The Burke Family Foundation concentrates its giving in Iowa, with heavy, repeat support for higher-education medical programs (notably radiation oncology at the University of Iowa) and local community youth infrastructure in Ames/Story County. Smaller grants address broader human services and emergency relief, indicating a primarily place-based philanthropic focus that balances large institutional gifts with targeted community investments.
Burke Family Foundation’s giving shows a clear pattern of repeating support for the same major institutions over multiple years. The largest recent gifts in the data are three consecutive $250,000 grants to the State University of Iowa Foundation for radiation oncology, all tied to the Buatti program. That multi-year commitment sits alongside large capital support for the Boys & Girls Club of Story County in Ames, which received $110,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for an expansion project. The foundation also funds local faith-based and human-services organizations, including Lutheran Services in Iowa, Food at First Ames, and St Patrick’s Catholic Church’s community cupboard work. The mix suggests a place-based funder with a strong Iowa focus and a willingness to combine major institutional gifts with smaller grants for community needs. Recent awards also reach beyond Ames to Iowa City, Dubuque, Nevada, and Des Moines, while a few grants support medical or relief efforts outside Iowa. Cancer research and clinical programs, youth facilities, food access, and emergency response all appear in the recent grant record.
In medical philanthropy, Burke Family Foundation backed esophageal cancer research with $20,000 grants to Mayo Clinic in 2023, 2024, and 2025. It also supported hospice-related care with a $15,000 grant to Veterans Association Medical Center for the Dayton facility hospice fund in loving memory of Bernard (Red) & Janet Carroll. Youth and family support appears through two $110,000 awards to Boys & Girls Club of Story County (Ames Chapter) for an expansion project. Food access is another recurring theme: the foundation gave $12,000 to Food at First Ames for general operating support and $12,000 to Bethesda Lutheran Church for the Bethesda Food Pantry. Faith-community support also shows up in grants such as $20,000 to St Cecilia Church for the Faith & Light Capital Campaign and $12,000 to St Patrick's Catholic Church for the Nevada Community Cupboard.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes several much larger, repeated awards, especially the $250,000 grants tied to radiation oncology and the $110,000 grants for a Story County expansion project. The pattern suggests a mix of ongoing institutional support and smaller community grants. Recipients appear across multiple years in several cases, including education, health, food access, and relief efforts. Burke Family Foundation is a private family foundation; it also funds individuals.
$202K
$5.2M
$413K
$262K
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants dominate total giving; repeat multi-year support to flagship recipient (State University of Iowa Foundation) alongside targeted multi-grant investments in a local youth organization. Occasional smaller, responsive grants to human services and disaster relief.
Notable grantees: State University of Iowa Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Story County (Ames Chapter), Lutheran Services in Iowa, Inc., American National Red Cross
Grants land overwhelmingly in Iowa, with 91% of awards going to recipients in the foundation’s top giving state. Ames appears repeatedly, including grants to Boys & Girls Club of Story County, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Food at First Ames, Bethesda Lutheran Church, and St Cecilia Church. Other Iowa cities in the recent record include Iowa City, Dubuque, Nevada, and Des Moines. Outside Iowa, the foundation also made grants to Rochester, Minnesota, and Dayton, Ohio. All recorded grants in the data go to U.S. recipients.
The recent grant record centers on radiation oncology and cancer research, youth facility expansion, faith-based human services, food pantry support, and disaster relief. Examples include repeated support for radiation oncology at the State University of Iowa Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Story County expansion, and food access grants in Ames and Nevada, Iowa.
Yes. The data shows repeated gifts across multiple years to several recipients, including three annual $250,000 grants to the State University of Iowa Foundation, two $110,000 awards to Boys & Girls Club of Story County, and recurring support for Mayo Clinic, Lutheran Services in Iowa, and St Patrick's Catholic Church.
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger outliers, such as $250,000 grants and $110,000 grants.
The foundation gives most often in Iowa: 91% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Iowa is also the top state by grant count. Ames appears often in the recent record, along with Iowa City, Dubuque, Nevada, and Des Moines.
Yes. The recent grants include support for Maui disaster relief and Hurricane Ian relief through the American National Red Cross, plus Iowa storm relief and several local-needs grants in Des Moines.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION | IOWA CITY, IA | $250,000 | 2026 | RADIATION ONCOLOGY (BUATTI) |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF STORY COUNTY (AMES CHAPTER) | AMES, IA | $110,000 | 2026 | EXPANSION PROJECT |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA INC | AMES, IA | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STORY COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | NEVADA, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | MRI IMAGING PROGRAM |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ESOPHAGEAL CANCER RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | DES MOINES, IA | $20,000 | 2026 | LOCAL NEEDS ONLY |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $20,000 | 2026 | FAITH & LIGHT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| BETHESDA LUTHERAN CHURCH | AMES, IA | $12,000 | 2026 | BETHESDA FOOD PANTRY |
| ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH | NEVADA, IA | $12,000 | 2026 | NEVADA COMMUNITY CUPBOARD |
| FOOD AT FIRST AMES | AMES, IA | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | DAVE AND KATHIE WEBER FUND |
| HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS PROJECT INC | SPRINGFIELD, VA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HAPPY JOE'S KIDS FOUNDATION | BETTENDORF, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MARTHA'S HOUSE OF HOPE INC | AMES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF STORY COUNTY | AMES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAMP HERTKO HOLLOW INC | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | CAMP ATTENDEE USE ONLY |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $9,000 | 2026 | ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| ACCESS (ASSAULT CARE) | BOONE, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMES COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | WINTER WEAR PROGRAM |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | JOHN AND RUTH MCCULLY FUND FOR HISPANIC MINISTRIES |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE - PRESCHOOL |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY | DUBUQUE, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | MEMORY OF SRS JANET SCHEWE AND RUTH SCHIFFLER |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $1,000 | 2026 | PARISH FAITH FORMATION |
| OBRIA MEDICAL CLINIC OF AMES | AMES, IA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION | IOWA CITY, IA | $250,000 | 2025 | RADIATION ONCOLOGY (BUATTI) |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF STORY COUNTY (AMES CHAPTER) | AMES, IA | $110,000 | 2025 | EXPANSION PROJECT |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA INC | AMES, IA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY | DUBUQUE, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | MEMORY OF SRS JANET SCHEWE AND RUTH SCHIFFLER |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | DES MOINES, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | LOCAL NEEDS ONLY |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | ESOPHAGEAL CANCER RESEARCH |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | FAITH & LIGHT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | DES MOINES, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | IOWA STORM RELIEF |
| BETHESDA LUTHERAN CHURCH | AMES, IA | $12,000 | 2025 | BETHESDA FOOD PANTRY |
| FOOD AT FIRST AMES | AMES, IA | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH | NEVADA, IA | $12,000 | 2025 | NEVADA COMMUNITY CUPBOARD |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | DAVE AND KATHIE WEBER FUND |
| HAPPY JOE'S KIDS FOUNDATION | BETTENDORF, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MARTHA'S HOUSE OF HOPE INC | AMES, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF STORY COUNTY | AMES, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAMP HERTKO HOLLOW INC | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | CAMP ATTENDEE USE ONLY |
| HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS PROJECT INC | SPRINGFIELD, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $9,000 | 2025 | ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| ACCESS (ASSAULT CARE) | BOONE, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE - PRESCHOOL |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | HISPANIC MINISTRY - TO MEMORIALIZE JOHN R MCCULLY'S WORK |
| AMES COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | WINTER WEAR PROGRAM |
| ST CECILIA CHURCH | AMES, IA | $1,000 | 2025 | PARISH FAITH FORMATION |
| MARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER | AMES, IA | $1,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR THE ISRAEL FAMILY HOPSICE HOUSE (IN MEMORY OF DR. KEN FAWCETT) |
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF STORY COUNTY (AMES CHAPTER)
$110,000EXPANSION PROJECT
STORY COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$25,000MRI IMAGING PROGRAM
MAYO CLINIC
$20,000ESOPHAGEAL CANCER RESEARCH
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
LOCAL NEEDS ONLY
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$20,000FAITH & LIGHT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
BETHESDA LUTHERAN CHURCH
$12,000BETHESDA FOOD PANTRY
ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
$12,000NEVADA COMMUNITY CUPBOARD
FOOD AT FIRST AMES
$12,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$10,000DAVE AND KATHIE WEBER FUND
HAPPY JOE'S KIDS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MARTHA'S HOUSE OF HOPE INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CAMP HERTKO HOLLOW INC
$10,000CAMP ATTENDEE USE ONLY
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$9,000ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE
ACCESS (ASSAULT CARE)
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMES COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$5,000WINTER WEAR PROGRAM
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$5,000JOHN AND RUTH MCCULLY FUND FOR HISPANIC MINISTRIES
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$5,000ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE - PRESCHOOL
SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
$5,000MEMORY OF SRS JANET SCHEWE AND RUTH SCHIFFLER
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$1,000PARISH FAITH FORMATION
OBRIA MEDICAL CLINIC OF AMES
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF STORY COUNTY (AMES CHAPTER)
$110,000EXPANSION PROJECT
LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA INC
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
$20,000MEMORY OF SRS JANET SCHEWE AND RUTH SCHIFFLER
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$20,000LOCAL NEEDS ONLY
MAYO CLINIC
$20,000ESOPHAGEAL CANCER RESEARCH
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$20,000FAITH & LIGHT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$20,000IOWA STORM RELIEF
BETHESDA LUTHERAN CHURCH
$12,000BETHESDA FOOD PANTRY
FOOD AT FIRST AMES
$12,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
$12,000NEVADA COMMUNITY CUPBOARD
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$10,000DAVE AND KATHIE WEBER FUND
HAPPY JOE'S KIDS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MARTHA'S HOUSE OF HOPE INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UNITED WAY OF STORY COUNTY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CAMP HERTKO HOLLOW INC
$10,000CAMP ATTENDEE USE ONLY
HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS PROJECT INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$9,000ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE
ACCESS (ASSAULT CARE)
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$5,000ST CECILIA SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE - PRESCHOOL
HOPE MINISTRIES
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$5,000HISPANIC MINISTRY - TO MEMORIALIZE JOHN R MCCULLY'S WORK
AMES COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$5,000WINTER WEAR PROGRAM
ST CECILIA CHURCH
$1,000PARISH FAITH FORMATION
DONATION FOR THE ISRAEL FAMILY HOPSICE HOUSE (IN MEMORY OF DR. KEN FAWCETT)