United Fire Group Foundation
The United Fire Group Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Established in 1999, it operates as the philanthropic arm of United Fire Group, an insurance company. The foundation describes itself as "a private foundation with a public purpose," channeling corporate profits toward nonprofit grants that strengthen communities where the company operates.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$220K
+9302.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$911K
-5.7% YoY
Grant Count
57
-3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-2.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The UFG Foundation aims to put profits to work for a higher purpose, building upon the company's mission of community support by awarding nonprofit grants to qualifying organizations.
Primary funding areas:
- Human services — 50%
- Education — 25%
- Arts — 11%
- Health services — 8%
- Environmental — 5%
- Other — 1%
Funding philosophy: Nonprofit funding is prioritized for established 501(c)(3) organizations providing arts, education, environmental, and health/human services in their local communities. The foundation seeks nonprofits that demonstrate a connection to elements of UFG's vision, mission, values, and founding principles. UFG employee volunteerism is a significant driver behind funding decisions—nonprofits with at least one UFG employee volunteer are encouraged to mention them by name in applications.
Grantmaking
Since its founding in 1999, the UFG Foundation has awarded more than $18 million to nonprofits through 2025.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, South Dakota, and Pennsylvania. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is a major focus area, reflecting the company's headquarters location. The foundation also supports organizations across the United States, as evidenced by recent grant announcements spanning coast to coast.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most recent financial data (2024):
- Total assets: $220,492
- Total revenues: $1,717,798
- Total expenses: $934,350
- Total grants, contributions: $1,139,880
Prior year (2023):
- Total assets: $2.35M
- Revenue: $1.41M
- Expenses: $975K
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $220,492 | $2,345 | $184,972 |
| Revenue | $1,717,798 | $1,411,969 | $1,510,735 |
| Expenses | $934,350 | $975,485 | $928,215 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $919,350 | $974,767 | $907,533 |
| Net Investment Income | $577,918 | $607,266 | $715,573 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,751 | — | $5,332 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEVIN LEIDWINGER | PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| SARAH MADSEN | SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
| JANICE MARTIN | TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
| ERIC MARTIN | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| JAMES NOYCE | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The UFG Foundation marked its 25th anniversary in July 2024. Recent grant cycles have included:
UFG Foundation announces 30 grant recipients spanning coast to coast30 grant recipients announced spanning coast to coast
UFG Foundation announces 30 grant recipients spanning coast to coast25 nonprofits awarded grants in a recent funding cycle
25 nonprofits awarded UFG Foundation grants in organization\u2019s recent\7 nonprofits funded throughout the U.S. in the most recent grant cycle
25 nonprofits awarded UFG Foundation grants in organization\u2019s recent\$212,500 awarded to 25 nonprofit organizations in a recent cycle
25 nonprofits awarded UFG Foundation grants in organization\u2019s recent\The foundation continues to actively accept grant applications from qualifying nonprofits.
UFG Foundation announces 30 grant recipients spanning coast to coastSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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