The Van G Miller Family Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving in the Waterloo/Cedar Valley area with an emphasis on local education institutions and community infrastructure. Its grants are primarily capital- and facilities-focused (school buildings, college support, pool renovation) and it favors established regional beneficiaries such as community college, K–12, university, municipal recreation, and hospice organizations. The foundation makes a small number of sizable awards rather than many small gifts, and it repeats support to core local institutions.
A $600,000 grant to Hawkeye Community College Foundation is the largest recent award on file for Van G Miller Family Charitable Foundation, and it fits a clear pattern of large local commitments to Waterloo-area institutions. The foundation’s giving centers on education, municipal facilities, health, and community services, with awards that often support buildings, renovations, and other capital needs rather than general operating budgets. Its recent support includes major funding for Cedar Falls Schools Foundation and Waterloo Leisure Services, alongside repeated backing for regional education and care providers. The foundation also shows a preference for established organizations that serve the same community over time. Hawkeye Community College Foundation appears more than once, as does Cedar Falls Schools Foundation, and both receive six-figure support across multiple years. Cedar Valley Hospice is another example of this local, institution-focused approach, with funds tied to facilities. The pattern points to a family foundation that uses substantial grants to strengthen core institutions in Waterloo and nearby Cedar Valley communities.
Education is a major thread in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $600,000 to Hawkeye Community College Foundation for educational purposes, $300,000 to Cedar Falls Schools Foundation for facilities, and $150,000 to Uni Foundation for educational support. Community health and care organizations also receive support. Cedar Valley Hospice received $150,000 for facilities, while the Allen Foundation was given $75,000 for health and another $50,000 for health in a later year. The foundation also funds programs serving children and people with disabilities. Beau’s Beautiful Blessings received $70,000 for helping intellectually disabled kids, North Star Community Services received $64,000 and $55,000 for aiding individuals with disabilities, and Camp Courageous received two grants of $25,000 for individuals with special needs. Basic-needs and family-support work appears as well, including $59,960 to Salvation Army for people in need and $35,000 to Northeast Iowa Food Bank for food programs.
Typical grants cluster in the middle-to-upper range for local philanthropy: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $27,500, and the p75 is $61,000. That spread matches a pattern of selective, larger awards rather than many small gifts. The foundation repeats support to the same recipients across years, including Hawkeye Community College Foundation, Cedar Falls Schools Foundation, North Star Community Services, YWCA, Salvation Army, and Cedar Valley Irish Cultural Assoc. It funds individuals and makes no program-related investments. The recent record also shows a local family foundation style: targeted grants, recurring support, and a focus on established community institutions.
$2.1M
$34.5M
$1.5M
$3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $61K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$61K
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 local organizations with occasional repeat funding; emphasis on capital/facilities and institutional strengthening rather than many small or exploratory grants.
Notable grantees: Hawkeye Community College Foundation, Cedar Falls Schools Foundation, Waterloo Leisure Services, UNI Foundation, Cedar Valley Hospice
All recorded grants in the recent list went to recipients in Iowa, and the foundation gives most often in its headquarters state. Waterloo appears most frequently, with grants to Hawkeye Community College Foundation, Waterloo Leisure Services, Cedar Valley Hospice, Salvation Army, and others. Cedar Falls is another recurring location, including Cedar Falls Schools Foundation and Uni Foundation. Other Iowa recipients include Dubuque, Monticello, Jesup, and Waverly. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Recent grants show a strong mix of education, facilities, health, disability services, youth programs, and basic-needs organizations. Examples include Hawkeye Community College Foundation, Cedar Falls Schools Foundation, Cedar Valley Hospice, North Star Community Services, Salvation Army, and Northeast Iowa Food Bank.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Hawkeye Community College Foundation, Cedar Falls Schools Foundation, North Star Community Services, YWCA, Salvation Army, Cedar Valley Irish Cultural Assoc, and Camp Courageous. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts only.
The grant-size distribution is centered on mid-sized awards: p25 is $10,000, the median is $27,500, and p75 is $61,000. Recent grants also include larger six-figure commitments, showing that the foundation sometimes concentrates support in major local projects.
Its giving is local. Every grant in the recent list went to an Iowa recipient, and Waterloo is the most frequent city in the data. Cedar Falls is another repeated location, with additional grants to Dubuque, Monticello, Jesup, and Waverly.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNI FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $400,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES | WATERLOO, IA | $400,000 | 2026 | POOL RENOVATION |
| ALLEN FOUNDATION | WATERLOO, IA | $300,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| YWCA | WATERLOO, IA | $275,000 | 2026 | YOUTH |
| RIVER HILLS SCHOOLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHEAST IOWA FOOD BANK | WATERLOO, IA | $150,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOOD PROGRAMS |
| IOWA HEARTLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | WATERLOO, IA | $145,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS |
| SALVATION ARMY | WATERLOO, IA | $76,564 | 2026 | PEOPLE IN NEED |
| IRISH FEST | WATERLOO, IA | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| WATERLOO PUBLIC LIBRARY | WATERLOO, IA | $36,000 | 2026 | GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES |
| TRY PIE | WATERLOO, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| JESUP COMMUNITY RECREATION DEPT | JESUP, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES |
| AMERICANS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING | WATERLOO, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT VETERANS |
| JOB FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $20,000 | 2026 | MENTORING |
| CEDAR VALLEY BRIDGES OUT OF POVERTY | WATERLOO, IA | $16,000 | 2026 | INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT |
| WATERLOO JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION | WATERLOO, IA | $15,000 | 2026 | JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM |
| LORAS COLLEGE | DUBUQUE, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES OF IOWA | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| WATERLOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | KOATS 4 KIDS |
| ORCHARD HILL CHURCH | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES | WATERLOO, IA | $300,000 | 2025 | POOL RENOVATION |
| UNI FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $300,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| IOWA HEARTLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | WATERLOO, IA | $225,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS |
| HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | WATERLOO, IA | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SALVATION ARMY | WATERLOO, IA | $150,920 | 2025 | PEOPLE IN NEED |
| AMERICANS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING | WATERLOO, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT VETERANS |
| NORTHEAST IOWA FOOD BANK | WATERLOO, IA | $70,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOOD PROGRAMS |
| IRISH FEST | WATERLOO, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| HOUSE OF HOPE | WATERLOO, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT WOMEN |
| ALLEN FOUNDATION | WATERLOO, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| FAMILY & CHILDREN'S COUNCIL | WATERLOO, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FAMILIES |
| DUNKERTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | DUNKERTON, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL SUPPORT |
| JOB FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | MENTORING |
| WATERLOO JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM |
| WATERLOO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FDN | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| LUTHERAN SERVICES OF IOWA | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| YWCA | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| CAMP COURAGEOUS | MONTICELLO, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS |
| CEDAR VALLEY ANGELS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM |
| ORCHARD HILL CHURCH | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| LORAS COLLEGE | DUBUQUE, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| WATERLOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERLOO, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | KOATS 4 KIDS |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE | WATERLOO, IA | $3,000 | 2025 | EMPOWERING KIDS |
| GRAY WARRIORS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS FIGHTING CANCER |
| WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES | WATERLOO, IA | $300,000 | 2024 | POOL RENOVATION |
| HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | WATERLOO, IA | $200,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CEDAR VALLEY HOSPICE | WATERLOO, IA | $150,000 | 2024 | FACILITIES |
| UNI FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $120,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CEDAR FALLS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $100,000 | 2024 | FACILITIES |
| NORTH STAR COMMUNITY SERVICES | WATERLOO, IA | $64,000 | 2024 | AIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES |
UNI FOUNDATION
$400,000EDUCATIONAL
WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES
$400,000POOL RENOVATION
ALLEN FOUNDATION
$300,000HEALTH
YWCA
$275,000YOUTH
RIVER HILLS SCHOOLS
$150,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$76,564PEOPLE IN NEED
IRISH FEST
$50,000SUPPORT
WATERLOO PUBLIC LIBRARY
$36,000GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES
TRY PIE
$25,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
JESUP COMMUNITY RECREATION DEPT
$25,000GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES
AMERICANS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
$25,000SUPPORT VETERANS
JOB FOUNDATION
$20,000MENTORING
CEDAR VALLEY BRIDGES OUT OF POVERTY
$16,000INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT
WATERLOO JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION
$15,000JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM
LUTHERAN SERVICES OF IOWA
$10,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
ORCHARD HILL CHURCH
$5,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES
$300,000POOL RENOVATION
UNI FOUNDATION
$300,000EDUCATIONAL
SALVATION ARMY
$150,920PEOPLE IN NEED
AMERICANS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
$100,000SUPPORT VETERANS
IRISH FEST
$50,000SUPPORT
HOUSE OF HOPE
$50,000SUPPORT WOMEN
ALLEN FOUNDATION
$25,000HEALTH
FAMILY & CHILDREN'S COUNCIL
$25,000SUPPORT FAMILIES
DUNKERTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
$25,000SCHOOL SUPPORT
JOB FOUNDATION
$20,000MENTORING
WATERLOO JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION
$10,000JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM
WATERLOO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FDN
$10,000SUPPORT EDUCATION
LUTHERAN SERVICES OF IOWA
$10,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
YWCA
$10,000YOUTH
CEDAR VALLEY ANGELS
$10,000SUPPORT FOR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
ORCHARD HILL CHURCH
$5,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
JUNIOR LEAGUE
$3,000EMPOWERING KIDS
GRAY WARRIORS
$2,000SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS FIGHTING CANCER
WATERLOO LEISURE SERVICES
$300,000POOL RENOVATION
CEDAR VALLEY HOSPICE
$150,000FACILITIES
UNI FOUNDATION
$120,000EDUCATIONAL
CEDAR FALLS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$100,000FACILITIES
NORTH STAR COMMUNITY SERVICES
$64,000AIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES