The Vredenburg Foundation
The Vredenburg Foundation is a private foundation established in 1999 and based in Chariton, Iowa. The foundation was organized to make grants and contributions to organizations recognized as exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It continues the philanthropic objectives of its initial contributors, Dwight and Ruth Vredenburg.
Key facts about The Vredenburg Foundation
- EIN
- 42-1481578
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $327,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- Average grant
- $13,080
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applicants must submit a letter and documentation of 501(c)(3) or government status. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Vredenburg Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Vredenburg Foundation's 25 itemized 2025 grants were Iowa (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chariton, IA (19 grants) and Des Moines, IA (3 grants). 28% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How The Vredenburg Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−20%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with The Vredenburg Foundation
- How to evaluate The Vredenburg Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Vredenburg Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$327K
+16.7% YoY
Grant Count
25
+2400.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-95.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on:
- Education
- Arts and culture, particularly musical organizations
- Health care
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
The foundation also supports fire department equipment, residential furnishings, public library revitalization, performing arts series, medical clinic furniture and equipment, and historic preservation initiatives.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $2,500 to $100,000.
Review Cycle
are two weeks before board meetings held in May and November
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Vredenburg Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation gives primarily in Lucas and Decatur counties in Iowa, with funding activity in cities including Centerville, Chariton, and Des Moines.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 25 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,005,838
- Total Giving: $280,100
- Total Revenue: $427,573
- Total Expenses: $309,712
- Net Income: $117,861
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $151,692
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $267,532
- Miscellaneous revenues: $8,349
Staffing: The foundation has no paid employees and operates with limited staffing based on board members and key personnel.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include City of Chariton ($84,000 across 4 grants), Chariton Community School District ($26,000 across 2 grants), Almost Home Animal Rescue ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Almost Home Animal Rescue Chariton, IA | Flooring/General Support | $25,000 |
| City of Chariton Chariton, IA | Fire DepartmentEquipment | $25,000 |
| City of Chariton Chariton, IA | GPS Equipmentand Maps | $25,000 |
| Hope Learning Center Chariton, IA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Russell Volunteer Fire Dept Russell, IA | Fire DepartmentEquipment | $25,000 |
| City of Chariton Chariton, IA | Police DepartmentEquipment | $24,000 |
| Chariton Area ChamberMain Street Chariton, IA | Town SquareLights | $20,000 |
| Iowa Public Radio Des Moines, IA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Salvation Army Lucas County Chariton, IA | General Support | $15,000 |
| Chariton Community School District Chariton, IA | MusicalInstruments/Furniture | $13,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- John Vredenburg (President/Director)
- Martha Vredenburg (Treasurer/Director)
- Emily Broderick (Secretary/Director)
- Christopher Wibe (Director)
- Zane Vredenburg (Director)
- Grace Broderick (Director)
All board members serve without compensation and work zero hours per week in their foundation roles.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Vredenburg | President/Director | — | — |
| Linda Vredenburg | Treasurer/Director | — | — |
| Martha Vredenburg | Treasurer/Director | — | — |
| Emily Broderick | Secretary/Director | — | — |
| Christopher Wibe | Director | — | — |
| Zane Vredenburg | Director | — | — |
| Grace Broderick | Director | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 678, Chariton, IA 50049
Phone: (641) 774-2179
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Vredenburg Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on: • Education • Arts and culture, particularly musical organizations • Health care • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking The foundation also supports fire department equipment, residential furnishings, public library revitalization, performing arts series, medical clinic furniture and equipment, and historic preservation initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from The Vredenburg Foundation?
Applicants must submit a letter and documentation of 501(c)(3) or government status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Vredenburg Foundation make grants?
The foundation gives primarily in Lucas and Decatur counties in Iowa, with funding activity in cities including Centerville, Chariton, and Des Moines.
What size grants does The Vredenburg Foundation award?
In 2025, The Vredenburg Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $327K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Vredenburg Foundation's EIN?
The Vredenburg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1481578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.