The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, targeted gifts to established regional nonprofits, with a clear emphasis on community health services and industry-focused education. Recent support includes a major grant to an Iowa-based health/hospice organization and funding for construction trades education and research, suggesting priorities in local health delivery and workforce development tied to industry needs.
A single grant to EveryStep Foundation for $187,050 sets the tone for The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation: it makes selective, project-based gifts rather than broad, high-volume giving. The foundation’s recent support points toward community health, children and education, and arts and culture, with several grants tied to direct services in Iowa and neighboring markets. Recent awards also show a separate line of support for industry training, including funding for the AGC Education and Research Foundation and the SFAA Foundation. The grant list suggests a funder that works through established nonprofits and often backs specific programs, capital needs, or operating support. One of its larger health-related gifts went to EveryStep Foundation in Des Moines, while another notable award supported UnityPoint Health Foundation for the Blank Children’s Hospital child life and advocacy programs. The foundation also funded organizations serving children and families, including Variety The Children’s Charity of Iowa and Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa. Across the record, the foundation’s giving is practical and locally oriented, with recurring support for nonprofits that provide services, education, or community programming in the regions where Merchants associates and agent partners live and work.
In community health, The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation gave $187,050 to EveryStep Foundation for program support, and $7,500 to UnityPoint Health Foundation to support the Blank Children’s Hospital child life program and the Center for Advocacy and Outreach. Those grants point to an emphasis on services that reach patients and families directly. For children and youth, the foundation awarded $26,000 to Orchard Place Foundation to help develop strong futures for children and youth with mental health and behavioral challenges. It also gave $12,500 to Variety - The Children’s Charity and $6,500 to Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa for program support. Its arts and culture support includes $5,000 to Des Moines Community Playhouse to encourage self-development through the dramatic arts and acquaint students with technical theatre knowledge, alongside funding for Des Moines Performing Arts and Bravo Greater Des Moines. The foundation also backed Special Olympics Iowa with $4,350 for year-round sports training and athletic competition for Iowa athletes with intellectual disabilities.
$469K
$1.7M
$1M
$508K
Most grants fall between $285 and $2K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$285
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$2K
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Concentrated giving: very few grants per cycle but sizable awards to established, regionally-focused organizations rather than many small grants; strategic, issue-specific support rather than broad-based philanthropy.
Notable grantees: EveryStep Foundation, AGC Education and Research Foundation, Regional Iowa health and workforce-education organizations (representative profile)
The typical grant size is small, with a p25 of $284, a median of $1,000, and a p75 of $2,000. That sits alongside a few much larger project gifts, which pulls the average upward compared with the middle of the distribution. The grants list shows repeated support for the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including EveryStep Foundation, Des Moines Performing Arts, and Great Outdoors Foundation, which indicates ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation operates a competitive general grant program and a biannual grants program, and both accept unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly domestic: 212 grants, or 100.0%, went to U.S. recipients. Des Moines appears frequently in the recipient list, including EveryStep Foundation, Orchard Place Foundation, UnityPoint Health Foundation, and Des Moines Performing Arts. Other Iowa locations also show up, such as Ames, Urbandale, Johnston, Grimes, and West Des Moines. Outside Iowa, recent grants went to organizations in Arlington, Washington, DC, and Austin, but the giving pattern remains centered on Iowa and nearby regional partners.
The active grant programs name Children and Education, Community Betterment, Arts and Culture, Associate & Agent Partner Priorities, and Medical & Research. Recent grants align with those areas through support for health services, children’s programs, arts organizations, and workforce education.
Yes. The general grant program and the biannual grants program both accept unsolicited applications, and they award grants twice a year.
The grant-size distribution is very small at the center: p25 is $284, median is $1,000, and p75 is $2,000. The presence of a few larger project grants means the overall pattern includes both modest awards and occasional larger commitments.
Yes. The recent grants list includes recipients in Arlington, Washington, DC, and Austin, TX, while the program geography also includes the United States and communities where Merchants associates and agent partners live and work.
