The Cole-Belin Education Foundation concentrates its giving on education—particularly teacher professional development—and regional performing/visual arts organizations. A large majority of its funds go to a single long-term education partner for teacher training, while remaining grants provide general operating support to local arts groups. The foundation appears to favor sustained, programmatic investment in a core education initiative alongside smaller, unrestricted gifts to cultural institutions.
Cole-belin Education Foundation’s largest recent grants point to a sustained commitment to teacher training. The clearest signal is a $100,000 grant to the Belin-blank Center in 2023 for teacher training, followed by another $75,000 in 2025 and $30,000 in 2024 to the same center. That repeated support suggests a multi-year relationship centered on educator development rather than one-off program grants. Beyond that core education line, the foundation also funds regional arts and community institutions. Recent grants include $25,000 to Civic Music Assocation for general operating budget and $25,000 to Mainframe Studios for general operating budget, along with $20,000 to Living History Farms for program support. Those awards sit alongside smaller operating grants across education, civic, and cultural organizations. The foundation’s giving profile is not limited to a single type of nonprofit. It includes teacher professional development, literacy and education programming, and arts-related operating support. The pattern across the recent grants list is consistent: a few larger education awards, then a broad set of mid-sized and smaller grants that support nonprofit operations and specific programs.
Teacher professional development is the strongest theme in the recent grants list. Cole-belin Education Foundation gave $100,000 in 2023, $30,000 in 2024, and $75,000 in 2025 to Belin-blank Center for teacher training, showing repeated investment in educator capacity. The foundation also supports education and outreach work outside that core training relationship. In 2025, it awarded $5,000 to Des Moines Public Library Foundatio for education and outreach, and $5,000 to Des Moines Community Playhouse for literacy/education programs. Arts and cultural organizations are another recurring part of the portfolio. Recent examples include $25,000 to Mainframe Studios for general operating budget and $20,000 to Living History Farms for program support. The grant list also includes operating support for Civic Music Assocation, reinforcing the foundation’s interest in local cultural institutions. Community-oriented advocacy and service groups appear as well, including grants to Planned Parenthood North Central States, Young Women's Resource Center, and the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
$245K
$6.1M
$411K
$330K
Most grants fall between $2K and $6K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$6K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in IA.
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Highly concentrated: most dollars are directed to one repeat grantee (Belin-Blank Center) for teacher training, with a few smaller, unrestricted grants to local arts organizations; favors targeted, sizable commitments to a core education partner plus modest general operating support to cultural groups.
Notable grantees: Belin-Blank Center (teacher training), Civic Music Association (performing arts / general operating), Mainframe Studios (arts/creative studio; general operating)
Typical awards are modest, with a p25 of $1,900, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $5,500. That distribution shows a small number of larger grants and many grants clustered around the $5,000 level. The recent grants list also shows recurring recipients across multiple years, including Belin-blank Center, 1000 Friends of Iowa, Iowa Environmental Council, Second Chance Wildlife Center, Montgomery County Humane Society, and Environmental Law & Policy Center. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its pattern is grantmaking to organizations, often through general operating budget support and occasional program support or education-program funding.
Grantmaking is national, but the recipient base is concentrated in the United States, with all 89 recent grants going to U.S. organizations. Iowa cities appear frequently in the recent grants list, especially Des Moines and Urbandale, along with Iowa City. Outside Iowa, repeated recipients include Alpharetta, Georgia; Gaithersburg and Rockville, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Arlington, Virginia; and New York, New York. The foundation gives most often in California by grant count, though the recent-grants list also shows a strong Midwestern footprint.
The recent grants list centers on teacher training, education and outreach, literacy/education programs, and arts or cultural organizations. It also includes support for community and advocacy nonprofits such as Planned Parenthood North Central States, Young Women's Resource Center, and Environmental Law & Policy Center.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around a median of $5,000. The lower quartile is $1,900 and the upper quartile is $5,500, so most awards in the recent data are relatively small, with a few much larger education grants.
