Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust

Private foundation · EIN 42-1186589 · since 1982carvertrust.org·Illinois, Iowa·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$16.5M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$16,000 to $400k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$121k

Typical grant (median)

87 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

This Trust, based in Muscatine, IA, supports biomedical and scientific research, scholarships, youth services and recreation, higher education, elementary and secondary education, and community libraries, with priority given to Iowa and portions of Illinois, so fit matters most for organisations working in that area and those themes.
About 8 in 10 of its 231 grants to organisations fall between $16,000 and $400,000, with a median grant of about $84,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the Iowa Public Library Grant Award Program caps at $80,000 and its grant range runs up to $400,000 with the largest at $3,450,000.
The Trust asks applicants to begin with a letter of inquiry rather than a full proposal, and only invites a complete proposal if that inquiry shows a clear fit with its interests, with staff reviewing proposals for eligibility and appropriateness and a possible site visit, all against fixed deadlines of November 15, February 15, May 15 and August 15, so plan the letter of inquiry well ahead of the relevant date.
In its most recent filing, 78% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, suggesting a relationship-led pattern worth bearing in mind, though new applicants can still apply through the standard letter of inquiry process.
It generally does not fund annual operating support or award endowments, and for the Iowa Public Library Grant Award Program specifically it will not fund grants targeted to handicapped accessibility or joint school/community library projects or facilities; for library requests, local investment and volunteer involvement are major factors in evaluation.

Overview

Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in Muscatine, IA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Trust supports biomedical and scientific research, scholarships, and programmes addressing the educational and recreational needs of youth. Its stated areas also include higher education, elementary and secondary education, and community libraries. In higher education, it supports projects that strengthen institutions and offer innovative learning opportunities to baccalaureate and graduate students; in elementary and secondary education, it provides strategic assistance to enhance instruction in language arts, science and mathematics. Its medical and scientific research programme backs innovative investigation with promise for advancing scientific knowledge and improving human health. Grants go to IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organisations, not directly to individuals, although some institutional awards may reach individuals as scholarships or research funding. The great majority support organisations located in, and projects conducted within, Iowa and portions of Illinois.

Themes

Biomedical and scientific research
Scholarships
Youth services and recreation
Higher education
Elementary and secondary education
Community libraries

Geographic Focus

Priority: Iowa; portions of Illinois.

What They Don't Fund

Annual operating support or award endowments, generally
Iowa Public Library Grant Award Program only: grants specifically targeted to making libraries handicapped accessible; joint school/community library projects or facilities

How to apply

Organisations begin with a letter of inquiry. If that inquiry shows a clear fit with the Trust’s interests, the applicant may be asked to submit a complete proposal.

Deadlines: Submission deadlines are November 15, February 15, May 15 and August 15.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 78% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 231 grants to organisations were about $84,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The Trust encourages an initial written or electronic inquiry before a formal request.
Trust staff review proposals for eligibility and appropriateness, and a site visit may be arranged as circumstances dictate.
For library requests, local investment and volunteer involvement are major factors in project evaluation.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Iowa90%

Illinois10%

Minnesota<1%

The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to organisations Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

87 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $121k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 87 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k1%

$2.5k–$5k0%

$5k–$10k2%

$10k–$25k28%

$25k–$50k3%

$50k–$100k7%

$100k–$250k45%

$250k–$500k6%

$500k–$1M6%

$1M and over2%

Median $121k (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

University of Iowa Foundation · Ccom - direct the 2025 gift payout f
$3,450,0002024 tax year
University of Iowa Foundation · Ccom - direct the 2025 gift payout -
$1,500,0002024 tax year
University of Iowa Foundation · Support facility needs in hydraulic
$855,0002024 tax year
Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine · Housing for impoverished families
$850,0002024 tax year
Iowa State University of Technology · Purchase an advanced device for prot
$750,0002024 tax year
University of Iowa Foundation · Upgrade an advanced light microscope
$595,9572024 tax year
University of Iowa Foundation · Assist with relocation and renovatio
$500,0002024 tax year
Iowa State University Foundation · Purchase advanced technology designe
$425,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Roy J Carver III — Trustee
Bradley W Roeth — Trustee
Brian W Hummel — Trustee
Andrew B Carver — Trustee
David M Utley — Secretary
D Scott Ingstad — Trustee
Troy K Ross — CEO
J Larry Griffith — Vice Chairman
Roy J Carver Jr — Chairman
John A Carver — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$12,929,556	$14,014,143	$330,885,905	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$12,073,380	$12,077,683	$353,689,253	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$21,573,451	$16,538,963	$364,548,636	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.