The John Ruan Foundation Trust is a philanthropic funder focused primarily on large, local investments in Greater Des Moines and Iowa institutions. Its giving concentrates on higher education and scholarship support, parks/recreation and civic cultural amenities (notably the zoo), as well as healthcare and child-focused health services. Grants are sizeable and often repeated to the same organizations, indicating long-term partnerships with regional anchor institutions.
A defining feature of the John Ruan Foundation Trust is its repeated backing of Greater Des Moines civic and cultural institutions, including a $1.51 million grant to Blank Park Zoo Foundation in 2023 and $500,000 to Friends of Des Moines Parks the same year. The trust also supports Iowa’s higher education pipeline, pairing institutional gifts with scholarship-related funding such as $850,000 to Drake University and $500,000 to Evans Scholars Foundation. Health and child-focused services are another steady thread: recent support includes $1 million to Mercy One Foundation in 2025 and $500,000 to Childserve in 2024. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to favor established regional organizations that anchor local education, recreation, and health services. Its giving is local in scope and centered on Iowa institutions, with many grants returning to the same organizations across multiple years. That pattern suggests a funder that uses sizable awards to reinforce long-term operating, program, and capital needs for community-serving nonprofits and educational institutions in the Des Moines area and beyond within Iowa.
Higher education is a major part of the trust’s grantmaking. It gave $1 million to University of Iowa Foundation in 2025 for general operations, $1 million to University of Iowa in 2024 for sports and athletics, and $505,000 to Des Moines Area Community College in 2024 for schools, colleges, and related activities. Cultural and civic programming also receives substantial support: Blank Park Zoo Foundation received $510,000 in 2024 for cultural and educational activities, while Bravo Greater Des Moines was awarded $100,000 in 2025 for the same broad purpose. On the health side, the trust backed Mercy One Foundation with $500,000 in 2025 for health services and Childserve with $500,000 in 2024 for health services and related activities. Youth-oriented support also appears through a $250,000 grant to Ellipsis in 2025 for youth activities.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-thousands, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $7,500, and a p75 of $13,250. The recent list also shows a much larger tier of awards used for anchor institutions and recurring partnerships. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Mercy One Foundation, University of Iowa, Friends of Des Moines Parks, Iowa Confluence Water Trails, and World Food Prize. The trust does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The record points to grantmaking through a foundation trust structure rather than an application-driven public program, as the data provided does not show an open application process.
$4M
$100.2M
$5.2M
$4.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $13K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$13K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants with multiple repeat awards to a small number of regional anchor institutions; primarily local/regional focus in central Iowa rather than dispersed national giving.
Notable grantees: Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Mercy One Foundation, University of Iowa Foundation / University of Iowa, Friends of Des Moines Parks, Drake University
The trust’s grantmaking is highly concentrated in Iowa: 87% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Iowa is also the top state by grant count. Recent awards land mostly in Des Moines, Iowa City, West Des Moines, Johnston, and Ankeny. Outside Iowa, the recent list includes only a small number of grants to organizations in Illinois and Virginia, such as Glenview, Evanston, and Arlington. The country distribution is entirely domestic, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants show a strong mix of higher education, cultural and recreational institutions, health services, and community infrastructure. Examples include University of Iowa Foundation for general operations, Blank Park Zoo Foundation for cultural and educational activities, and Mercy One Foundation and Childserve for health services.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the largest awards: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $7,500, and the p75 is $13,250. The recent list also includes much larger institutional grants, showing a split between routine support and major gifts.
