About Invest Dsm
Invest DSM is a collaborative nonprofit that leverages innovative and comprehensive solutions to strengthen neighborhoods.
Focus Areas
housing rehabilitation and renovationneighborhood revitalizationsmall business/commercial grantsrental rehabilitationnew single-family developmentcommunity capacity building
Who They Fund
real estate developers (single-family and commercial)local community residents/homebuyerssmall business or commercial tenants in redeveloped areas
Funding Style
project-specific capital supportreal-estate development financing
About Invest Dsm
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.
What Invest Dsm Funds
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.
How Invest Dsm Gives
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$579K
Total Assets
$24.3M
Total Revenue
$10.3M
Total Expenses
$5.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $28K and $55K, with a median of $39K.
25th Percentile
$28K
Median
$39K
75th Percentile
$55K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
About 96% of grants go to recipients in IA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
AMBER LYNCH
Unlock Deep Analysis
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 FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Invest Dsm?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime