The Iowa State Capitol
Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 42-6059463

John Ruan Foundation Trust

A private foundation in Urbandale, IA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 52 grants and $4 million paid in grants.

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

Tax year 2024 (period ending Jun 30, 2025), 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
John Ruan IV
11207 NW Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 245-2575
Form and materials
No special form
Deadlines
None
Restrictions
None

Assets and giving by year

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

  • Tax year 2024

    $4,042,500

    Grants listed
    52
    Assets, end of year
    $100,195,996

  • Tax year 2023

    $4,050,000

    Grants listed
    52
    Assets, end of year
    $99,450,504

  • Tax year 2022

    $4,248,000

    Grants listed
    55
    Assets, end of year
    $98,778,410

  • Tax year 2021

    $5,368,120

    Grants listed
    65
    Assets, end of year
    $110,876,833

  • Tax year 2020

    $5,586,000

    Grants listed
    68
    Assets, end of year
    $103,561,030

Grants paid in 2024

52 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Mercy One FoundationDes Moines, IA

    General Operations

    $1,000,000
  2. University of Iowa FoundationIowa City, IA

    General Operations

    $1,000,000
  3. Mercy One FoundationDes Moines, IA

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $500,000
  4. Iowa Confluence Water TrailsDes Moines, IA

    Sports, Athletic

    $300,000
  5. Iowa Motor Carriers FoundationDes Moines, IA

    General Operations

    $250,000
  6. Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL

    Sports, Athletic

    $250,000
  7. EllipsisJohnston, IA

    Youth Activities

    $250,000
  8. Bravo Greater Des MoinesDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $100,000
  9. Dowling Catholic High SchoolWest Des Moines, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $60,000
  10. Des Moines SymphonyDes Moines, IA

    General Operations

    $25,000
  11. World Food PrizeDes Moines, IA

    General Operations

    $25,000
  12. Isu FoundationAmes, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $25,000
  13. Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $20,000
  14. Des Moines Art CenterDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $10,000
  15. Science Center of IowaDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $10,000
  16. Civic Center of Greater Des MoinesDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $10,000
  17. Blank Park Zoo FoundationDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $10,000
  18. Des Moines Metropolitan OperaIndianola, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $10,000
  19. Ballet Des MoinesWest Des Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $10,000
  20. Above and Beyond CancerWDM, IA

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $10,000
  21. Downtown Events GroupDes Moines, IA

    Inner City or Community Activities

    $10,000
  22. Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $10,000
  23. Bergman AcademyDes Moines, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $10,000
  24. Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $10,000
  25. Roosevelt High School FoundationDes Moines, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $10,000
  26. YMCADes Moines, IA

    Youth Activities

    $10,000
  27. St Augustin Catholic SchoolDes Moines, IA

    Youth Activities

    $10,000
  28. Nature ConservancyDes Moines, IA

    Conservation, Environment and Beautification Activities

    $5,000
  29. Des Moines Arts FestivalDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $5,000
  30. Blue Ribbon FoundationDes Moines, IA

    General Operations

    $5,000
  31. Lost Tree Charitable FoundationNorth Palm Beach, FL

    General Operations

    $5,000
  32. Food Bank of IowaDes Moines, IA

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $5,000
  33. Mayo ClinicRochester, MN

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $5,000
  34. American Heart AssociationDallas, TX

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $5,000
  35. Avon Old Farms SchoolAvon, CT

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $5,000
  36. Culver Educational FoundationCulver, IN

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $5,000
  37. Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $5,000
  38. Iowa Law School FoundationIowa City, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $5,000
  39. Iowa College FoundationDes Moines, IA

    Schools, COlleges and Related Activities

    $5,000
  40. Variety the Childrens CharityDes Moines, IA

    Youth Activities

    $5,000
  41. Boys and Girls Clubs of Central IowaDes Moines, IA

    Youth Activities

    $5,000
  42. Macnider Art MuseumMason City, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $2,500
  43. Iowa Historical FoundationDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $2,500
  44. Terrace Hill PartnershipDes Moines, IA

    Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities

    $2,500
  45. Friends of Des Moines ParksDes Moines, IA

    General Operations

    $2,500
  46. Brenton ArboretumDallas Center, IA

    General Operations

    $2,500
  47. Des Moines Community PlayhouseDes Moines, IA

    General Operations

    $2,500
  48. Orchard PlaceDes Moines, IA

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $2,500
  49. Wesley LifeJohnston, IA

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $2,500
  50. Multiple Sclerosis Society of IowaClive, IA

    Health Services and Related Activities

    $2,500
  51. Des Moines UniversityWDM, IA

    Schools, Colleges and Related Activities

    $2,500
  52. Boy Scouts of America Mid Iowa CouncilDes Moines, IA

    Youth Activities

    $2,500

Where the money goes

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

  1. Education7 grants $1,047,50051% of the total
  2. Environment1 grant $300,00015% of the total
  3. Sports and recreation2 grants $260,00013% of the total
  4. Mental health2 grants $252,50012% of the total
  5. Arts and culture8 grants $140,0007% of the total
  6. Health3 grants $20,000<1% of the total
  7. 4 other causes4 grants $25,0001% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Iowa45 grants $3,752,500
  2. Illinois2 grants $260,000
  3. Texas1 grant $10,000
  4. Connecticut1 grant $5,000
  5. Florida1 grant $5,000
  6. Indiana1 grant $5,000
  7. Minnesota1 grant $5,000

Officers, directors and trustees

1 person as filed

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

  • John Ruan IVTrustee Hours 0.5Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (education), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. The Seidler FoundationDes Moines, IA 175 grants Accepts applications $4,094,275 giving
  2. Charles E Lakin Foundation IncCouncil Bluffs, IA 56 grants Accepts applications $5,111,789 giving
  3. Vermeer Charitable FoundationPella, IA 122 grants Preselected only $5,173,435 giving
  4. John K and Luise V Hanson FoundationForest City, IA 126 grants Accepts applications $3,095,900 giving
  5. Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse FoundationCedar Rapids, IA 20 grants Preselected only $2,837,487 giving