The Susan J Glazer Foundation concentrates its philanthropic dollars on higher education and youth-focused educational programs, primarily through large institutional grants to universities and a regional youth organization. Its giving appears aimed at supporting university programs or endowments (major unrestricted/educational gifts) and local after-school/youth development in central Iowa. The foundation makes few, high-dollar grants rather than many small awards, and favors established institutions over grassroots groups.
Susan J Glazer Foundation’s recent grant record is shaped by a few unusually large educational commitments, led by a $692,754 grant in 2025 to the Univ of Okla Fdn for educational purposes. A 2023 grant of $399,771 to Form 8283, listed as educational and spread across various Iowa locations, signals that the foundation also makes sizable, institution-level gifts beyond a single campus. The pattern is not broad-based small giving; it is concentrated in higher education, school-linked youth support, and a smaller set of health and human services awards. University-related recipients appear repeatedly, including Drake University in Des Moines and the University of Oklahoma Foundation in Norman. The foundation also supports youth-serving organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ia, along with health and human services groups like Blank Childrens Hospital, Mercy One Des Moines Foundation, and Every Step Hospice. Most grants are in Iowa, but the foundation also funds institutions in Oklahoma, California, North Carolina, and other states. Taken together, the record shows a foundation that favors established organizations and often directs meaningful dollars to educational programs, scholarships, and operating support for service delivery.
Higher education is a central theme. In 2024, Susan J Glazer Foundation gave $220,760 to Drake University for educational purposes, and it added $82,166 and $77,390 to Drake University in the same year, showing repeated support for the institution. The foundation also backed the University of Oklahoma Foundation with $50,000 in 2024 and the Univ of Okla Fdn with $692,754 in 2025. Youth and after-school programming also appears in the record. Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ia received $110,000 in 2024 and $11,500 in 2023, both marked educational, indicating ongoing support for a Central Iowa youth organization. Health and human services grants include $100,000 to Ellipsis in 2025 and $50,000 to Blank Childrens Hospital in 2025. The foundation also funded organizations such as Food Bank of Iowa and Every Step Hospice, both in Des Moines.
Typical grants sit in a middle-to-large range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. The recent record includes both repeat funding to the same organizations and one-off grants, with Drake University and Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ia each appearing more than once. The foundation is private and does not fund individuals. It also does not make program-related investments. Most awards are project-based or operating support for established institutions rather than small community grants.
$1.2M
$5.5M
$319K
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Highly concentrated: a very small number of large grants that account for nearly all giving, favoring established higher-education institutions and a regional youth organization rather than broad, small-scale funding.
Notable grantees: UNIV OF OKLA FDN, FORM 8283, DRAKE UNIVERSITY, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL IA
The foundation’s giving is heavily Iowa-centered: 78% of grants go to recipients in its headquarters state. Des Moines appears often, with grants to Drake University, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ia, Blank Childrens Hospital, and Mercy One Des Moines Foundation. Outside Iowa, grant recipients include Norman, Oklahoma; Rancho Mirage, California; Durham, North Carolina; and San Diego, California. All recorded grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
The recent record is dominated by higher education and youth-focused educational organizations. Drake University, the University of Oklahoma Foundation, and the Univ of Okla Fdn appear alongside youth-serving groups like Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ia. Health and human services also receive some support through organizations such as Blank Childrens Hospital and Every Step Hospice.
The foundation’s grant-size profile is relatively high for a regional funder. The 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. Recent grants also include several six-figure awards, such as $692,754 to the Univ of Okla Fdn and $399,771 to Form 8283.
Yes. Drake University appears multiple times, including grants of $220,760, $82,166, $77,390, and $40,000 across 2023 and 2024. Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ia also appears more than once, with grants of $110,000 in 2024 and $11,500 in 2023.
Most grants go to recipients in Iowa, which accounts for 78% of grants by recipient location. Des Moines is a frequent destination, and the dataset also includes recipients in Norman, Oklahoma; Rancho Mirage, California; Durham, North Carolina; and San Diego, California.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIV OF OKLA FDN | NORMAN, OK | $692,754 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ELLIPSIS | JOHNSTON, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| DRAKE UNIV | DES MOINES, IA | $50,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| VARIETY CLUB | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| EISENHOWER FDN | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| SOONER CLUB OU FDN | NORMAH, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BLANK CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| ANAWIM | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BRAVO | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CHILD SERVE FDN | JOHNSTON, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DU COLLECTIVE | DES MOINES, IA | $7,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FOOD BANK | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DM PLAYHOUSE | DES MOINES, IA | $1,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS | CENTENNIAL, CO | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSN | JOHNSTON, IA | $1,000 | 2025 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY | DES MOINES, IA | $220,760 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL IA | DES MOINES, IA | $110,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY | DES MOINES, IA | $82,166 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY | DES MOINES, IA | $77,390 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION | NORMAN, OK | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MERCY ONE DES MOINES FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2024 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| EISENHOWER HEALTH | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $48,059 | 2024 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| EVERY STEP HOSPICE | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2024 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $12,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| VARIETY CLUB | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| HIDDEN HARVEST | COACHELLA, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ABOVE AND BEYOND CANCER | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| ORCHARD PLACE | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | JOHNSTON, IA | $1,000 | 2024 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| STRANDS OF STRENGTH INC | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $500 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FORM 8283 | VARIOUS, IA | $399,771 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | NORMAN, OK | $100,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY | DES MOINES, IA | $40,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| EVERY STEP HOSPICE | DES MOINES, IA | $40,000 | 2023 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $33,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FOOD BANK OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $20,000 | 2023 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| CUREBOUND | SAN DIEGO, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| DES MOINES ART CENTER | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| VARIETY CLUB | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL IA | DES MOINES, IA | $11,500 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DES MOINES FILM SOCIETY | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ABOVE & BEYOND CANCER | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2023 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA | IOWA CITY, IA | $5,000 | 2023 | HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $3,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| IOWA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WAUKEE, IA | $500 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
DRAKE UNIV
$50,500EDUCATIONAL
VARIETY CLUB
$50,000EDUCATIONAL
EISENHOWER FDN
$50,000HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES
SOONER CLUB OU FDN
$50,000EDUCATIONAL
BLANK CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
$50,000HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES
ANAWIM
$50,000EDUCATIONAL
BRAVO
$25,000EDUCATIONAL
CHILD SERVE FDN
$25,000EDUCATIONAL
DU COLLECTIVE
$7,000EDUCATIONAL
FOOD BANK
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
DM PLAYHOUSE
$1,500EDUCATIONAL
AMERICAN HEART ASSN
$1,000HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
$220,760EDUCATIONAL
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
$82,166EDUCATIONAL
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
$77,390EDUCATIONAL
MERCY ONE DES MOINES FOUNDATION
$50,000HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES
EVERY STEP HOSPICE
$15,000HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES
VARIETY CLUB
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
HIDDEN HARVEST
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$1,000HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES
STRANDS OF STRENGTH INC
$500EDUCATIONAL
FORM 8283
$399,771EDUCATIONAL
OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$100,000EDUCATIONAL
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
$40,000EDUCATIONAL
EVERY STEP HOSPICE
$40,000HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES
DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE
$25,000EDUCATIONAL
DES MOINES ART CENTER
$15,000EDUCATIONAL
VARIETY CLUB
$15,000EDUCATIONAL
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL IA
$11,500EDUCATIONAL