The David & Phyllis Murphy
Mason City, IA · EIN 42-1477942. Reported 155 grants totalling $1,673,300 to 81 organizations 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 David & Phyllis Murphy 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 $9,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $14,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $61,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City Public School Educational Foundation | Mason City, IA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| YMCA | Mason City, IA | $72,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Freedom in His Grace Ministry | Mason City, IA | $71,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Community Kitchen of North Iowa | Mason City, IA | $69,400 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mercy One North Iowa Hospice | Mason City, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mason City Public Library | Mason City, IA | $48,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mason City Community Schools | Mason City, IA | $47,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| 43 North Iowa | Mason City, IA | $46,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Meals on Wheels of Mason City Inc | Mason City, IA | $45,300 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| City of Mason City | Mason City, IA | $41,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wright on the Park | Mason City, IA | $39,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| River City Sculptures on Parade Inc | Mason City, IA | $39,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Humane Society of North Iowa | Mason City, IA | $37,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mason City Community Theatre | Mason City, IA | $36,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mason City Instrumental Music Boosters Foundation | Mason City, IA | $36,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Kcmr Radio | Mason City, IA | $35,800 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Elderbridge Agency on Aging | Mason City, IA | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| North Ia-Southern Mn Veteran Stand | Rockford, IA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom | Garner, IA | $32,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| North Iowa Community Action Org | Mason City, IA | $31,900 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mason City Public School Ed Found | Mason City, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northern Lights Alliance for the Homeles Shelters | Mason City, IA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lime Creek Nature Center Foundation | Mason City, IA | $29,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mason City Foundation - Music Man Square | Mason City, IA | $27,400 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Stebens Children's Theatre | Mason City, IA | $27,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Friends of 457 Cannonball Express Gardens | Mason City, IA | $26,300 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Francis Lauer Youth Organization | Mason City, IA | $23,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sunbeam Christian Childcare Prescho | Mason City, IA | $22,200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Niacc | Mason City, IA | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Girl Scouts of Greater Ia | Urbandale, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa | Urbandale, IA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| One Vision | Clear Lake, IA | $19,650 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Charles H Macnider Museum | Mason City, IA | $19,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness of North Iowa | Mason City, IA | $15,200 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mason City Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Mason City, IA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mercy One North Iowa Foundation | Mason City, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| North Iowa Band Festival Foundation | Mason City, IA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Youth for Christ | Mason City, IA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Services in Iowa | Des Moines, IA | $14,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| North Iowa Fair Association | Mason City, IA | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City of Mason City - Norris Youth Complex | Mason City, IA | $13,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Mason City, IA | $13,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| North Iowa Youth Center | Mason City, IA | $13,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Salvation Army | Mason City, IA | $13,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa | Mason City, IA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mason City Instrumental Music Boosters | Mason City, IA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Mason City Youth Task Force | Mason City, IA | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Friends of 457 Cannonball Express | Mason City, IA | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mason City Youth Task Force | Mason City, IA | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank | Mason City, IA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| John Adams Middle School | Mason City, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mollies Missions | Nora Springs, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Niacc Foundation | Mason City, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Central Ia Ag in the Classroo | Garner, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Iowa Events Center | Mason City, IA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| River City Society Historic Preservation | Mason City, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Yss of North Iowa Fka Francis Lauer Youth Organization | Mason City, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mason City Senior Activity Center | Mason City, IA | $9,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Yss of North Ia Fka Francis Lauer | Mason City, IA | $8,400 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Caring Pregnancy Center | Mason City, IA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Choral Music Guild | Mason City, IA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mason City Foundation-Music Man Sq | Mason City, IA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Music Man Square | Mason City, IA | $7,050 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Mason City Elmwood St Joseph Cemetary | Mason City, IA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Clear Lake High School | Mason City, IA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mason City Instrumental Music Boost | Mason City, IA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| River City Society Historical Pres | Mason City, IA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Meals on Wheels | Mason City, IA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| All Vets Center | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Choral Music Guild-Mason City High | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City of Mason City Parks & Rec Dept | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Mason City Youth Sports | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Clear Lake Community Schools | Clear Lake, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lime Creek Nature Center Fd | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mason City Honor Guard-American Leg | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northern Lights Alliance Homeless S | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| River City Kiwanis Club | Mason City, IA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Iowa Transition Services | Mason City, IA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cerro Gordo County - Isu Extension | Mason City, IA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mason City Community Policing Advisory Board | Mason City, IA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
41 of 81 (51%) 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 68%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. 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.
- YMCA
DAYCARE SERVICES, GENERAL SUPPORT - Community Kitchen of North Iowa
FUNDING FOR ROOF ON BUILDING AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES - Mason City Community Schools
EQUIPMENT FOR FUTURE IS NOW CAMPAIGN - River City Sculptures on Parade Inc
SCULPTURE PURCHASE, MAINTENANCE - Sunbeam Christian Childcare Prescho
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES PURCHASE - 43 North Iowa
BUILDING AND GENERAL PROGRAM EXPENSES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 45 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22 | $118,000 | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 42 | $525,200 | $10,250 |
| 2023 | 44 | $511,100 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 47 | $519,000 | $8,000 |
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
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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.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $9,000. 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 The David & Phyllis Murphy'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: 103 East State Street Suite 800, Mason City, IA, 50401. 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 42-1477942 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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