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.
Key facts about United Fire Group Foundation
- EIN
- 42-1492320
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $911,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- Average grant
- $15,982
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (30 of 47, 2024)
- Total assets
- $220,492
- Primary geography
- Iowa (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who United Fire Group Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for United Fire Group Foundation's 57 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (95%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar Rapids, IA (39 grants), Marion, IA (3 grants) and Cedar Falls, IA (2 grants). None of its 57 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Provide Funds for Service to Community" (40 grants), "Scholarship" (8 grants) and "Charitable Contributions" (3 grants).
Is United Fire Group Foundation open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 30 of 47 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with United Fire Group Foundation
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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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, United Fire Group Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Ready to take the next step with United Fire Group Foundation?
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
Share of all 57 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
325 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include United Way of East Central Iowa ($210,000), African American Museum of Iowa ($50,000), Cedar Rapids Public Library ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF EAST CENTRAL IOWA Cedar Rapids, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $210,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF IOWA Cedar Rapids, IA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $50,000 |
| CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY Cedar Rapids, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $50,000 |
| MERCY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION Cedar Rapids, IA | HAL PATIENT SIMULATOR | $50,000 |
| FOUNDATION 2 CRISIS SERVICES Cedar Rapids, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $30,000 |
| EASTERN IOWA HEALTH CENTER Cedar Rapids, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $25,000 |
| NEWBO CITY MARKET Cedar Rapids, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $25,000 |
| TANAGER PLACE Cedar Rapids, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA FOUNDATION Cedar Falls, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $25,000 |
| WILLIS DADY EMERGENCY SHELTER Cedar Rapids, IA | PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does United Fire Group Foundation fund?
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 loc…
How do I apply for a grant from United Fire Group Foundation?
**Award ranges and types:** • Typical awards range from $2,000 to $50,000, with an average award of $10,000 • Grant types include programmatic funding (for new or existing projects aimed at benefiting local communities) and operating support **Recent grant activity:** • In 2024, the foundation made 75 grants totaling $911,000 • Recent notable grants include $210,000 to United Way of East Central Iowa, $50,000 to the African American Museum of Iowa, and $50,000 to Mercy Medical Center Foundation…
Where does United Fire Group Foundation make 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.
What size grants does United Fire Group Foundation award?
In 2024, United Fire Group Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $911K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is United Fire Group Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, United Fire Group Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.