Yes. Belin-blank Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with teacher training grants. Other repeat recipients include 1000 Friends of Iowa, Iowa Environmental Council, Second Chance Wildlife Center, Montgomery County Humane Society, and Environmental Law & Policy Center.
The foundation gives nationally, but its recent grants are entirely to U.S. organizations. Iowa locations show up often, especially Des Moines, Urbandale, and Iowa City. The top state by grant count is California.
The recent grants show a mix of general operating budget support and program-specific funding. The largest awards are directed to teacher training, while many other grants sit at the $5,000 to $25,000 level and support operating budgets for arts, education, environmental, and community nonprofits.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BELIN-BLANK CENTER | IOWA CITY, IA | $75,000 | 2026 | TEACHER TRAINING |
| CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCATION | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| LIVING HISTORY FARMS | URBANDALE, IA | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VOTERPUNCH | ARROYO GRANDE, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| 1000 FRIENDS OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MONTGOMERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | RED OAK, IA | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| SECOND CHANCE WILDLIFE CENTER | GAITHERSBURG, MD | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL | DES MOINES, IA | $6,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | LITERACY/EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| CAMP NEBAGAMON | LAKE NEBAGAMON, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| COMMON GOOD IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| INTERFAITH ALLIANCE OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA CITIZEN ACTION NETWORK | NORTH LIBERTY, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| ASPCA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| DES MOINES AREA RELIGIOUS COUNSELIN | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATIO | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WHITEROCK CONSERVANCY | COON RAPIDS, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| CHRYSALIS FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| YOUNG WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WAUKEE, IA | $3,600 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| IOWA LEGAL AID | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| IOWA SAFE SCHOOLS | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| IOWA STAGE THEATRE | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MIND & SPIRIT COUNSELING CENTER | URBANDALE, IA | $1,800 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| NATURAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUND | SANTA PAULA, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BETHESDA, MD | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA JEWISH SENIOR LIFE CENTER | DES MOINES, IA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| HUMANE RESCUE ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MONUMENTS MEN AND WOMEN FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| BELIN-BLANK CENTER | IOWA CITY, IA | $75,000 | 2025 | TEACHER TRAINING |
| CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCATION | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| LIVING HISTORY FARMS | URBANDALE, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ATTACHMENT PARENTING INTE | ALPHARETTA, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| 1000 FRIENDS OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $9,823 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| SECOND CHANCE WILDLIFE CENTER | GAITHERSBURG, MD | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL | DES MOINES, IA | $6,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MONTGOMERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | RED OAK, IA | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA STAGE THEATRE | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| INTERFAITH ALLIANCE OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| COMMON GOOD IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATIO | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| IOWA CITIZEN ACTION NETWORK | NORTH LIBERTY, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | LITERACY/EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| ASPCA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
BELIN-BLANK CENTER
$75,000TEACHER TRAINING
CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
VOTERPUNCH
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
1000 FRIENDS OF IOWA
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MONTGOMERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
SECOND CHANCE WILDLIFE CENTER
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
INTERFAITH ALLIANCE OF IOWA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
IOWA CITIZEN ACTION NETWORK
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF IOWA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
CHRYSALIS FOUNDATION
$5,000EDUCATION PROGRAMS
IOWA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$3,600PROGRAM SUPPORT
IOWA STAGE THEATRE
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
MIND & SPIRIT COUNSELING CENTER
$1,800GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
NATURAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUND
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
IOWA JEWISH SENIOR LIFE CENTER
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
HUMANE RESCUE ALLIANCE
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
MONUMENTS MEN AND WOMEN FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
BELIN-BLANK CENTER
$75,000TEACHER TRAINING
CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
LIVING HISTORY FARMS
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
ATTACHMENT PARENTING INTE
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
1000 FRIENDS OF IOWA
$9,823GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
SECOND CHANCE WILDLIFE CENTER
$8,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MONTGOMERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
$6,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
IOWA STAGE THEATRE
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
INTERFAITH ALLIANCE OF IOWA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF IOWA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
IOWA CITIZEN ACTION NETWORK
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
ASPCA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET