The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc
The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc. is a private foundation established in 2003 as the charitable affiliate of West Bancorporation, Inc., the parent company of West Bank. Based in West Des Moines, Iowa, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in communities where West Bank operates, with a commitment to addressing the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.0M
-14.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$268K
+4.1% YoY
Grant Count
105
+9.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-4.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $115K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation supports organizations involved in three primary areas:
- Arts & Culture
- Education
- Human Services
Special emphasis is directed toward programs designed to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals. The Foundation recognizes the importance of making arts and cultural opportunities accessible to economically disadvantaged populations and addresses critical community needs including housing and food security.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
** January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds organizations in:
- Central Iowa (greater Des Moines area)
- Eastern Iowa (Iowa City/Coralville area)
- Minnesota (Rochester, Owatonna, Mankato, and St. Cloud)
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $1,048,795
- Total Giving: $267,657 (most recent reporting period)
- Historical Growth: Annual Foundation grants increased from less than $200,000 to over $300,000 by 2019, reaching $221,852 in 2021
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,048,795 | $1,224,180 | $1,209,115 |
| Revenue | $93,429 | $273,312 | $67,339 |
| Expenses | $268,814 | $258,247 | $317,325 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $267,657 | $257,134 | $316,761 |
| Net Investment Income | $66,469 | $57,673 | $37,125 |
| Distributable Amount | $114,684 | $99,090 | $105,246 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ballet Theatre of Des Moines ($10,000), Des Moines Area Religious Council ($10,000), Dowling Catholic High School ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABRAHAM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI FOUNDATION DES MOINES, IA | FUNDING FOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | $500 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY IOWA CITY, IA | FUNDING FOR HOPE LODGE HEROES CAMPAIGN | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN PARKINSON DISEASE ASSOCIATION IA CHAPTER URBANDALE, IA | FUNDING FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ANAWIM HOUSING DES MOINES, IA | FUNDING FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM | $7,500 |
| ANKENY DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS ANKENY, IA | FUNDING FOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | $1,000 |
| BALLET THEATRE OF DES MOINES WEST DES MOINES, IA | FUNDING FOR BALLET DES MOINES CAMPUS FOR ARTS AND EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BEST BUDDIES IOWA DES MOINES, IA | FUNDING FOR FRIENDSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | $2,500 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL IOWA INC CLIVE, IA | FUNDING FOR MENTORING PROGRAMS | $2,500 |
| BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA OWATONNA, MN | FUNDING FOR MENTORING PROGRAMS | $2,500 |
| BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL DES MOINES, IA | FESTIVAL OF TREES & LIGHTS SPONSOR | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jill Hansen - Executive Director and Senior Vice President, West Bank
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JILL T HANSEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| DAVID D NELSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BRAD L WINTERBOTTOM | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HARLEE N OLAFSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JENNIFER WEDEMEYER | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| JEAN SCHERR | DIRECTOR AND TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| MELISSA GILLESPIE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LUKE MOLENHOFF | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JIM CONARD | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GABE OLSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KEVIN SMITH | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BRAD PETERS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JANE FUNK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In the fourth quarter of 2021, the West Bancorporation Foundation announced grants totaling $71,500 to 18 community organizations. Six of these grants were directed to food pantries, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to addressing food security during challenging times. Organizations receiving grants included Blank Children's Hospital Festival of Trees & Lights, Camp Hertko Hollow, DMARC Food Pantry, Dowling Catholic High School, Everybody Wins! Iowa, Hope Ministries, Mentor Iowa, Polk County Housing Trust Fund, and various other community service organizations.
West Bancorporation Foundation announces grants to local food pantries |The Foundation has demonstrated consistent growth in its grantmaking capacity, supported in part by employee contributions through payroll deduction programs at West Bank.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation supports organizations involved in three primary areas: • **Arts & Culture** • **Education** • **Human Services** Special emphasis is directed toward programs designed to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals. The Foundation recognizes the importance of making arts and cultural opportunities accessible to economically disadvantaged populations and addresses critical community needs including housing and food security.
How do I apply for a grant from The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $20,000, with sample grants including $500 to $7,500. **Application Process:** • Grant applications are submitted via PDF form • Applications can be mailed or emailed to jhansen@westbankstrong.com • **Deadlines:** January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 **Eligibility Requirements:** • Applicants must be nonprofit organizations holding a 501(c)(3) IRS Exemption Letter • The Foundation does not fund endowments, fellowships, or political organ…
Where does The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation funds organizations in: • Central Iowa (greater Des Moines area) • Eastern Iowa (Iowa City/Coralville area) • Minnesota (Rochester, Owatonna, Mankato, and St. Cloud)
What size grants does The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc awarded 105 grants totaling $268K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $115K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The West Bancorporation Foundation Inc'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 West Bancorporation Foundation Inc 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 West Bancorporation Foundation Inc to a real strategy.