The Wellmark Foundation
Des Moines, IA · EIN 42-1368650. Reported 153 grants totalling $14.8M to 141 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Wellmark Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $50,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $25,000 and $100,000; the smallest was $26 and the largest $1,413,890. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues Care Giving Contributions | Des Moines, IA | $4,072,296 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Alexandira, VA | $758,599 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Iowa Jag Inc | Des Moines, IA | $550,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| State University of Iowa Foundation | Iowa City, IA | $387,672 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Childserve Foundation Inc | Johnston, IA | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lifescape Foundation | Sioux Falls, SD | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Urban Dreams | Des Moines, IA | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| South Dakota Community Foundation | Pierre, SD | $230,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boys and Girls Club of America | Des Moines, IA | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Food Bank of Iowa | Des Moines, IA | $200,000 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rock Valley Community School District | Rock Valley, IA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids, IA | $125,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| 6TH Ave Corr Urban Neighborhood Main St Program | Des Moines, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Black Hills Works Inc | Rapid City, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bravo Greater Des Moines Inc | Des Moines, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Capital Area Counseling Services Inc | Pierre, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Carroll County Conservation Board | Carroll, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Casey Service Club Inc | Casey, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Central Iowa Shelter & Services | Des Moines, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Algona | Algona, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Auburn | Auburn, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Burlington | Burlington, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Chariton | Chariton, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Creston | Creston, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Farley | Farley, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Laurens | Laurens, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Lenox | Lenox, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Logan | Logan, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Malvern | Malvern, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Marcus | Marcus, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Marshalltown | Marshalltown, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Mission | Mission, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Newton | Newton, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Parkston | Parkston, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Peosta | Peosta, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Pierre | Pierre, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Sheldon | Sheldon, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Sioux City | Sioux City, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Stanton | Stanton, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of West Burlington | West Burlington, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of West Union | West Union, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Winterset | Winterset, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Davis County Trails Council | Bloomfield, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fitness on Main | Burke, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Five Island Trail Corporation | Emmetsburge, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Lacey - Keosauqua State Park | Keosauqua, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Herreid Area Housing Development Inc | Herreid, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jasper County Conservation | Newton, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Leon Chamber of Commerce | Leon, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mobridge Community Development Corporation | Mobridge, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Nahant Marsh Education Center | Davenport, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Newbo City Market | Cedar Rapids, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Oakridge Neighborhood Services | Des Moines, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Polk County Conservation | Granger, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sioux Falls Skatepark Association | Sioux Falls, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Spencer Comm School District | Spencer, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Cedar Falls Schools Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wesleylife Community Services Inc | Johnston, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Willkie House Inc | Des Moines, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| YMCA of Washington Iowa | Washington, IA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dubuque Community School District | Dubuque, IA | $98,597 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Edgewood Board of Economic Development | Edgewood, IA | $94,300 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Donnellson | Donnellson, IA | $85,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cherokee Community Foundation | Cherokee, IA | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Brookings | Brookings, SD | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ijag | Des Moines, IA | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| City of Afton | Afton, IA | $65,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Society of Christian Instruction of Rock Valley Ia | Rock Valley, IA | $60,961 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Vincent De Paul | Des Moines, IA | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Black Hawk County Public Health | Waterloo, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Community Crisis Services | Iowa City, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dalla Terra Ranch Foundation | Earlham, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Des Moines Area Religious Council | Des Moines, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Easton Valley Csd | Preston, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Eat Well Mobile Marketsioux Falls Thrive | Sioux Falls, SD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gayville-Volin School District | Gayville, SD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Makoce Agriculture Development | Porcupine, SD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Red Cloud Indian School | Pine Ridge, SD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Resource Conservation and Development | Postville, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tapestry Farms | Davenport, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Youth & Family Services Inc | Rapid City, SD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lake View Foundation | Lake View, IA | $49,866 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Eat Greater Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | $49,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Eldora Parks and Recreation | Eldora, IA | $42,650 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Flandreau | Flandreau, SD | $38,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| State