The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker West Des Moines, IA EIN: 20-0523259

The West Bancorporation Foundation, Inc. is a private foundation based in West Des Moines, Iowa, and the charitable foundation affiliate of West Bancorporation, Inc., the parent of West Bank. It supports charitable programs in communities where West Bank does business, with a stated priority for programs whose primary purpose is to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals.

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc gave $332K across 111 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Iowa. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$332,313
+24.2% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
111
+5.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$2,994
+17.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$2,500
Total assets
$946,025
-9.8% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
20% first-time grantees (21 of 103, 2025)
Primary geography
Iowa (76% 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 West Bancorporation Foundation Inc

How to Apply

The Foundation’s filing describes an application as a written request stating the reason for the request and the type of organization submitting it. Its website provides a grant application form and asks applicants to submit a cover letter describing the program or project, the completed application, a current IRS 501(c)(3) exemption letter, a board list, an annual report, recent audited financial statements or IRS Form 990, and the requested program or project budget. The application also asks about the program’s benefits, budget, evaluation, funding sources, and any business relationship with West Bancorporation or West Bank. The Foundation generally does not make grants for endowments or memorials, fellowships, festival participation, individual K–12 schools, individuals, political activity, private foundations, sectarian, religious or denominational organizations, or organizations and activities outside the United States or mainly international in scope. The website also lists other excluded categories.

Review Cycle
Applications close January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
Deadline
Applications close January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
Contact

Application contact: Jill Hansen
Mailing address: 3330 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: (515) 222-2300

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Des Moines Area Religious Council: $15KDes Moines Area ReligiousCouncil$15KAnawim Housing: $10KAnawim Housing$10KBoys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota: $10KBoys & Girls Club of CentralMinnesota$10KEllipsis: $10KEllipsis$10KJeremiah Program: $10KJeremiah Program$10KThe Eddie Davis Community Center Inc: $10KThe Eddie Davis CommunityCenter Inc$10KGreater Mankato Area United Way: $8KGreater Mankato Area UnitedWay$8KRebuilding Together Greater Des Moines: $8KRebuilding Together GreaterDes Moines$8KUnited Way of Johnson & Washington Counties: $8KUnited Way of Johnson &Washington Counties$8KDowling Catholic High School: $7KDowling Catholic High School$7K

The largest 2025 recipient was Des Moines Area Religious Council ($15K). Together the top 10 received $95K.

Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($2,500), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

480 grants across all recorded years

480<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 480 grants of 480 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Foundation states that its grantmaking focuses on the Des Moines and Iowa City areas in Iowa, and Rochester, Mankato, Owatonna, and St. Cloud in Minnesota. In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to Iowa recipients and 16% to Minnesota recipients; the remainder went to recipients in Idaho, Maine, and Colorado.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 111 itemized grants.

Cities

Des MoinesWest Des MoinesJohnstonUrbandaleIowa CityRochesterCoralvilleMankatoOwatonnaCedar RapidsSt CloudAnkenyCliveAltoonaNorwalkWaukeeGrimesHiawathaSaint CharlesAmes

Is The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

20%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 21 of 103 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 295% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K85 grants2020 77 grants2021 91 grants2022 96 grants2023 105 grants2024 111 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $257K (2023) to $332K (2025). In 2025 it made 111 grants totaling $332K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Des Moines Area Religious Council Des Moines, IAFunding to Support the Dmarcc Food Pantry$15,000
Anawim Housing Des Moines, IAFunding for Permanent Supportive Housing Program$10,000
Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota St Cloud, MNFunding for Partners for the Future Program$10,000
Ellipsis Des Moines, IAFunding for Hopeful Spaces Capital Campaign$10,000
Jeremiah Program Rochester, MNFunding for whole family support for student parent single moms program$10,000
The Eddie Davis Community Center Inc West Des Moines, IAFunding for Social Service Programs$10,000
Greater Mankato Area United Way Mankato, MNAnnual Fundraising$8,348
Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines Des Moines, IAFunding for Rebuilding Together Project$7,500
United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties Coralville, IAAnnual Fundraising$7,500
Dowling Catholic High School West Des Moines, IAAnnual Appeal$7,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$946,025$230,661$333,431$332,313111$332,313$199,489$112,558
2024$1,048,795$93,429$268,814$267,657105$267,657$66,469$114,684
2023$1,224,180$273,312$258,247$257,13496$257,134$57,673$99,090
2022$1,209,115$67,339$317,325$316,76191$316,761$37,125$105,246
2021$1,459,101$599,161$271,107$270,31077$270,310$32,236$100,998
2020$1,131,047$260,864$261,985$261,34485—$48,442$73,918