The recent record shows repeated support to some organizations across more than one year, including EveryStep Foundation and Des Moines Performing Arts. That suggests the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with at least some grantees while also making project-specific awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Merchants Bonding Company Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofits receiving employee donations that meet the Foundation’s matching criteria (details not specified on the public pages).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHILDREN'S CANCER CONNECTION | Des Moines, IA | $102,805 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION | URBANDALE, IA | $30,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GREAT OUTDOORS FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $30,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MERCYONE DES MOINES FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VARIETY - THE CHILDRENS CHARITY | DES MOINES, IA | $15,400 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| EVERYSTEP FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $12,750 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE DES MOINES | WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA | $10,750 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DOROTHY'S HOUSE | DES MOINES, IA | $10,250 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BLANK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES CAROUSEL FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GREATER DES MOINES PUBLIC ART FOUNDATION | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GENESIS YOUTH FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILDSERVE FOUNDATION | JOHNSTON, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WEST DES MOINES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $7,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MOBERG GALLERY | DES MOINES, IA | $6,707 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HOYT SHERMAN PLACE | DES MOINES, IA | $5,900 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BLANK PARK ZOO | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HORIZON SCIENCE ACADEMY DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DSM | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION | EDINA, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WESLEY LIFE | JOHNSTON, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| IOWA COLLEGE FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $4,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| EASTER SEALS IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SURETY FOUNDATION THE | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DMPS FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ORCHARD PLACE | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES UNIVERSITY | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE | ARLINGTON, MA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ABOVE BEYOND CANCER | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA | INDIANOLA, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S CANCER ASSOCIATION | PORTLAND, OR | $2,476 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HERITAGE RANCH | EASTSOUND, WA | $2,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ST JUDE'S CHILDREN HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,630 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN | TAMPA, FL | $1,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | DES MOINES, IA | $1,450 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FIRST TEE - CENTRAL IOWA | CLIVE, IA | $1,250 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WEST DES MOINES HUMAN SERVICES FRIENDS FOUNDATION | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $1,200 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NEW MEXICO SPECIAL OLYMPICS | Albuquerque, NM | $1,100 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SEMINOLE CO & GREATER APOPKA FLORIDA INC | CASSELBERRY, FL | $1,100 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BEST BUDDIES IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $1,050 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNCIL | Apopka, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| JEWELS ACADEMY | DES MOINES, IA | $1,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburg | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
CHILDREN'S CANCER CONNECTION
$102,805PROGRAM SUPPORT
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
$30,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
EVERYSTEP FOUNDATION
PROGRAM SUPPORT
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE DES MOINES
$10,750PROGRAM SUPPORT
DES MOINES CAROUSEL FOUNDATION
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GREATER DES MOINES PUBLIC ART FOUNDATION
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
WEST DES MOINES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION
$7,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
MOBERG GALLERY
$6,707PROGRAM SUPPORT
HOYT SHERMAN PLACE
$5,900PROGRAM SUPPORT
BLANK PARK ZOO
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
HORIZON SCIENCE ACADEMY DES MOINES
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DSM
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
EASTER SEALS IOWA
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
SURETY FOUNDATION THE
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
DMPS FOUNDATION
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
ORCHARD PLACE
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
DES MOINES UNIVERSITY
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
DES MOINES METRO OPERA
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$2,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
HERITAGE RANCH
$2,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FIRST TEE - CENTRAL IOWA
$1,250PROGRAM SUPPORT
WEST DES MOINES HUMAN SERVICES FRIENDS FOUNDATION
$1,200PROGRAM SUPPORT
NEW MEXICO SPECIAL OLYMPICS
$1,100PROGRAM SUPPORT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SEMINOLE CO & GREATER APOPKA FLORIDA INC
$1,100PROGRAM SUPPORT
BEST BUDDIES IOWA
$1,050PROGRAM SUPPORT
CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNCIL
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
JEWELS ACADEMY
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburg
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT