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Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 42-1368650

The Wellmark Foundation

A private foundation in Des Moines, IA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 27 grants and $3.2 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
The Wellmark Foundation
1331 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 376-6420
[email protected]
Form and materials
Applications should be submitted by completing the form available through the alignment tool on the wellmark foundation's website. The form will guide applicants to provide all required information.
Deadlines
Applications have no submission deadlines.
Restrictions
Applications must align with and support the foundation's mission to fund initiatives that provide a positive impact to the health of iowans and south dakotans.

Assets and giving by year

5 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $3,152,094

    Grants listed
    27
    Assets, end of year
    $79,766,543

  • Tax year 2023

    $3,507,966

    Grants listed
    37
    Assets, end of year
    $74,300,021

  • Tax year 2022

    $4,176,564

    Grants listed
    35
    Assets, end of year
    $68,745,360

  • Tax year 2021

    $3,934,034

    Grants listed
    54
    Assets, end of year
    $84,611,630

  • Tax year 2020

    $4,091,238

    Grants listed
    In an attachment
    Assets, end of year
    $81,030,470

Grants paid in 2024

27 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Charities Aid Foundation AmericaAlexandria, VA

    Bluescare giving matching gifts and personal volunteer time donations.

    $758,599
  2. Iowa Jag IncDes Moines, IA

    Expansion in up to 8 schools with high need for programming.

    $400,000
  3. State University of Iowa FoundationIowa City, IA

    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.

    $387,672
  4. Blues Care Giving ContributionsDes Moines, IA

    See attachment 1

    $336,307
  5. Childserve Foundation IncJohnston, IA

    Addition of two neurobehavioral health treatment rooms to increase capacity to serve more iowa families and support the workforce of iowa's employers.

    $250,000
  6. Lifescape FoundationSioux Falls, SD

    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.

    $250,000
  7. Rock Valley Community School DistrictRock Valley, IA

    Restoring the learning environment after a disaster.

    $150,000
  8. South Dakota Community FoundationPierre, SD

    Expansion in up to 3 schools with high need for programming.

    $150,000
  9. Bravo Greater Des Moines IncDes Moines, IA

    To support the passport to culture program for 20 years into the future.

    $100,000
  10. Spencer Comm School DistrictSpencer, IA

    For restoring the learning environment after a disaster.

    $100,000
  11. Iowa Jag IncDes Moines, IA

    Design and pilot social determinants of health/health equity curriculum module for use in iowa and south dakota. Improve career development conference, leadership development conference, and skills development conference.

    $50,000
  12. Society of Christian Instruction of Rock Valley IaRock Valley, IA

    Restoring the learning environment after a disaster.

    $50,000
  13. State of South DakotaPierre, SD

    The south dakota department of health will host "creating healthy and wealthy communities: a skill-building workshop for rural, tribal and frontier communities" october 1 and 2, 2024 to bring together city, county and tribal officials, state agencies, healthcare leaders, non-profit leaders, community volunteers, schools superintendents/principals, school board members, economic development professionals and others interested in improving community vitality in rural, tribal and frontier communities. The conference will provide a platform for learning, knowledge sharing, networking and best-practice skill building for planning and funding initiatives that create thriving, healthy communities.

    $33,375
  14. Rock Valley Community School District FoundationRock Valley, IA

    35 document cameras, 75 area rugs, 4 pianos and accessories.

    $31,951
  15. South Dakota Community FoundationPierre, SD

    Improve career development conference and leadership development conference.

    $30,000
  16. Spencer Community School DistrictSpencer, IA

    115 desks and chairs.

    $30,000
  17. Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA

    Provide financial support for up to six (6) scholarships for the 2022-2024, 2023-2025 or 2024-2026 program cohorts that will be made available to current employees (or the dependents of current employees) of broadlawns medical center, mercyone des moines, and des moines - unity point (each, a "des moines provider system") that have worked throughout the pandemic or completed teach/tech at broadlawns.

    $15,000
  18. Society of Christian Instruction of Rock Valley IaRock Valley, IA

    16 white board activity tables.

    $10,961
  19. Des Moines Area Community College FoundationAnkeny, IA

    Bluescare giving matching gifts and personal volunteer time donations.

    $5,580
  20. University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA

    Speaker at "creating healthy and wealthy communities: a skill-building workshop for rural, tribal and frontier communities" october 1 and 2, 2024.

    $5,270
  21. Community Foundation of Greater Des MoinesDes Moines, IA

    Bluescare giving matching gifts.

    $4,000
  22. Future Fort PierreFort Pierre, SD

    Tatanka project.

    $1,500
  23. Back 2 School IowaWaukee, IA

    Donation to support back 2 school iowa in recognition of 2024 inclusion ambassador award winner.

    $1,000
  24. Winterset Community School DistrictWinterset, IA

    Donation to high school boys soccer in recognition of the 2024 inclusion ambassador award nominator.

    $500
  25. City of Auburn IowaAuburn, IA

    Bluescare giving matching gifts.

    $250
  26. Whiterock ConservancyCoon Rapids, IA

    Bluescare giving matching gifts.

    $103
  27. Sanford Health FoundationSioux Falls, SD

    Bluescare giving matching gifts.

    $26

Approved for future payment

6 grants

Approved in 2024 and not yet paid.

  1. Childrens Home FoundationSioux Falls, SD

    Bluescare giving matching gifts.

    $0
  2. City of Windsor Heights Police DepartmentWindsor Heights, IA

    Bluescare giving personal volunteer time.

    $0
  3. City of Ankeny Parks and RecreationAnkeny, IA

    Bluescare giving personal volunteer time.

    $0
  4. Des Moines Area Community College FoundationAnkeny, IA

    Bluescare giving personal volunteer time.

    $0
  5. Minnehaha CountySioux Falls, SD

    Bluescare giving personal volunteer time.

    $0
  6. Charities Aid Foundation AmericaAlexandria, VA

    Bluescare giving matching gifts and personal volunteer time donations.

    -$50,795

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Philanthropy and grantmaking3 grants $938,59939% of the total
  2. Youth development2 grants $450,00018% of the total
  3. Education5 grants $445,47318% of the total
  4. Health1 grant $250,00010% of the total
  5. Human services1 grant $250,00010% of the total
  6. Arts and culture1 grant $100,0004% of the total
  7. 2 other causes2 grants $1,603<1% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Iowa20 grants $1,928,594
  2. Virginia1 grant $758,599
  3. South Dakota6 grants $464,901

Officers, directors and trustees

8 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Kris DeGraffDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Mary Beth HartDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Cammy JenkinsDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Jennifer MenteleDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Laura JacksonChairperson Hours 1Pay $0
  • Christa D KuennenTreasurer Hours 1Pay $0
  • Scott A SundstromSecretary Hours 1Pay $0
  • Sherwin RobinsonDirector Hours 1Pay $0

The return

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