United Fire Group Foundation
United Fire Group Foundation is a private foundation based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Its 2025 filing reports 87 grants totaling $989,500 to charitable organizations, including community, health, human-services, education, and arts organizations.
United Fire Group Foundation at a glance
In short: United Fire Group Foundation gave $990K across 87 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Iowa. 54% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $989,500
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 87
- +52.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,374
- -28.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $28,484
- -87.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (39 of 72, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (93% 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 United Fire Group Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 118 Second Avenue Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: (319) 399-5700
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who United Fire Group Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Way of East Central Iowa ($210K). Together the top 10 received $495K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($16,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
337 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 321 grants of 337 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa. The remaining reported shares went to Arizona and Colorado (2% each), and Texas and Virginia (1% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 87 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Fire Group Foundation open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 39 of 72 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 42% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $900K (2022) to $993K (2020). In 2025 it made 87 grants totaling $990K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way of East Central Iowa Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $210,000 |
| Cedar Valley Humane Society Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $50,000 |
| St Lukes Foundation Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $50,000 |
| Waypoint Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $50,000 |
| Eastern Iowa Health Center Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $25,000 |
| Tanager Place Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $25,000 |
| Willis Dady Emergency Shelter Inc Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $25,000 |
| Iowa College Foundation Des Moines, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $20,000 |
| Kids First Law Center Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $20,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa Cedar Rapids, IA | Provide Funds for Service to Community | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with United Fire Group Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,484 | $806,142 | $998,150 | $989,500 | 87 | $998,150 | $1,142 | $2,857 |
| 2024 | $220,492 | $1,717,798 | $934,350 | $911,000 | 57 | $919,350 | $577,918 | $9,751 |
| 2023 | $2,345 | $1,411,969 | $975,485 | $966,000 | 59 | $974,767 | $607,266 | — |
| 2022 | $184,972 | $1,510,735 | $928,215 | $899,550 | 64 | $907,533 | $715,573 | $5,332 |
| 2021 | $352,738 | $2,059,420 | $912,365 | $903,750 | 70 | $911,707 | $1,026,192 | $7,704 |
| 2020 | $213,993 | $1,972,835 | $1,031,400 | $992,825 | 75 | — | $957,597 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, United Fire Group Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, United Way of East Central Iowa describes its mission as uniting communities to invest in effective solutions that improve people’s lives. Eastern Iowa Health Center says it provides accessible, high-quality healthcare in the Linn County area, while Tanager Place says it provides services that inspire, empower, and heal children and families. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art describes its mission as exciting, engaging, and educating through the arts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 87 grants totaling $989,500. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $210,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Its largest reported grant was $210,000 to United Way of East Central Iowa. Other notable awards included $50,000 each to Cedar Valley Humane Society, St. Luke’s Foundation, and Waypoint; and $25,000 each to Eastern Iowa Health Center, Tanager Place, and Willis Dady Emergency Shelter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kevin Leidinger as president, Sarah Madsen as secretary, Eric Martin as treasurer, and James Noyce as director.
United Fire Group Foundation is led by Kevin Leidwinger, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kevin Leidwinger
President
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Noyce
Director
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Martin
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Madsen
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Janice Martin (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Wilkins (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Randy Ramlo (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Dawn M. Jaffray (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jack Evans (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 United Fire Group Foundation
How much does United Fire Group Foundation give each year?
United Fire Group Foundation gave $990K across 87 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $911K across 57 grants.
What is United Fire Group Foundation's typical grant size?
United Fire Group Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,374, across 87 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Fire Group Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does United Fire Group Foundation give grants?
United Fire Group Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar Rapids, IA (54 grants), Houston, TX (3 grants), Phoenix, AZ (3 grants) and Coralville, IA (2 grants).
Does United Fire Group Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 87 grants with a stated purpose on United Fire Group Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Provide Funds for Service to Community" (79 grants) and "Scholarship" (8 grants).
Who are United Fire Group Foundation's largest grantees?
United Fire Group Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Way of East Central Iowa ($210,000), Cedar Valley Humane Society ($50,000) and St Lukes Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($16,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Fire Group Foundation?
United Fire Group Foundation reported $28K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $998K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does United Fire Group Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, United Way of East Central Iowa describes its mission as uniting communities to invest in effective solutions that improve people’s lives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Fire Group Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is United Fire Group Foundation's EIN?
United Fire Group Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1492320. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does United Fire Group Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Fire Group Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-fire-group-foundation-morg_9899e22a24e5471791fe11c5ff64fa86
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_421492320_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Fire Group Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-fire-group-foundation-morg_9899e22a24e5471791fe11c5ff64fa86},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 United Fire Group Foundation'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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