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $113K 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 materials describe its giving priority but do not state a separate formal mission. Its grant application asks applicants to identify whether more than half of the requested program or project funds will benefit low- to moderate-income families or individuals.

Examples of grantees illustrate the types of work it supports. Des Moines Area Religious Council describes its mission as working together to meet basic human needs in the greater Des Moines community; its 2025 grant supported its food pantry. Anawim Housing says it provides safe, affordable housing to stabilize low-income families and revitalize Des Moines neighborhoods; its grant supported a permanent supportive housing program. Ellipsis says it helps kids and families build healthy relationships, and its grant supported a capital campaign. The Jeremiah Program says it works to disrupt poverty for single mothers and their children; its grant supported a whole-family program for student-parent single mothers. These examples reflect grantee missions and do not constitute a separate statement of the Foundation’s mission.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 111 grants totaling $332,313. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $15,000, with a median grant of $2,500. Among the largest grants were $15,000 to Des Moines Area Religious Council for its food pantry, and $10,000 each to Anawim Housing for permanent supportive housing, Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota for its Partners for the Future program, Ellipsis for its Hopeful Spaces capital campaign, and the Jeremiah Program for its whole-family support program. The Eddie Davis Community Center received $10,000 for social service programs.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Jill T. Hansen as executive director. Directors listed are David D. Nelson, Brad L. Winterbottom, Harlee N. Olafson, Jean Scherr, Zach Stubbs, Jim Conard, Sara Gallagher, and Aldrich Cabildo. Jennifer Wedemeyer is listed as secretary, and Jean Scherr is also listed as treasurer.

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc is led by Jill T. Hansen, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jill T. Hansen

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brad L. Winterbottom

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David D. Nelson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Harlee N. Olafson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jean Scherr

    Director & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Conard

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brad Peters

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jane Funk

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Aldrich Cabildo

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sara Gallagher

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Todd Mather

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Zach Stubbs

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Wedemeyer

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (6)
  • Former: Gabe Olson (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Kevin Smith (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Luke Molenhoff (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Melissa Gillespie (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Alice A. Jensen (2020–2021) — Secretary
  • Former: Douglas R. Gulling (2020–2021) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 West Bancorporation Foundation Inc

How much does The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc give each year?

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc gave $332K across 111 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $268K across 105 grants.

What is The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,994, across 111 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.

Where does The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc give grants?

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc gives mostly in Iowa: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (38 grants), West Des Moines, IA (16 grants), Johnston, IA (6 grants) and Rochester, MN (5 grants).

Does The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Occasionally: 9% of The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 111) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Funding for Scholarship Program" (19 grants) and "Annual Fundraising" (3 grants).

Who are The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Des Moines Area Religious Council ($15,000), Anawim Housing ($10,000) and Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($2,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc?

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc reported $946K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $332K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $113K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc fund?

The Foundation’s materials describe its giving priority but do not state a separate formal mission. Its grant application asks applicants to identify whether more than half of the requested program or project funds will benefit low- to moderate-income families or individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc?

The Foundation’s filing describes an application as a written request stating the reason for the request and the type of organization submitting it. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc's EIN?

The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0523259. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-west-bancorporation-foundation-inc-morg_fde5499fd10041739e65732ea65cf803

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200523259_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-west-bancorporation-foundation-inc-morg_fde5499fd10041739e65732ea65cf803},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 West Bancorporation Foundation Inc'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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