The Wellmark Foundation
The Wellmark Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1991 and based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is a company-sponsored foundation created by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa to engage in charitable giving and serve as a catalyst in bringing groups together to positively impact health within communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.2M
-10.1% YoY
Grant Count
27
-27.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$117K
+23.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to improve the health of Iowans and South Dakotans and their communities. Special emphasis is directed toward:
- Promoting active living and building environments
- Increasing access and consumption of nutritious foods
- Community-based wellness and prevention initiatives
- Healthy aging
- Mental and behavioral health
- Rural community health
- Maternity and newborn health
The foundation prioritizes sustainable initiatives—projects that continue after grant funding ends.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates two primary competitive grant programs:
Review Cycle
with different deadlines and requirements
How to Apply
- Applications are accepted and available on the foundation's website
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives exclusively in Iowa and South Dakota.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2023)
- Total Assets: $74.3 million
- Total Liabilities: $402,000
- Total Revenue: $6.77 million
- Total Expenses: $4.19 million
- Total Giving: $3.5 million
- Giving Rate: 4.7% of assets
Assets & Giving (2024)
- Total Assets: $80 million
- Total Giving: $3.7 million
| 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
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Charities Aid Foundation America ($758,599), Iowa Jag Inc ($400,000), State University of Iowa Foundation ($387,672).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA ALEXANDIRA, VA | BLUESCARE GIVING MATCHING GIFTS AND PERSONAL VOLUNTEER TIME DONATIONS. | $758,599 |
| CITY OF AUBURN IOWA AUBURN, IA | BLUESCARE GIVING MATCHING GIFTS. | $250 |
| DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION ANKENY, IA | BLUESCARE GIVING MATCHING GIFTS AND PERSONAL VOLUNTEER TIME DONATIONS. | $5,580 |
| WHITEROCK CONSERVANCY COON RAPIDS, IA | BLUESCARE GIVING MATCHING GIFTS. | $103 |
| SANFORD HEALTH FOUNDATION SIOUX FALLS, SD | BLUESCARE GIVING MATCHING GIFTS. | $26 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DES MOINES DES MOINES, IA | BLUESCARE GIVING MATCHING GIFTS. | $4,000 |
| WINTERSET COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WINTERSET, IA | DONATION TO HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER IN RECOGNITION OF THE 2024 INCLUSION AMBASSADOR AWARD NOMINATOR. | $500 |
| BACK 2 SCHOOL IOWA WAUKEE, IA | DONATION TO SUPPORT BACK 2 SCHOOL IOWA IN RECOGNITION OF 2024 INCLUSION AMBASSADOR AWARD WINNER. | $1,000 |
| BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES INC DES MOINES, IA | TO SUPPORT THE PASSPORT TO CULTURE PROGRAM FOR 20 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE. | $100,000 |
| CHILDSERVE FOUNDATION INC JOHNSTON, IA | ADDITION OF TWO NEUROBEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT ROOMS TO INCREASE CAPACITY TO SERVE MORE IOWA FAMILIES AND SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE OF IOWA'S EMPLOYERS. | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a board of directors:
- Laura Jackson, Chairperson
- Christa D Kuennen, Treasurer
- Scott A Sundstrom, Secretary
- Kris DeGraff, Director
- Mary Beth Hart, Director
- Cammy Jenkins, Director
- Jennifer Mentele, Director
- Sherwin Robinson, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kris DeGraff | Director | 1 | — |
| Mary Beth Hart | Director | 1 | — |
| Cammy Jenkins | Director | 1 | — |
| Jennifer Mentele | Director | 1 | — |
| Laura Jackson | Chairperson | 1 | — |
| Christa D Kuennen | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Scott A Sundstrom | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Sherwin Robinson | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced a new $5 million youth mental health grant program to expand mental and behavioral health services in rural Iowa schools, addressing the youth mental health crisis in the state.
Wellmark Foundation awards $5M grant to expand youth mental ...The foundation also provided support to the University of Iowa's SIM-IA Program.
The Wellmark Foundation Supports University of Iowa\u2019s SIM-IA ProgramPast grantees have included Growing Great Gardens, Herreid Area Housing Development, and the Keosauqua Riverfront Trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Wellmark Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to improve the health of Iowans and South Dakotans and their communities. Special emphasis is directed toward: • Promoting active living and building environments • Increasing access and consumption of nutritious foods • Community-based wellness and prevention initiatives • Healthy aging • Mental and behavioral health • Rural community health • Maternity and newborn health The foundation prioritizes sustainable initiatives—projects that continue after g…
How do I apply for a grant from The Wellmark Foundation?
The foundation operates two primary competitive grant programs: **Healthy Communities Small Grant Program** • Awards grants of up to $25,000 • Designed to address community-based wellness and prevention • Targets programs that create lasting impact in Wellmark communities **Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) Grants** • Awards challenge grants of up to $75,000 • Supports large community health projects requiring higher levels of funding and/or collaboration • Requires dollar-for-dollar …
Where does The Wellmark Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives exclusively in Iowa and South Dakota.
What size grants does The Wellmark Foundation award?
In 2024, The Wellmark Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $117K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Wellmark Foundation's EIN?
The Wellmark Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1368650. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wellmark 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.
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