Skip to content
John H & Ann Ghrist Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

John H & Ann Ghrist Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$28k
Granted FY2024still arriving
13
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$5k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Arts & Culture$65kEducation$59kHealth$52kFood & Nutrition$47kEnvironment$18kHuman Services$9kPhilanthropy$2kOther$0
02FY2024 · 13 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$2,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$623k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
VISITING NURSE SERVICES OF IOWA DBA EVERYSTEP$5,000
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION$5,000
FOOD BANK OF IOWA$3,000
EDMUNDSON ART FOUNDATION INC (DES MOINES ART CENTER)$2,000
DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION$2,000
GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN$2,000
IOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION$2,000
IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION$1,500
IOWA PUBLIC RADIO INC$1,500
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION - REMOVING BARRIERS FOR EDUCATION$1,000
SALISBURY HOUSE FOUNDATION$1,000
WEST DES MOINES LIBRARY FRIENDS FOUNDATION$1,000
CASS RESOURCES FOR ENRICHMENT (CARE)$1,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY18–19, $5k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%YOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER: $1k → 10%YOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER: $1k → 10%CHILD SERVE FOUNDATION: $2k → 10%CHILD SERVE FOUNDATION: $1k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$231k · 22 repeat orgs$32k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +44% since the first grant, against +18% for those funded once.

22 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2024, 14 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
9

Total granted

$231k
$23k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+44%
+18%

Still filing today

68%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 68% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $9k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureFood & NutritionEducationEnvironmentHuman ServicesPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • FB
    FOOD BANK OF IOWA
    8× · 2017–2024 · $44k · revenue +228%
  • IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
    8× · 2017–2024 · $40k · revenue +1%
  • EA
    Edmundson Art Foundation Inc
    7× · 2017–2024 · $13k · revenue +53%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2017 · $10k
  • DM
    DES MOINES SYMPHONY FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2022 · $3k · revenue -89%
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF IOWA CASA
    one grant, 2018 · $2k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Des Moines Performing Arts

Engage the midwest in meaningful entertainment, education, and cultural activities. provide performing arts experiences that educate, inspire and challenge.

Community Improvement
2
Iowa College Foundation

The foundation is organized to further the growth and development of private colleges and universities of higher education in iowa.

—
3
Common Good Iowa

Common good iowa engages iowans to create and advocate for research-based public policy that makes life better and more equitable for all who make iowa home.

—
4
Iowa State Fair Foundation

Raise funds for renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds by soliciting gifts, donations, bequests and grants to help finance infrastructure projects to guarantee the Fair continues to be Iowa's great celebration,…

Recreation & Sports
5
Iowa Credit Union Foundation

Founded in 1995 as the philanthropic arm of the iowa credit union league and guided by the credit union philosophy of "people helping people", the iowa credit union foundation (the foundation) works to champion financial well-being for…

Unclassified
6
Iowa Historical Foundation

Promoting, for the benefit and education of the general public, the preservation and interpretation of the history of the state of iowa.

Arts & Culture
7
Iowa Newspaper Association

To improve member newspapers

—
8
Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation

The des moines water works park foundation is dedicated to developing and executing the master plan created for water works park. the plan turns the park into a national model incorporating recreation, education and conservation within the…

Recreation & Sports
9
The Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District

The foundation for the iowa city community school district connects the community with our schools to ensure every student has extraordinary learning experiences. together we empower teachers and district staff and inspire students to…

—
10
Des Moines Jewish Foundation

The foundation was structured to encourage funding of the jewish federation of greater des moines, and is responsible for adding financial stability by broadening the funding base and thereby improving the ability of the des moines jewish…

—
11
Iowa Sister States

Iowa sister states is dedicated to connecting iowans with the world community. our mission is to develop and implement international partnerships and programs that promote the cultural, economic, and other interests of iowa and its friends…

International
12
Iowa City Unesco City of Literature

To build and support diverse communities of writers and audiences through the transformative power of story. We lead by inclusion and collaboration, celebrating the emotions, discovery and connections inspired by the written word in all…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Des Moines Community Playhouse; the most unlike its peers is Cass Resources for Enrichment. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