Yes. Iowa is the top state by grant count, and 87% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Iowa recipients include organizations in Des Moines, Iowa City, West Des Moines, Johnston, and Ankeny.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Mercy One Foundation, University of Iowa, Friends of Des Moines Parks, Iowa Confluence Water Trails, and World Food Prize. That pattern points to ongoing relationships with a set of regional institutions.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION | Iowa City, IA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| MERCY ONE FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| MERCY ONE FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $500,000 | 2025 | Health Services and Related Activities |
| IOWA CONFLUENCE WATER TRAILS | Des Moines, IA | $300,000 | 2025 | Sports, Athletic |
| IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $250,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | Evanston, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | Sports, Athletic |
| ELLIPSIS | Johnston, IA | $250,000 | 2025 | Youth Activities |
| BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES | Des Moines, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| DOWLING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | West Des Moines, IA | $60,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| ISU FOUNDATION | Ames, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| WORLD FOOD PRIZE | Des Moines, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| DES MOINES SYMPHONY | Des Moines, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY | Des Moines, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| DOWNTOWN EVENTS GROUP | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Inner City or Community Activities |
| BERGMAN ACADEMY | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| ST AUGUSTIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Youth Activities |
| DES MOINES ART CENTER | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| DES MOINES METROPOLITAN OPERA | Indianola, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| YMCA | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Youth Activities |
| ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| BALLET DES MOINES | West Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| CIVIC CENTER OF GREATER DES MOINES | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| ABOVE AND BEYOND CANCER | West Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | Health Services and Related Activities |
| VARIETY THE CHILDRENS CHARITY | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Youth Activities |
| CULVER EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | Culver, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| MAYO CLINIC | Rochester, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | Health Services and Related Activities |
| IOWA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION | Iowa City, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| BLUE RIBBON FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | Ankeny, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Health Services and Related Activities |
| AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL | Avon, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
| DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Conservation, Environment and Beautification Activities |
| IOWA COLLEGE FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Schools, COlleges and Related Activities |
| FOOD BANK OF IOWA | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Health Services and Related Activities |
| LOST TREE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | North Palm Beach, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | General Operations |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL IOWA | Des Moines, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | Youth Activities |
| WESLEY LIFE | Johnston, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | Health Services and Related Activities |
| FRIENDS OF DES MOINES PARKS | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | General Operations |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA MID IOWA COUNCIL | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | Youth Activities |
| BRENTON ARBORETUM | Dallas Center, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | General Operations |
| IOWA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| TERRACE HILL PARTNERSHIP | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities |
| ORCHARD PLACE | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | Health Services and Related Activities |
| DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | General Operations |
| DES MOINES UNIVERSITY | Des Moines, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | Schools, Colleges and Related Activities |
MERCY ONE FOUNDATION
$500,000Health Services and Related Activities
IOWA MOTOR CARRIERS FOUNDATION
$250,000General Operations
Sports, Athletic
BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES
$100,000Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
DOWLING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$60,000Schools, Colleges and Related Activities
WORLD FOOD PRIZE
$25,000General Operations
DES MOINES SYMPHONY
$25,000General Operations
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
$20,000Schools, Colleges and Related Activities
DOWNTOWN EVENTS GROUP
$10,000Inner City or Community Activities
BERGMAN ACADEMY
$10,000Schools, Colleges and Related Activities
Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
ST AUGUSTIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$10,000Youth Activities
DES MOINES ART CENTER
$10,000Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
DES MOINES METROPOLITAN OPERA
$10,000Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
YMCA
$10,000Youth Activities
ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$10,000Schools, Colleges and Related Activities
CIVIC CENTER OF GREATER DES MOINES
$10,000Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
MAYO CLINIC
$5,000Health Services and Related Activities
IOWA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$5,000Schools, Colleges and Related Activities
BLUE RIBBON FOUNDATION
$5,000General Operations
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$5,000Health Services and Related Activities
AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL
$5,000Schools, Colleges and Related Activities
DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL
$5,000Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
LOST TREE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$5,000General Operations
FRIENDS OF DES MOINES PARKS
$2,500General Operations
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA MID IOWA COUNCIL
$2,500Youth Activities
BRENTON ARBORETUM
$2,500General Operations
IOWA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
$2,500Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
TERRACE HILL PARTNERSHIP
$2,500Cultural, Historical or Other Education Activities
DES MOINES UNIVERSITY
$2,500Schools, Colleges and Related Activities