Max and Helen Guernsey
Cedar Falls, IA · EIN 42-1460664. Reported 441 grants totalling $7,917,700 to 221 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$18,000median grant
$7,917,700granted, 2021-2024
221organizations funded
54%of grantees funded again the next year
$49.9Massets, latest filing
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. Max and Helen Guernsey did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $18,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $7,000 and $30,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $60,000. 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. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Successlink Inc | Waterloo, IA | $200,000 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| City of Waterloo | Waterloo, IA | $165,000 | 8 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hawkeye Community College Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $165,000 | 11 | 4 | 2024 |
| Waterloo Community Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $155,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grout Museum Inc | Waterloo, IA | $140,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Transformations By Cedar Valley Angels | Waterloo, IA | $140,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Cedar Valley | Waterloo, IA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cedar Bend Humane Society Inc | Waterloo, IA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cedar Falls Community Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $120,000 | 8 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grin & Grow Ltd | Waterloo, IA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Marching Against the Darkness Inc | Waterloo, IA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Waterloo Community Playhouse | Waterloo, IA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| North Star Community Services | Waterloo, IA | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Youth Art Team | Waterloo, IA | $106,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cedar Valley Hospice Inc | Waterloo, IA | $105,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Americans for Independent Living | Waterloo, IA | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Uni Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $94,000 | 4 | 2 | 2024 |
| All in Mentoring | Waverly, IA | $93,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bremer County Fair Association | Sumner, IA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cedar Valley Friends of the Family | Waterloo, IA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity | Waterloo, IA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Riverview Center Inc | Dubuque, IA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities | Iowa City, IA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army | Waterloo, IA | $90,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| YWCA of Black Hawk County | Waterloo, IA | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Maroon & White Inc | Grundy Center, IA | $88,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Center of Attention | Waterloo, IA | $85,200 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| City of Janesville | Janesville, IA | $82,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center | Waterloo, IA | $82,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens | Waterloo, IA | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Services in Iowa | Des Moines, IA | $80,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Waterloo, IA | $77,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Back 2 Basics | Waterloo, IA | $75,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cedar Falls Community Theatre | Cedar Falls, IA | $75,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cedar Valley Preschool & Childcare Center | Cedar Falls, IA | $75,000 | 4 | 2 | 2024 |
| One City United | Waterloo, IA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cedar Falls Schools Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| North End Cultural Center | Waterloo, IA | $69,000 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cedar Valley Irish Cultural Association | Waterloo, IA | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Little Iron Mom | Cedar Falls, IA | $64,200 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Christian Comm Dev Dba House of Hope | Waterloo, IA | $61,000 | 4 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cedar Valley Preschool & Childcare | Cedar Falls, IA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Christian Community Development | Waterloo, IA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois | Waterloo, IA | $60,000 | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Job Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Northeast Iowa Food Bank | Waterloo, IA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Larrabee Center Inc | Waverly, IA | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Vision to Learn | Los Angeles, CA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Waypoint Services | Cedar Rapids, IA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Try Pie | Waterloo, IA | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Waverly Public Library Foundation | Waverly, IA | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Waterloo Community Schools Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $54,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Butler County Conservation Board | Clarksville, IA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Amani Community Services | Waterloo, IA | $44,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Inclusion Connection Inc | Waterloo, IA | $44,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Leader Valley Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $42,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Little Knights Learning Center | La Porte City, IA | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley | Waterloo, IA | $40,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Winnebago Council of Boy Scouts | Waterloo, IA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Waterloo, IA | $37,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Black Hawk County 4H & FFA Fair Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| City of Tama | Tama, IA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Senior Citizens Group of Waverly | Waverly, IA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| St Timothy Childcare & Preschool | Hudson, IA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Sumner Daycare & Learning Center | Sumner, IA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| University of Northern Iowa Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $35,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Love Inc | Cedar Falls, IA | $34,250 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cedar Valley United Way | Waterloo, IA | $34,000 | 8 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ne Iowa Foodbank | Waterloo, IA | $32,000 | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Benton County Conservation Board | Vinton, IA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanical Gardens | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cedar Valley Gearhead Ministries Inc | Cedar Falls, IA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Christian Community Dev Dba House of Hope | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Jesup | Jesup, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of New Hartford | New Hartford, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Waucoma | Waucoma, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Wellsburg | Wellsburg, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community United Child Care Center | Cedar Falls, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Denver Wrestling Club Inc | Denver, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dunkerton Historical Society | Dunkerton, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Eastside Ministerial Alliance Inc | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of National Cattle Congress | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Ia and Western Ill | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inrcog | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Iowa Dental Foundation | Des Moines, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Iowa Healthiest State Initiative | Des Moines, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Iowa Heartland Habitiat for Humanity | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jesup Elementary PTO | Jesup, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ne Iowa Food Bank | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Operation Threshold | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Riyo Refugee & Immigrant & Youth Organization | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Riyo-Refugees & Immigrants Youth Organization | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Silos & Smokestacks | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Simulation in Motion Iowa | Iowa City, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Lucas Firefighters Association Inc | St Lucas, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army of Waterloocedar Falls | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Union Community School District | Dysart, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Vision to Learn | Dubuque, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Waverly Child Care & Preschool | Waverly, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| YWCA of Blackhawk County | Waterloo, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Robert D & Billie Ray Center | Des Moines, IA | $29,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bremer County Historical Society | Waverly, IA | $28,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wartburg Community Symphony | Waverly, IA | $27,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| 319 Empowerment | Waterloo, IA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cedar Falls Historical Society | Cedar Falls, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Winthrop | Winthrop, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dunkerton Community Schools | Dunkerton, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Families Helping Families of Iowa | Cedar Rapids, IA | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Iowa Jobs for American Graduates | Des Moines, IA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Pgc Outreach Dba Cv Thrift & Outreach | Waterloo, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rise Ltd | Elkader, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Waverly Health Care Foundation | Waverly, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Waverly Chamber Music Series | Waverly, IA | $23,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| A Cup of Water Ministries | Waverly, IA | $22,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Peace Community Meal Program | Waverly, IA | $22,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Incrog | Waterloo, IA | $21,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children's Cancer Connection | Johnston, IA | $21,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Metropolitan Chorale Inc | Waterloo, IA | $21,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Area Emergency & Transportations Services Inc | Elgin, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bennington No 4 School | Waterloo, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Black Hawk County 4H & FFA Fair | Waterloo, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Black Hawk County Extension Service | Waterloo, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Blairstown Ambulance Service Inc | Blairstown, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cedar Heights Parent & Teachers United | Cedar Falls, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cedar Valley Crimestoppers | Waterloo, IA | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cedar Valley Gearheads Ministries Inc | Cedar Falls, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Clarksville | Clarksville, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Consumer Credit Counseling | Waterloo, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dysart Pickleball Organization | Dysart, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family Crisis Centers Inc | Sioux Center, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Greater Cedar Valley Alliance | Waterloo, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hansen Elementary PTA | Cedar Falls, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Humanities Iowa | Ames, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pgc Outreachdba Cv Thrift & Outreach | Waterloo, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Retrieving Freedom Inc | Waverly, IA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Waverly Childcare & Preschool | Waverly, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wildwood Hills Inc | Des Moines, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective | Waterloo, IA | $19,250 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Waterloo Community Schools Foundation | Waterloo, CA | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Ia & Western Illinois | Waterloo, IA | $17,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Clarksville Food Pantry Inc | Clarksville, IA | $16,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Iowa Chamber Music Collective | Cedar Falls, IA | $16,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Iowa Gardening for Good | Madrid, IA | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Waterloocedar Falls Symphony | Cedar Falls, IA | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Buchanan County Animal Shelter | Hazleton, IA | $15,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Friends of the Gilbertville Depot | Evansdale, IA | $15,200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bel Canto Cedar Valley | Cedar Falls, IA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bosnian Cultural Foundation Inc | Waterloo, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cedar Falls Housing Trust | Waterloo, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cedar Valley Association for Soft Trails | Cedar Falls, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| College Hill Partnership | Cedar Falls, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Communities in Schools of Mid-America | Lawrence, KS | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County | Waterloo, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Iowa Healthiest State Iniative | Des Moines, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates Inc | Des Moines, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Iowa Public Tv Foundation | Johnston, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Muscular Dystrophy Association | Monticello, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Restore Independent Mobility | Waverly, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Larabee Center Inc | Waverly, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony | Cedar Falls, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Elgin Emergency Services | Elgin, IA | $14,800 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Waverly Shell Rock United Way | Waverly, IA | $14,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Allen Memorial Hospital Corp | Waterloo, IA | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ems MD - Collaborative of the Cedar Valley Inc | Waverly, IA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Waterloo Community Schools | Waterloo, IA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Hudson | Hudson, IA | $11,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Healthy Cedar Valley Coalition | Cedar Falls, IA | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 1ST Kids Preschool & Childcare | Cedar Falls, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Allen College | Waterloo, IA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| C V Gearhead Ministries Inc | Waterloo, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Traer | Traer, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Communities in Schools | Lawrence, KS | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dunkerton Community Association | Dunkerton, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ira Sturdevant House Inc | Waverly, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| N-Compass | Marion, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Set Me Free Project | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Waterloo Police | Waterloo, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Waterloo Police K-9 | Waterloo, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Waterloocedar Falls Symphony Orchestra Assn | Cedar Falls, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Waverly Volunteer Fire Association | Waverly, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Reinbeck | Reinbeck, IA | $7,600 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Toledo Public Library Foundation | Toledo, IA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Iowa Radio Reading Information Service | Des Moines, IA | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Love Inc of the Cedar Valley | Cedar Falls, IA | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nat'l Ass'n for Mentally Ill | Waterloo, IA | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Butler County Shooting Sports | Clarksville, IA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cedar Bicycle Colective | Waterloo, IA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Faith Temple American Baptist Church | Waterloo, IA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bell Canto Cedar Valley | Cedar Falls, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Black Hawk County Conservation | Waterloo, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Independence | Independence, IA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Metro Community Concert Association | Waterloo, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| NAMI Black Hawk County | Waterloo, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| NAMI of Black Hawk County | Waterloo, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Association Mentally Ill | Waterloo, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| No Foot Too Small | Iowa City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Quota Club of Waterloo Charitable Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Vincent De Paul | Waterloo, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Waverly Shell Rock Community Schools | Waverly, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Tripoli | Tripoli, IA | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Buchanan Co Animal Shelter Dba Otter Creek As | Clarksville, IA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hearst Center for the Arts | Cedar Falls, IA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Black Hawk Sheriff's Dept | Waterloo, IA | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| City of Laporte City | La Porte City, IA | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clermont Emt's Inc | Clermont, IA | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairbank Economic Development Corporation | Fairbank, IA | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mercy One Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $3,100 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bremer County Sheriff | Waverly, IA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cedar Falls Public Schools | Cedar Falls, IA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Independence Police Department | Independence, IA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Independence Police Dept | Indendence, IA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Two By Two Character Development | Dubuque, IA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Civil Air Patrol | Waterloo, IA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sunrise Children's Petting Zoo | Waterloo, IA | $2,000 | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sunrise Children's Zoo Inc | Waterloo, IA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Black Hawk County Sheriff's Department | Waterloo, IA | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Black Hawk Sheriff's Department | Waterloo, IA | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Camp Bangarang | Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sartori Health Care Foundation | Waterloo, IA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sartori Healthcare Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gray Warriors | Cedar Falls, IA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
93 of 221 (42%) 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 54%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
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.
- Maroon & White Inc
CAPITAL - GRUNDY CENTER CHILDCARE CENTER - Waverly Public Library Foundation
TEEN & LIBRARY RENOVATIONS - City of Janesville
CAPITAL - PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION - City of Waterloo
YR 2 OF 3 YR PLEDGE - GATES/BYRNES PARK CONSTRUCTION - Cedar Valley Preschool & Childcare Center
BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES PROGRAM - City of Tama
CAPITAL FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL NETWORK
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 235 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | $1,820,000 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 77 | $1,350,500 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 136 | $2,560,800 | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 125 | $2,186,400 | $16,000 |
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.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 99% of this one's giving went to organizations in Iowa. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
Find more foundations like Max and Helen Guernsey
We email you newly filed foundations whose giving matches your state and cause, as the IRS publishes them. Free.
No spam, unsubscribe in one click. We never sell or share your address.
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 the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
Otto Schoitz Foundation37 shared recipientsBlack Hawk County Gaming Association32 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc31 shared recipientsLsb Foundation29 shared recipientsCedar Valley United Way25 shared recipientsR J Mcelroy Trust22 shared recipients
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $18,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- 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 Max and Helen Guernsey's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 3826 Cedar Heights Drive Ste 1, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613. 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 42-1460664 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.