24 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 24 of the 36 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/24
Grantees still filing
19/24
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

PLANNED PARENTHOOD: $20,500 · OtherPLANNED PARENTHOODIndividual grant recipient: $10,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientHOSPICE OF CENTRAL IOWA: $8,000 · OtherHOSPICE OF CENTRAL IOWAWEST DES MOINES LIBRARY: $6,000 · OtherWEST DES MOINES LIBRARYVISITING NURSE SERVICES OF IOWA DBA EVERYSTEP: $5,000 · OtherVISITING NURSE SERVICES OF IOWA DBA…DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY: $5,000 · OtherDES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARYIOWA PBS FOUNDATION: $4,500 · OtherIOWA PBS FOUNDATIONVISITING NURSE SERVICES OF IOWA (EVERYSTEP): $4,000 · OtherIOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION: $4,000 · OtherGREATER DES MOINES BOTANNICAL CENTER: $4,000 · OtherDES MOINES SYMPHONY FOUNDATION: $3,000 · Other+5 more: $8,000 · Other+5 moreEdmundson Art Foundation Inc: $13,000 · Arts & CultureEdmundson Art Foundatio…IOWA PUBLIC RADIO INC: $12,500 · Arts & CultureIOWA PUBLIC RADIO INCLIVING HISTORY FARMS FOUNDATION: $11,500 · Arts & CultureLIVING HISTORY FARMS FO…DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE: $9,000 · Arts & CultureDES MOINES COMMUNITY PL…DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION: $5,500 · Arts & CultureDES MOINES SYMPHONY ASS…+2 more: $2,000 · Arts & CultureFOOD BANK OF IOWA: $43,500 · Food & NutritionFOOD BANK OF IOWAMEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND INC: $2,000 · Food & Nutrition+1 more: $1,000 · Food & NutritionIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $40,000 · EducationIOWA STATE UNIVERS…+2 more: $2,000 · EducationIOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $12,000 · EnvironmentGREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN: $6,000 · EnvironmentPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $10,000 · HealthDES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $5,000 · PhilanthropyCHRYSALIS FOUNDATION: $1,000 · PhilanthropyCHILDSERVE FOUNDATION INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesYOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER: $2,000 · Human Services
Other$82,000Arts & Culture$53,500Food & Nutrition$46,500Education$42,000Environment$18,000Health$10,000Philanthropy$6,000Human Services$4,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetFOOD BANK OF IOWA: $43,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $40,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetEdmundson Art Foundation Inc: $13,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetIOWA PUBLIC RADIO INC: $12,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetIOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $12,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetLIVING HISTORY FARMS FOUNDATION: $11,500 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE: $9,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetHOSPICE OF CENTRAL IOWA: $8,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetGREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetDES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION: $5,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetDES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetIOWA PBS FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetDES MOINES SYMPHONY FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDSERVE FOUNDATION INC: $2,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER DES MOINES: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetYOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHRYSALIS FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWEST DES MOINES LIBRARY FRIENDS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetSALISBURY HOUSE FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCass Resources for Enrichment: $1,000 over 1y, 4.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Meredith Corporation …Community Fdn of Grea…Prairie Meadows Race …The Merchants Bonding…Bravo Greater Des Moi…EMC Insurance Foundat…Gartner Family Founda…William C Knapp Chari…Bookey Family Foundat…Athene Charitable Fou…Obrien Fitzpatrick Fo…Brenton Foundation
Meredith Corporation FoundationIA30.1× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Meredith Corporation Foundation · Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines F/K/A Greater Des Moines Community Fdn · Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino Inc · The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation · Bravo Greater Des Moines Inc · EMC Insurance Foundation · Gartner Family Foundation % Michael G Gartner · William C Knapp Charitable Fdn · Bookey Family Foundation · Athene Charitable Foundation · Obrien Fitzpatrick Foundation · Brenton Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization John H & Ann Ghrist Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from John H & Ann Ghrist Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–10%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to John H & Ann Ghrist Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to John H & Ann Ghrist Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 36 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on John H & Ann Ghrist Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home