of South Dakota | Pierre, SD | $33,375 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Anthony Catholic Church | Davenport, IA | $33,051 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Rock Valley Community School District Foundation | Rock Valley, IA | $31,951 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Drake University | Des Monies, IA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Spencer Community School District | Spencer, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Catherine Mcauley Center | Cedar Rapids, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Chamberlain | Chamberlain, SD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Dewitt | Dewitt, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Epworth | Epworth, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Hills | Hills, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Keota | Keota, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Lansing | Lansing, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Manson | Manson, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Mason City | Mason City, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Pocahontas | Pocahontas, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Polk City | Polk City, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Preston | Preston, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Sloan | Sloan, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of St Charles | St Charles, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Tipton | Tipton, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Willow Lake | Willow Lake, SD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clark County | Clark, SD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Diagonal Community Development Corporation | Diagonal, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairfield Parks and Recreation Foundation | Fairfield, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Glenwood Rams Parent Teacher Association | Glenwood, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mahaska Futureview | Oskaloosa, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Metro High School | Cedar Rapids, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| North Cedar Community School District | Mechanicsville, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| River Bend Food Bank | Davenport, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wesley Retirement Services Inc | Johnston, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Winneshiek County Conservation Board | Fort Atkinson, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Edmunds Central School District | Roscoe, SD | $24,907 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Des Moines Area Mpo | Des Moines, IA | $24,575 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Dallas Center | Dallas Center, IA | $23,027 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Foodcorps Iowa | Des Moines, IA | $22,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Canistota | Canistota, SD | $20,873 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Horizons a Family Service Alliance | Cedar Rapids, IA | $19,315 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sisseton Youth Baseball Association | Sisseton, SD | $17,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| State of South Dakota Department of Education | Pierre, SD | $15,400 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Forest Avenue Outreach | Des Moines, IA | $15,062 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Healthy Birth Day | Clive, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mercy Housing Midwest | Rapid City, SD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Atlantic | Atlantic, IA | $13,952 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Madrid | Madrid, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Public Space One | Iowa City, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Des Moines Area Community College Foundation | Ankeny, IA | $5,580 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA | $5,270 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Northern Iowa Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Future Fort Pierre | Fort Pierre, SD | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Back 2 School Iowa | Waukee, IA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| South Dakota Office of Indian Education | Pierre, SD | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Winterset Community School District | Winterset, IA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Auburn Iowa | Auburn, IA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Whiterock Conservancy | Coon Rapids, IA | $103 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sanford Health Foundation | Sioux Falls, SD | $26 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
6 of 141 (4%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 4%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Charities Aid Foundation America
BLUESCARE GIVING MATCHING GIFTS AND PERSONAL VOLUNTEER TIME DONATIONS. - Iowa Jag Inc
EXPANSION IN UP TO 8 SCHOOLS WITH HIGH NEED FOR PROGRAMMING. - State University of Iowa Foundation
THROUGH THIS PROJECT, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RURAL VITALITY COALITION AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROCESSES UTILIZED BY THE COALITION FOR COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT, ENGAGEMENT, AND CHANGE WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE, RESEARCH AND POLICY. IN 2024, FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN 2 PARTS FOR PHASES 1-5 OF THE PROJECT AND FOR PHASE 6. - Childserve Foundation Inc
ADDITION OF TWO NEUROBEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT ROOMS TO INCREASE CAPACITY TO SERVE MORE IOWA FAMILIES AND SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE OF IOWA'S EMPLOYERS. - Lifescape Foundation
ENABLE THE CREATION OF A DEDICATED TESTING AND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT ROOM FOR CONDUCTING FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS (FBAS) AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSES (FAS) ESSENTIAL FOR IDENTIFYING THE CAUSES AND FUNCTIONS OF CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS. - Urban Dreams
DONATION FOR THE URBAN DREAMS COMMUNITY CENTER.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 59 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | $3,934,034 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 35 | $4,176,564 | $100,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | $3,507,966 | $50,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | $3,152,094 | $31,951 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Wellmark Foundation has 2 of them, worth $458,405. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Blues Care Giving Contributions | Des Moines, IA | $234,390 |
| Blues Care Giving Contributions | Des Moines, IA | $224,015 |
Where its money goes
82% of its giving went to organizations in Iowa. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
Get funders for your state and cause by email
We email you funders that gave to organizations in your state and cause, up to five at a time each week and never the same one twice, from their own IRS filings. Free. The weekly email has not started yet.
Unsubscribe in one click from any email. We never sell or share your address. To match on your organization and typical grant size too, keep a private profile.
Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $50,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Iowa.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Wellmark Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 1331 Grand Avenue Station 4W526, Des Moines, IA, 50309. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 42-1368650 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.