The Seidler Foundation concentrates its giving in Iowa with large, targeted gifts to higher education institutions and key local social-service and Jewish community organizations. Grants are few but sizable, supporting college fundraising/operations, local food security, and Jewish communal life in Des Moines and the state university system. The foundation favors established institutions over many small awards and appears to respond to institutional capital or general operating needs.
The Seidler Foundation C/o Mr Harvey Kadlec’s largest recent grant was a $625,000 award to Cornell College’s general fund, and that scale is typical of a funder that makes relatively few but sizable gifts. Across the recent grant list, support reaches higher education, food security, Jewish communal institutions, arts organizations, and regional foundations. Several grants also recur across multiple years, including support for Cornell College, the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, Food Bank of Iowa, and Jewish Federation of Des Moines. The pattern points to a foundation that favors established organizations and often directs money to general support rather than narrowly restricted projects. Its giving also includes named institutions outside Iowa, such as Kansas City Art Institute, Grand Teton Music Festival, and Harvesters Community Food Network. That mix suggests a national scope with a strong Iowa base, while still backing organizations tied to education, community services, and cultural life. The grant list includes both institutional operating support and gifts connected to donor-advised or family philanthropic entities, alongside support for food distribution and Jewish community infrastructure. Individuals are also part of the foundation’s activity, which broadens the profile beyond nonprofit institutional giving.
Higher education is one of the clearest themes in the grant record. The foundation gave $300,000 to the University of Iowa Center for Advancement for general support in 2025, and it also made a $76,000 grant to Johnson County Community College Foundation in Overland Park, Kansas. Cornell College received repeated general support as well. Food security is another recurring area. In 2025, Food Bank of Iowa received $300,000 for general support, while Harvesters Community Food Network in Kansas City received $150,000 and $100,000 in separate grants. The Food Group in Sheridan, Wyoming also appears with $150,000 and $80,000 awards. Jewish communal life shows up through support for Jewish Federation of Des Moines, which received $275,000 in 2024 and $250,000 in 2025 for general support. The arts are represented by grants to Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Art Center, Kansas City Art Institute, and Grand Teton Music Festival.
$4.1M
$88M
$20M
$4.4M
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of repeat and anchor institutions within Iowa — mostly unrestricted or general-fund support for colleges/universities and core local nonprofits rather than many small or experimental grants.
Notable grantees: Cornell College, University of Iowa Center for Advancement, Food Bank of Iowa, Jewish Federation of Des Moines, Zack Johnson Foundation
Typical grants are mid-sized: the p25 is $2,500, the median is $5,000, and the p75 is $10,000. The recent list also includes a smaller number of much larger institutional gifts, showing a layered approach that combines modest awards with substantial general-support grants. Multiple grantees appear in more than one year, including Cornell College, the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, Food Bank of Iowa, and Jewish Federation of Des Moines. That repeat pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation’s profile also indicates it funds individuals and does not make program-related investments.
The grant record is national, with all listed recipients in the United States. Iowa is a major center of activity: recipients include Mt Vernon, Iowa City, Des Moines, Indianola, Waukee, and Cedar Rapids. Missouri is the top state by grant count, with multiple recipients in Kansas City. Wyoming also appears repeatedly through Jackson, Wilson, Evansville, and Sheridan. The recipient map therefore shows a strong Iowa concentration alongside a broader Midwest and Mountain West pattern.
The recent grants show support for higher education, food security, Jewish communal organizations, arts institutions, and regional foundations. Examples include Cornell College, Food Bank of Iowa, Jewish Federation of Des Moines, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Kansas City Art Institute.
The distribution points to small-to-midsize awards, with a p25 of $2,500, a median grant of $5,000, and a p75 of $10,000. The recent list also includes larger institutional grants, such as $625,000 to Cornell College’s general fund.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Cornell College, the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, Food Bank of Iowa, and Jewish Federation of Des Moines. The repeated pattern is especially clear in general-support grants.
By recipient count, Missouri is the top state, while Iowa also receives a large share of grants. The recipient list includes multiple organizations in Kansas City, as well as several in Des Moines, Iowa City, Mt Vernon, Indianola, and Waukee.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals in addition to nonprofit organizations and other institutional recipients. The grant list itself is dominated by organizational support, including general-support awards and scholarship-related giving in the topic taxonomy.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT | IOWA CITY, IA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ZACK JOHNSON FOUNDATION | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF DES MOINES | WAUKEE, IA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRAND TETON MUSIC FESTIVAL | WILSON, WY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $214,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARVESTERS COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK | KANSAS CITY, MO | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF WYOMING | EVANSVILLE, WY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FOOD GROUP | SHERIDAN, WY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE | JACKSON, WY | $102,750 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA | INDIANOLA, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $76,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN PUBLIC SQUARE | KANSAS CITY, MO | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WYOMING COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LARAMIE, WY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOTHILLS FOOD BANK | CAVE CREEK, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WYOMING PUBLIC MEDIA | LARAMIE, WY | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF KANSAS CITY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $37,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VARIETY CLUB OF IADOCTORS WO BORDERS | DES MOINES, IA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHERIDAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SHERIDAN, WY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF KANSAS CITY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA | SHERIDAN, WY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHERIDAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST | SHERIDAN, WY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NELSON ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WYOMING THEATER | SHERIDAN, WY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR VITAL COMMUNITY | SHERIDAN, WY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $21,070 | 2025 | COMPUTER EQUIPMENT |
| WYOMING'S WOMEN'S FOUNDATION | LARAMIE, WY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KCUR NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOMES OF OAKRIDGE | DES MOINES, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE CENTER | SHERIDAN, WY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ORCHARD PLACE | DES MOINES, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FUND | URBANA, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLIMB WYOMING | CHYEYENNE, WY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KCPT KANSAS CITY PUBLIC TV | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE HUB ON SMITH | SHERIDAN, WY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF KANSAS CITY | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $19,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA | INDIANOLA, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE B'NAI JESHURUN | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORT PHIL KEARNEYBOZEMAN TRAIL ASSOCIATION | BANNER, WY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VARIETY CLUB OF IADOCTORS WO BORDERS | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALSACST JUDES CHILDREN RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHAPS | SHERIDAN, WY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNELL COLLEGE LEVI THOMPSON | MT VERNON, IA | $12,939 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE | JACKSON, WY | $12,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT
$300,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOOD BANK OF IOWA
$300,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ZACK JOHNSON FOUNDATION
$300,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FEDERATION OF DES MOINES
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE
$214,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES METRO OPERA
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN PUBLIC SQUARE
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WYOMING PUBLIC MEDIA
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FEDERATION OF KANSAS CITY
$37,500GENERAL SUPPORT
VARIETY CLUB OF IADOCTORS WO BORDERS
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SHERIDAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED WAY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NELSON ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WYOMING THEATER
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTER FOR VITAL COMMUNITY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL
$21,070COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
WYOMING'S WOMEN'S FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KCUR NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOMES OF OAKRIDGE
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE CENTER
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ORCHARD PLACE
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FUND
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CLIMB WYOMING
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KCPT KANSAS CITY PUBLIC TV
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE HUB ON SMITH
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FEDERATION OF KANSAS CITY
$19,500GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES METRO OPERA
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF DES MOINES
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEMPLE B'NAI JESHURUN
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORT PHIL KEARNEYBOZEMAN TRAIL ASSOCIATION
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VARIETY CLUB OF IADOCTORS WO BORDERS
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALSACST JUDES CHILDREN RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHAPS
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNELL COLLEGE LEVI THOMPSON
$12,939SCHOLARSHIP