About Chris Norton Foundation
The Chris Norton Foundation is a 501(c) nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals and families living with spinal cord injuries and neuromuscular disabilities by providing support, resources, grants, equipment, camps, and community so they can live life without limits.
Focus Areas
spinal cord injuryneuromuscular disabilitieswheelchair campsequipment grantsfamily supportdisability recreation and inclusion
Who They Fund
nonprofit organization (grant recipient)organization staff/leadership
Funding Style
general operating supportunrestricted supportcapacity building
About Chris Norton Foundation
The Chris Norton Foundation’s grantmaking is built around spinal cord injuries and neuromuscular disabilities, with support flowing to organizations that provide equipment, therapy, camps, and family-facing services. Recent grants show a clear pattern of operating support for groups serving people with physical disabilities, including Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in Stewartville, Minnesota, which received $51,556 in 2024 and $50,714 in 2025. The foundation also backed Childserve Foundation Inc in Johnston, Iowa, with a $32,500 grant in 2025 and a $12,240 grant in 2024. Its programming language centers on empowerment and access, and the grant record reflects that through support for facilities and nonprofits rather than individuals. In the recent grants list, awards went to organizations in rehabilitation, disability recreation, and community support. The foundation’s active programs also point to a practical funding style: equipment and therapy grants, plus scholarships for CNF Wheelchair Camp. The broader pattern is regional, with most grants staying close to Iowa but extending to nearby states for organizations serving people with disabilities.
What Chris Norton Foundation Funds
Disability support is the clearest thread in the Chris Norton Foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $31,000 to On With Life in Ankeny, Iowa, for operating support, aligning with its focus on spinal cord injury and neuromuscular disabilities. Family and camp-based inclusion are another major theme. The foundation awarded $30,000 to Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, Kentucky, again for operating support, reflecting its interest in recreation and peer community for people with physical disabilities. The foundation also backs care and service infrastructure. Mercy Foundation of Des Moines received $18,560 in 2024 and $6,482 in 2025, both for operating support, while Unitypoint Health Des Moines Foundation received $11,000 in 2025. These grants fit a pattern of general operating support for organizations serving disability-related needs.
How Chris Norton Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster around the $12,240 to $32,500 range, with a median of $30,000 and a 75th percentile of $32,500. The recent record suggests repeat support to the same organizations across years: Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch, Childserve Foundation Inc, and Mercy Foundation of Des Moines each appear more than once. Grants are generally unrestricted operating support rather than project-restricted awards. The foundation is a nonprofit grantmaker and does not fund individuals. It also runs active programs with defined scholarship and equipment grant tracks, including CNF Wheelchair Camp scholarships and equipment/therapy grants.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$157K
Total Assets
$199K
Total Revenue
$285K
Total Expenses
$244K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $12K and $33K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$33K
Geographic Reach
Regional3 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
TERRY NORTON
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