle as president. It also lists Kelly McLaughlin, Debbie Schwiebert, Mike Darrow, Carlos H. Jimenez, Eric Rowell, Ann Austin, Carolyn Krueger, and Mike Oberhaus as directors.
The Foundation’s website describes its Board of Directors as nine Rock Island residents serving three-year terms without compensation.
The Rock Island Community Foundation is led by Christopher Mandle, President since 2021 (on filings since 2019); none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher Mandle
President
Director → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Schwiebert
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary Rowe
Exec-Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly McLaughlin
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carlos H. Jimenez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Rowell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Darrow
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Austin
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Krueger
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Oberhaus
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Alison Beardsley (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Walker (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: John Phillips (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Brandy Donaldson (2019) — Director
- Former: Charlotte Doehler-Morrison (2019) — Director
- Former: Sara Darrow (2019) — Director
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 Rock Island Community Foundation
How much does The Rock Island Community Foundation give each year?
The Rock Island Community Foundation gave $233K across 62 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $216K across 68 grants.
What is The Rock Island Community Foundation's typical grant size?
The Rock Island Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,752, across 62 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Rock Island Community Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Rock Island Community Foundation give grants?
The Rock Island Community Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rock Island, IL (32 grants), Davenport, IA (13 grants), Moline, IL (8 grants) and Milan, IL (2 grants).
Does The Rock Island Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of The Rock Island Community Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 62) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Supports Education" (3 grants).
Who are The Rock Island Community Foundation's largest grantees?
The Rock Island Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Christian Care Center of Rock Island ($21,000), Friendship Manor ($18,500) and Rock Island Parks Department ($17,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Rock Island Community Foundation?
The Rock Island Community Foundation reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $233K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $217K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Rock Island Community Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s website states that its mission is to enhance the lives of Rock Island citizens. Its funding guidelines describe support for a wide variety of community projects that improve or preserve quality of life in Rock Island. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rock Island Community Foundation?
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Rock Island Community Foundation's EIN?
The Rock Island Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6163829. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Rock Island Community 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 13, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rock Island Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Rock Island Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-rock-island-community-foundation-morg_992109928dce40c4ad4d4a0ee6cd72e7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366163829_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Rock Island Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-rock-island-community-foundation-morg_992109928dce40c4ad4d4a0ee6cd72e7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Rock Island Community 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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