Hubbell-Waterman Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,029,211 (2023)
• Total Assets: $38,535,242 (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Scott County, Iowa and Rock Island County, Illinois (Quad Cities region)
• Foundation Type: Private Grantmaking Foundation
• Established: 1967

Contact Details

Website: www.hubbellwaterman.org
Phone: (563) 326-2840 (general enquiries)
Phone: (563) 333-6608 (grant content questions - C. D. Waterman III or Debbie Collins)
Address: 852 Middle Road, Suite 100
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(Shared with Quad Cities Community Foundation)

Overview

The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1967 by Mary Hubbell Waterman and Larned Allen Waterman as a memorial to their parents. The foundation serves the Quad Cities region, specifically Scott County, Iowa and Rock Island County, Illinois. With total assets of approximately $38.5 million and annual charitable disbursements of over $2 million, the foundation works towards creating a growing, thriving, and compassionate Quad Cities community. The foundation operates with the belief that "generosity is contagious" and has granted more than $43 million to local organisations since its founding. The foundation is administered in partnership with the Quad Cities Community Foundation, which provides administrative support and grantmaking infrastructure.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation invests in three core areas:

1. Culture and the Arts - Supporting arts organisations, museums, and cultural institutions
2. Education - Focusing on pre-K to 12 educational programmes and initiatives
3. Social Welfare - Improving community well-being through social services

Types of Support

The foundation funds:

• Capital construction projects, including construction and renovations
• Programme and initiatives grants
• Operational expenses

Funding Guidelines

• For capital campaigns exceeding $50,000, the foundation will consider funding a maximum of 30% of the campaign goal
• For campaigns under $50,000, the foundation may consider funding up to 100%
• For multi-year grant requests totalling over $100,000, the foundation will consider funding 100% of the programme budget in the first year, 50% in the second year, and 25% in the third year
• Capital campaigns exceeding $1 million must submit an application to the Quad Cities Contributors Council prior to applying to the foundation

Known Grantees

Recent recipients include:

• Ballet Quad Cities
• Putnam Museum
• Habitat for Humanity
• Boys and Girls Club of Mississippi Valley
• Humility Homes and Services
• Hand in Hand
• Nahant Marsh
• Two Rivers YMCA
• Tapestry Farms
• United Way of the Quad Cities

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is administered through the Quad Cities Community Foundation under a partnership established in 2018, leveraging their infrastructure and expertise for grant management and community connections. The foundation operates with no compensation paid to trustees or officers, directing maximum resources towards charitable activities. The foundation values inclusiveness and does not fund organisations that discriminate based on protected characteristics.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts grant applications through an online portal. The entire application process is paperless. New applicants must register their organisation through the portal; returning applicants (organisations that have applied since 2018) can log in directly. The online system is managed by the Quad Cities Community Foundation.

For questions about the online grant system, contact the Quad Cities Community Foundation at (563) 326-2840 or grants@qccommunityfoundation.org. For questions about grant content and purpose, contact C. D. Waterman III or Debbie Collins at (563) 333-6608.

Application Timeline

• 15 May: Grant applications open
• 15 August: Grant applications due (late or incomplete applications will not be accepted)
• Fourth week of October: Annual trustees meeting
• 15 November: Applicants informed of grant decisions
• 1 December: Successful applicants submit Acknowledgement Forms
• January: Grant payments made

Review Process

• Trustees may request meetings with applicants or conduct site visits
• Applicants receive automatic email confirmation upon submission
• Applications that are late or incomplete may not be resubmitted until the following year's application cycle

Geographic Eligibility

Applications are limited to organisations serving the Quad Cities region, specifically Scott County, Iowa and Rock Island County, Illinois.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation has substantial assets ($38.5 million) and consistent annual giving capacity of approximately $2 million
• They support a diverse range of organisations from arts and culture to social services and education
• The foundation uses an annual grant cycle with a firm 15 August deadline
• Applications must be submitted through an online portal; paper applications are not accepted
• Geographic focus is specifically defined as Scott County, Iowa and Rock Island County, Illinois
• Capital campaigns over $1 million require pre-approval from the Quad Cities Contributors Council
• The foundation values inclusiveness and community strength
• With substantial charitable disbursements relative to total expenses, the foundation maintains efficient operations
• The foundation's history since 1967 indicates stable, consistent support for the region

References

• Hubbell-Waterman Foundation official website: www.hubbellwaterman.org (accessed May 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Hubbell Waterman Foundation profile and Form 990-PF data for tax year 2023 (accessed May 2026)
• Quad Cities Community Foundation news releases and contact information (accessed May 2026)