The Seidler Foundation
The Seidler Foundation is a private foundation established in 1982 and based in Des Moines, Iowa. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation creates opportunities for meaningful lives through strategic philanthropic support in education, arts and culture, and food insecurity programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.1M
+42.0% YoY
Grant Count
175
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+13.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on creating opportunity for a meaningful life through three primary funding areas:
Educational Opportunity — The foundation supports students with financial need to complete postsecondary education. The scholarship program was inspired by Evelyn Seidler, who was an English teacher at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in the 1970s and recognized talent in her students.
Arts & Culture — The foundation supports selected organizations and projects that celebrate contributions to the arts and cultural life.
Food Insecurity — The foundation supports organizations that seek to alleviate childhood hunger by providing nourishment to children and equitable access to food support for people in need.
Grantmaking
The Seidler Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than open grant competitions.
Grant Range
s:** Typical organizational grants range from $200 to $625,000.
Review Cycle
. Awards $11,000 per year for four-year campuses and $5,500 per year for two-year institutions, with duration up to four years. Includes laptop provision.
Ready to take the next step with The Seidler Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, Wyoming, and Missouri, with particular emphasis on serving Iowa communities and the Cedar Rapids area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $73.8 million (2023); $87.9 million (2024)
Annual Giving: $4.2 million (2024)
Revenue (2023): $33.1 million total revenue
- Grants and contributions: $31.8 million
- Investment income and dividends: $1.6 million
Expenses (2023): $3.09 million
Liabilities: $0 (2023)
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Food Bank of Iowa ($300,000), Food Bank of Wyoming ($150,000), Community Foundation of Jackson Hole ($102,750).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE CENTER SHERIDAN, WY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ALSACST JUDES CHILDREN RESEARCH HOSPITAL MEMPHIS, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN PUBLIC SQUARE KANSAS CITY, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | VI SILVERSTONE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $3,500 |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | VI SILVERSTONE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $6,500 |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ARTS ENGAGEMENT FOUNDATION OF KANSAS CITY KANSAS CITY, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| BELOIT COLLEGE BELOIT, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BIG HORN AUDUBON SOCIETY SHERIDAN, WY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BIG HORN EQUESTRIAN CENTER SHERIDAN, WY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STANLEY B SEIDLER | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CAROL SEIDLER MAVRAKIS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SUSAN SEIDLER NERMAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced its 2025 scholarship awardees, continuing its commitment to supporting postsecondary education for students from Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School and the broader Iowa community.
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 1297, Des Moines, IA 50305-1297
Phone: 515-480-4850 or 515-244-0300
Email: info@seidlerfoundation.org
Website: https://seidlerfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Seidler Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on creating opportunity for a meaningful life through three primary funding areas: **Educational Opportunity** — The foundation supports students with financial need to complete postsecondary education. The scholarship program was inspired by Evelyn Seidler, who was an English teacher at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in the 1970s and recognized talent in her students. **Arts & Culture** — The foundation supports selected organizations and projects that cele…
How do I apply for a grant from The Seidler Foundation?
The Seidler Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than open grant competitions. **Grant Sizes:** Typical organizational grants range from $200 to $625,000. **Recent Activity:** In 2023, the foundation made 138 grants totaling approximately $2.9 million. Notable 2023 grants included: • Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines: $275,000 (General Support) • Des Moines Metro Opera: $181,667 (General Support) • Zach Johnson Foundation: $152,000 (General Support) **Scholarshi…
Where does The Seidler Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, Wyoming, and Missouri, with particular emphasis on serving Iowa communities and the Cedar Rapids area.
What size grants does The Seidler Foundation award?
In 2024, The Seidler Foundation awarded 175 grants totaling $4.1M — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Seidler Foundation's EIN?
The Seidler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1209825. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Seidler Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Main Street Fort Dodge Inc
FORT DODGE, IA
Assets
$315K
Grants
1
Total Given
$25K
John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust
VINTON, IA
Assets
—
Grants
18
Total Given
$22K
Daniel J & Ann L Krumm Charitable Trus
AMES, IA
Assets
—
Grants
21
Total Given
$228K
Barbara Jean Couturier Charitable T
DAVENPORT, IA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Change Happens Foundation
URBANDALE, IA
Assets
$17.8M
Grants
12
Total Given
$255K
The Joseph Andres Family Foundation
OKOBOJI, IA
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$7K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Seidler 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
Go from researching The Seidler Foundation to a real strategy.