Private foundation · Des Moines, IA

The Nelson Foundation

View org profile →Find similar funders →Invitation only
Typical grant size
$5K $15K $25K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
25
Repeat grantees
7
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2024 990-PF

Leadership · from 2024 990-PF

Dan Ryan
Chair/President
Elizabeth Nelson
VP & SECRETARY
Molly Ryan
Treasurer
Ebony Nelson
PRESIDENT
David Nelson
TRASURER/SECRETARY
Madeline Ryan
VICE PRESIDENT
Ben Ryan
DIRECTOR
Mary a Nelson
PRESIDENT/TREASURER/DIRECTOR
R W Nelson
SECRETARY/DIRECTOR

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
6.6%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'17
'18
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
73
Total grants awarded
$2.2M
Total amount
$31K
Average grant
$425K
Largest grant

Giving by year

2024
$260K
11 grants
2023
$180K
7 grants
2022
$205K
10 grants
2021
$165K
8 grants
2020
$85K
2 grants
2019
$65K
18 grants
2018
$37K
4 grants
2017
$439K
8 grants
2016
$13K
2 grants
2015
$785K
3 grants

Top recipients

2 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$800K
1 grant · IA · ✓ Exact match
$355K
3 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$130K
3 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$85K
Iowa Healthiest State
3 grants · IA
$75K
3 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$64K
1 grant · IA · ✓ Exact match
$50K
Anawin Housing
2 grants · IA
$50K
2 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$50K
Easter Seals
2 grants · IA
$50K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

Living History Farms
LHF Cultivating Our Future campaign
IA · TY 2024
$80K
Easter Seals of Iowa
Respite and Summer Camp programs
IA · TY 2024
$29K
Above Beyond Cancer
Hotel Program Support
IA · TY 2024
$29K
Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa
Feeding the Future program
IA · TY 2024
$25K
Children and Families of Iowa
Child Development Center
IA · TY 2024
$25K
By Degrees Foundation
children and education support
IA · TY 2024
$20K
Cypress
Journey to Justice
IN · TY 2024
$18K
Kirk Day School
purchase of 3 Chromebook carts
MO · TY 2024
$17K
Home Inc
appliances for 16 new homes
IA · TY 2024
$8K
Knock and Drop Iowa
food pantry services
IA · TY 2024
$5K
Genesis Youth Foundation
athletic equipment and tutoring
IA · TY 2024
$5K
Living History Farms
HOUSING
IA · TY 2023
$40K
D Squared Homes for the Homeless
EDUCATIONAL
AZ · TY 2023
$30K
By Degrees Foundation
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2023
$30K
Easter Seals
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2023
$25K
Iowa Healthiest State
HEALTH
IA · TY 2023
$25K
Grow & Learn
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2023
$15K
Iowa Safe Schools
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2023
$15K
Iowa Healthiest State
HEALTH
IA · TY 2022
$25K
Anawin Housing
HOUSING
IA · TY 2022
$25K
Boys & Girls Club
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2022
$25K
Des Moines Symphony
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2022
$25K
East High School Alumni Foundation
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2022
$25K
Easter Seals
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2022
$25K
Above & Beyond Cancer
HEALTH
IA · TY 2022
$21K
First Tee of Central Iowa
HOUSING
IA · TY 2022
$20K
Orphan Care Alliance
HOUSING
KY · TY 2022
$10K
Catching the Dream
EDUCATIONAL
NM · TY 2022
$5K
Children and Families of Iowa
HOUSING
IA · TY 2021
$25K
Anawin Housing
HOUSUNG
IA · TY 2021
$25K
Iowa Healthiest State
HEALTH
IA · TY 2021
$25K
First Tee of Central Iowa
HOUSING
IA · TY 2021
$20K
Boys & Girls Club
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2021
$20K
Can Play
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2021
$20K
Above & Beyond Cancer
HEALTH
IA · TY 2021
$15K
Orphan Care Alliance
HOUSING
KY · TY 2021
$15K
Food Bank of Iowa
FOOD
IA · TY 2020
$50K
By Degrees Foundation
EDUCATION
IA · TY 2020
$35K
Science Center of Iowa
SCIENCE EDUCATION
IA · TY 2019
$13K
St Andrew's Episcopal Church
ESL and Sewing Program
IA · TY 2019
$13K
World Food Program USA
FOOD SECURITY
DC · TY 2019
$13K
Ace Ministries
Support a foster and adoptive kids camp and foster/adoptive family retreat and training center in Kentucky
KY · TY 2019
$7K
Dowling Catholic High School
Covering the cost of reduced meals for qualified students
IA · TY 2019
$4K
Kirk Day School
Technology upgrade for Chrome book purchase
MO · TY 2019
$3K
St Anthony's School
Covering the cost of reduced meals for qualified students
IA · TY 2019
$2K
Holy Family School
Covering the cost of reduced meals for qualified students
IA · TY 2019
$2K
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
provide young adults with opportunities to build confidence, set goals, and create a healthy lifestyle through mentor-ba…
IA · TY 2019
$2K
First Tee of Central Iowa
To impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing value…
IA · TY 2019
$2K
Christ the King School
Covering the cost of reduced meals for qualified students
IA · TY 2019
$1K
St Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic School
Covering the cost of reduced meals for qualified students
IA · TY 2019
$987

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.