Invest DSM is a collaborative nonprofit that leverages innovative and comprehensive solutions to strengthen neighborhoods.
Invest Dsm’s recent grantmaking shows a clear emphasis on neighborhood redevelopment through real estate and commercial property projects. One of its largest awards went to Neighborhood Development Corp in Des Moines for a developer grant, and another large 2024 award supported Q-enterprises LLC through its single family developer program. Those grants sit alongside support for commercial development, community development, and housing renovation work tied to specific properties and sites. The foundation’s program structure points to a place-based strategy rather than broad discretionary giving: it backs projects that improve buildings, create owner-occupied homes, preserve rental housing, and strengthen neighborhood business districts. The pattern also shows repeated use of development-oriented grants for local organizations and property owners in Des Moines and nearby cities. Awards to Uptown Investor Tju LLC, Beachhaus Partners LLC, and Wesley Community Services Inc (wesleylife) illustrate how the foundation funds both commercial and community-serving projects. Across the recent grants list, the work centers on physical investment in neighborhoods, with capital directed toward renovation, new construction, and property improvement rather than general operating support.
Housing development is a central theme in Invest Dsm’s grantmaking. In 2024, it gave $206,500 to Q-enterprises LLC through the Single Family Developer Program, and it also awarded $38,865 to Rm Madden Construction Inc for a single-family developer grant. The foundation’s housing work includes new construction and renovation of owner-occupied homes, as well as rental rehab. Commercial and mixed-use property improvement is another major lane. It awarded $107,275 to Uptown Investor Tju LLC for commercial development and $13,394 to 609 Green Room for commercial development, while $50,000 went to Wesley Community Services Inc (wesleylife) for a commercial development grant. Community development grants also appear in the recent list, including support for Des Moines Film Society and Highland Park Hardware Inc, which fits the foundation’s neighborhood-revitalization approach.
Invest Dsm’s typical grant size sits in a fairly tight project-capital range: the 25th percentile is $28,050, the median is $39,264, and the 75th percentile is $55,264. That aligns with a funder making restricted, use-bound awards for defined property and neighborhood projects rather than very small discretionary gifts or large institutional grants. The recent record also suggests repeat relationships with some recipients. Q-enterprises LLC received awards in both 2023 and 2024, and several other grantees appear in multiple years through related development work. Invest Dsm makes program-related investments and operates through active grant programs, with unsolicited applications accepted in those programs. Its giving is local and heavily concentrated in Iowa.
$579K
$24.3M
$10.3M
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $28K and $55K, with a median of $39K.
25th Percentile
$28K
Median
$39K
75th Percentile
$55K
About 96% of grants go to recipients in IA.
AMBER LYNCH
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Invest Dsm’s grants are overwhelmingly local and centered in Iowa. The recent grants list is entirely U.S.-based, and 96% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of Iowa. Des Moines appears most often, including grants to Neighborhood Development Corp, Q-enterprises LLC, Uptown Investor Tju LLC, and Lucky Horse Beer and Burgers LLC. Outside Des Moines, the foundation also funded recipients in Clive, Johnston, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Evergreen, Colorado. The geographic pattern matches its neighborhood-focused program design.
Its active programs support commercial property improvements, single-family renovation and new construction, rental rehabilitation, neighborhood exterior improvements, and homeowner renovations. The recent grants list also includes community development and commercial development awards tied to specific property projects.
Yes. The active programs listed for commercial grants, single-family development, rental rehab, block challenges, and homeowner renovation all accept unsolicited applications.
Typical awards are in the tens of thousands of dollars: the 25th percentile is $28,050, the median is $39,264, and the 75th percentile is $55,264.
Very local. The geographic scope is local, 96% of grants go to recipients in Iowa, and every grant in the recent list went to a U.S. recipient.
No. Housing is a major area, but the foundation also funds commercial development and community development. Recent grants include support for commercial property work and neighborhood-oriented projects alongside single-family and rental housing programs.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q-ENTERPRISES LLC | DES MOINES, IA | $206,500 | 2024 | SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT |
| UPTOWN INVESTOR TJU LLC | DES MOINES, IA | $107,275 | 2024 | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| BEACHHAUS PARTNERS LLC | CLIVE, IA | $57,018 | 2024 | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| WESLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES INC (WESLEYLIFE) | JOHNSTON, IA | $50,000 | 2024 | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| 36 ON 6TH LLC | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $40,000 | 2024 | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| RM MADDEN CONSTRUCTION INC | DES MOINES, IA | $38,865 | 2024 | SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT |
| WILSHIRE HOLDINGS | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $30,000 | 2024 | SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT |
| LUCKY HORSE BEER AND BURGERS LLC | DES MOINES, IA | $20,000 | 2024 | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| DRJ INVESTMENTS LLC | DES MOINES, IA | $16,000 | 2024 | SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT |
| 609 GREEN ROOM | DES MOINES, IA | $13,394 | 2024 | COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORP | DES MOINES, IA | $231,796 | 2023 | DEVELOPER GRANT |
| Q-ENTERPRISES LLC | DES MOINES, IA | $135,833 | 2023 | DEVELOPER GRANT |
| SHEPDYK NORMAN | EVERGREEN, CO | $107,580 | 2023 | DEVELOPER GRANT |
| DES MOINES FILM SOCIETY | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| HARVEY PARKS PROPERTIES | DES MOINES, IA | $44,107 | 2023 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| DLE FOUR WAY LC | ANKENY, IA | $39,663 | 2023 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| STANDARD FAMILY HOMES | DES MOINES, IA | $35,000 | 2023 | DEVELOPER GRANT |
| RAVINA HOMES | DES MOINES, IA | $35,000 | 2023 | DEVELOPER GRANT |
| HOME INC | DES MOINES, IA | $30,000 | 2023 | DEVELOPER GRANT |
| 6TH AVE PROPERTY LLC | DES MOINES, IA | $27,400 | 2023 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| HIGHLAND PARK HARDWARE INC | DES MOINES, IA | $25,200 | 2023 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| RALLYCAP PROPERTIES | DES MOINES, IA | $13,600 | 2023 | DEVELOPER GRANT |
Q-ENTERPRISES LLC
$206,500SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT
UPTOWN INVESTOR TJU LLC
$107,275COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
BEACHHAUS PARTNERS LLC
$57,018COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
WESLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES INC (WESLEYLIFE)
$50,000COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
36 ON 6TH LLC
$40,000COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
RM MADDEN CONSTRUCTION INC
$38,865SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT
WILSHIRE HOLDINGS
$30,000SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT
LUCKY HORSE BEER AND BURGERS LLC
$20,000COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
DRJ INVESTMENTS LLC
$16,000SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPER GRANT
609 GREEN ROOM
$13,394COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORP
$231,796DEVELOPER GRANT
Q-ENTERPRISES LLC
$135,833DEVELOPER GRANT
SHEPDYK NORMAN
$107,580DEVELOPER GRANT
DES MOINES FILM SOCIETY
$50,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT
HARVEY PARKS PROPERTIES
$44,107COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT
DLE FOUR WAY LC
$39,663COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT
STANDARD FAMILY HOMES
$35,000DEVELOPER GRANT
RAVINA HOMES
$35,000DEVELOPER GRANT
HOME INC
$30,000DEVELOPER GRANT
6TH AVE PROPERTY LLC
$27,400COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT
HIGHLAND PARK HARDWARE INC
$25,200COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT
RALLYCAP PROPERTIES
$13,600DEVELOPER GRANT