EMC Insurance Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 42-1343474 · since 1991emcinsurance.com/aboutemc/community-involvement·Iowa·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.5M

Annual giving, 2025 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$305 to $30,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$5,000

Typical grant (median)

108 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The foundation's stated geographic focus is Iowa, and its stated fields include education, youth, arts and culture, preservation, health and human services, community projects and emergency needs, so an Iowa-based charity working in one of these areas is the clearest fit.
Its typical grants fall between $305 and $30,000, with about 8 in 10 grants in that range and a median of $5,000, so a request near $5,000 is a realistic size, although its largest grant was about $165,000.
The filing asks applicants to state the intended use of funds, verify IRS 501(c)(3) status and list major donors, so have these ready before you approach it.
The filing gives no submission deadlines, so it does not set out when an approach should be made, but in its most recent filing 92% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests that existing relationships carry weight.

Overview

EMC Insurance Foundation is a US private foundation based in Des Moines, IA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation says it works with associations and organisations of all kinds to find better ways to serve people, and describes its purpose as improving lives and helping communities thrive. It generally funds Iowa-based charitable organisations. Its stated fields include education, youth, arts and culture, preservation, health and human services, community projects and emergency needs. Filing records show grants for general support or capital fund drives, reaching varied charitable organisations, including social-service providers, performing-arts bodies, educational institutions, housing organisations, health and food charities, and outdoor and conservation groups. The filing asks applicants to state intended use, verify IRS 501(c)(3) status and list major donors; it records no submission deadlines.

Themes

Education
Youth
Arts and culture
Preservation
Health and human services
Community projects
Emergency needs

Geographic Focus

Iowa.

How to apply

Applicants should provide the intended use of funds, verification of IRS 501(c)(3) status and a list of major donors.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 340 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.

Grant dollars by state

Iowa92%

Maryland2%

Delaware1%

Kansas<1%

Texas<1%

Minnesota<1%

6 other states: 2%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%

The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations EMC Insurance Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
14% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

108 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $5,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 108 grants in tax year 2025 by size

Under $1k19%

$1k–$2.5k13%

$2.5k–$5k14%

$5k–$10k21%

$10k–$25k13%

$25k–$50k11%

$50k–$100k6%

$100k–$250k3%

Median $5,000 (tax year 2025)

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

Orchard Place · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$166,5002025 tax year
United Way of Central Iowa · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$160,4982025 tax year
Des Moines Performing Arts · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$125,0002025 tax year
Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$66,6662025 tax year
Blank Park Zoo · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$50,0002025 tax year
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$50,0002025 tax year
On With Life Foundation · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$50,0002025 tax year
Iowa State University Foundation · For general support or for a capital fund drive of the respective organization
$50,0002025 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Bruce Kelley — Director
David J W Proctor — Director
Sharon Cooper — Director
Jennifer Rhoads — Director
Doug Van Zanten — Secretary
Nicole Hansman — Treasurer
Ron Herman — Treasurer
Sarah Buckley — Executive Director
Scott Jean — Chairman

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$1,554,973	$1,530,673	$6,375,459	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,585,628	$1,549,849	$21,692,006	Filing for 2024 tax year
2025 tax year	$1,849,932	$1,501,952	$32,284,005	Filing for 2025 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.