The Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation concentrates its giving locally in the Cedar Rapids area, primarily supporting youth development through substantial, unrestricted operating grants. Its funding is highly focused—large gifts to Boys & Girls Club affiliates and a major allocation to its donor-advised/legacy fund—indicating a preference for sustaining established community institutions rather than many small, project-specific awards.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants mostly to repeat grantees and to the foundation’s own DAF fund; emphasis on multi-year or substantial operating support rather than dispersed small grants.
Lavern T Busse & Audrey Busse Foundation’s largest recent award went to the Busse Foundation Fund at Dafgiving360, a $1,754,990 general operating budget grant in 2025. That gift sits alongside a clear pattern of backing established community institutions through unrestricted support rather than tightly scoped project funding. The foundation’s recent giving is anchored in Cedar Rapids and broader eastern Iowa, with Boys & Girls Club affiliates, Tanager Place, and local health and education organizations appearing repeatedly among the larger awards. The foundation’s profile is shaped by operating support for organizations that deliver ongoing services: youth development, after-school programming, community health, and educational access. Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids received $842,488 in 2024 and $540,878 in 2023, while Boys & Girls Club of the Cooridor received $455,998 in 2025. Other substantial grants went to Mercy Medical Center Foundation, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Inc, and the University of Iowa Foundation, all also categorized as general operating budget support. This pattern suggests a grantmaker focused on continuity for local nonprofits and institutions already embedded in the region.
Youth development is the clearest area of emphasis. The foundation gave $842,488 to Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids in 2024 and $455,998 to Boys & Girls Club of the Cooridor in 2025, both for general operating budget support. It also made $101,444 to Tanager Place in 2023, $99,888 in 2024, and $92,120 in 2025, again as general operating support. Education-related grants appear as another strand. Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Inc received $158,960 in 2024, and the University of Iowa Foundation received $145,726 in 2024. The University of Iowa Center for Advancement was also supported with $100,913 in 2025 and $71,417 in 2023. Beyond that, the foundation backed community health through grants such as $103,920 to Mercy Medical Center Foundation in 2025 and $35,000 to Community Health Clinic in 2024.
Typical awards are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $2,500, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $20,250. The recent list also shows a few much larger operating grants, including one seven-figure allocation. Recipients appear across multiple years in several cases: Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Tanager Place, Mount Mercy University, Miricle in Motion, Mercy Medical Center Foundation, and La Casa De Cristo Church each received repeated support. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grants shown are overwhelmingly general operating support, pointing to a grantmaker that favors organizational stability over project-specific funding.
$2.8M
$15M
$1M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $3K and $20K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Notable grantees: Busse Foundation Fund at DAFGiving360, Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Boys & Girls Club of the Corridor
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Iowa, with 69% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and Iowa listed as the top state by grant count. Cedar Rapids is the main recipient city, appearing repeatedly across youth, health, and education grants. Other Iowa recipients include Iowa City, Coralville, Swisher, and Waverly. Outside Iowa, grants in the recent list also went to Rochester, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, but every grant in the country distribution is in the United States.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on youth development, after-school services, education, and community health. Recipients include Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Tanager Place, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Inc, the University of Iowa Foundation, and Mercy Medical Center Foundation, mostly with general operating budget support.
It primarily gives operating support. The recent grants list repeatedly labels awards as general operating budget support, including gifts to Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Boys & Girls Club of the Cooridor, Tanager Place, Mount Mercy University, and Mercy Medical Center Foundation.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is relatively small at the center, with a p25 of $2,500, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $20,250. The recent record also includes several much larger operating grants, including a $1,754,990 award in 2025.
Iowa is the top state by grant count, and 69% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Cedar Rapids appears most frequently in the recipient list, with additional Iowa recipients in Iowa City, Coralville, Swisher, and Waverly.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUSSE FOUNDATION FUND AT DAFGIVING360 | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $1,754,990 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE COORIDOR | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $455,998 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MERCY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $103,920 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT | IOWA CITY, IA | $100,913 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| TANAGER PLACE | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $92,120 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSITY | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $55,888 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MIRICLE IN MOTION | SWISHER, IA | $50,415 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY | CORALVILLE, IA | $50,121 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MAYO CLINIC DEPT OF DEVELOPMENT | ROCHESTER, MN | $42,924 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA INC | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $26,600 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| LINN COUNTY TRAILS ASSOCIATION | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $25,270 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| NOTRE DAME ACE | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| WARTBURG COLLEGE | WAVERLY, IA | $15,237 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUBLIC CHARITY INC | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $9,591 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| HEDRICK FIRE DEPARTMENT | HEDRICK, IA | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| STEADY RUN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES | HEDRICK, IA | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| CHURCH OF THE LIVING WORLD | HAMPTON, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| KEOKUK COUNTY HOSPICE | SIGOURNEY, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| HOUSE OF HOPE | WATERLOO, IA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WI | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CEDAR RAPIDS | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $842,488 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA INC | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $158,960 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION | IOWA CITY, IA | $145,726 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| TANAGER PLACE | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $99,888 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MAYO CLINIC DEPT OF DEVELOPMENT | ROCHESTER, MN | $59,396 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MIRICLE IN MOTION | SWISHER, IA | $49,865 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| CATHERINE MCCAULEY CENTER | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $49,656 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MOUNT MERCY UNIVERSITY | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $44,029 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| LA CASA DE CRISTO CHURCH | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $39,029 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $35,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| MERCY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $29,705 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| NOTRE DAME ACE | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| JUDICAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $21,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $21,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| PRAGER UNIVERSITY | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $21,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| TURNING POINT USA | PHOENIX, AZ | $21,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| YOUNG AMERICAS FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $21,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| UNITED WAY OF EAST CENTRAL IOWA | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| WARTBURG COLLEGE | WAVERLY, IA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| CAMP COURAGEOUS | MONTICELLO, IA | $10,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| ST MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH FOUNDATION | MARION, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | DUBUQUE, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| BENTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | VAN HORNE, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| HEDRICK FIRE DEPARTMENT | HEDRICK, IA | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| ST PIUS X CHURCH | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| KIDS FIRST LAW CENTER | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| FOUR OAKS | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
| ARC OF EASTERN IOWA | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET |
BUSSE FOUNDATION FUND AT DAFGIVING360
$1,754,990GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE COORIDOR
$455,998GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$103,920GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT
$100,913GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MIRICLE IN MOTION
$50,415GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MAYO CLINIC DEPT OF DEVELOPMENT
$42,924GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
LINN COUNTY TRAILS ASSOCIATION
$25,270GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
NOTRE DAME ACE
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
WARTBURG COLLEGE
$15,237GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUBLIC CHARITY INC
$9,591GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
HEDRICK FIRE DEPARTMENT
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
STEADY RUN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
CHURCH OF THE LIVING WORLD
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
KEOKUK COUNTY HOSPICE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
HOUSE OF HOPE
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION
$145,726GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MAYO CLINIC DEPT OF DEVELOPMENT
$59,396GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MIRICLE IN MOTION
$49,865GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
CATHERINE MCCAULEY CENTER
$49,656GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
FREEDOM FOUNDATION
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
LA CASA DE CRISTO CHURCH
$39,029GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$29,705GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
NOTRE DAME ACE
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
JUDICAL WATCH
$21,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
TURNING POINT USA
$21,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
WARTBURG COLLEGE
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
ST MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
BENTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
HEDRICK FIRE DEPARTMENT
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
ST PIUS X CHURCH
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
FOUR OAKS
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
THE SALVATION ARMY
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
ARC OF EASTERN IOWA
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET