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Kyle J And Sharon Krause Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.6M

Kyle J And Sharon Krause Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $641,800 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $110.4 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies by recipient and program area
  • Number of Annual Grants: 42-49 grants per year (based on recent data)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Greater Des Moines, Iowa area
  • Application Method: Invitation only/preselected organizations

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Des Moines, IA
EIN: 46-2098909

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or provide public contact information for grant inquiries. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Kyle J And Sharon Krause Family Foundation was established in October 2014 as a private 501(c)(3) foundation. Led by Kyle J. Krause (President/Treasurer) and Sharon S. Krause (Vice President/Secretary), the foundation has grown dramatically from $2 million in assets at inception to $110.4 million by 2023, with a substantial contribution of $184 million received in 2023. The foundation distributed $641,800 in grants during the 2023 tax year through approximately 42-49 grants annually. Kyle Krause is the founder and CEO of Krause Group (former owner of Kum & Go convenience stores, sold in 2023) and has extensive board involvement including serving as Honorary Trustee of the Des Moines Art Center and on the trustees council for the National Gallery of Art. The Krauses are deeply committed to their Des Moines community, with the Krause Group donating 10% of its profits annually to charitable causes. In February 2023, Kyle and Sharon Krause received the Bravo Award from Bravo Greater Des Moines for their significant contributions to arts and culture.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a discretionary grantmaking model with no formal grant programs or application cycles. All grants are made to preselected organizations chosen by the trustees.

Priority Areas

Based on their giving patterns and public statements, the foundation supports:

Arts & Culture

  • Visual arts institutions (Des Moines Art Center)
  • Performing arts (Ballet Des Moines, Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Community Playhouse, Des Moines Performing Arts)
  • Arts festivals and public art (Des Moines Arts Festival, Des Moines Public Art Foundation)
  • Cultural promotion (Bravo Greater Des Moines)

Education

  • Arts education programs
  • Educational foundations
  • University initiatives

Community Development

  • Human services organizations
  • Youth development (Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa)
  • Children and family services (ChildServe, Children & Families of Iowa)
  • Faith-based initiatives
  • LGBTQ+ community support
  • Diversity and inclusion programs

Geographic Focus: Primarily Greater Des Moines and Central Iowa, with some support for initiatives in Italy (reflecting the Krause Group's Italian business interests, including ownership of Parma Calcio 1913 soccer team and Piemontese wineries).

What They Don't Fund

As a preselected grantmaker, the foundation does not fund unsolicited applications from organizations outside their established relationships.

Governance and Leadership

Kyle J. Krause - President/Treasurer
Born January 10, 1963, Kyle Krause holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Iowa. He founded Krause Group and served as CEO of Kum & Go from 2004 until the company's sale in 2023. Krause serves as Honorary Trustee of the Des Moines Art Center, on the trustees council for the National Gallery of Art (where he chairs the Contemporary Collectors Committee), and previously served as board chairman of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, where his leadership helped increase assets by more than $165 million. He was named 2018 Retail Leader of the Year and inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame.

Sharon S. Krause - Vice President/Secretary
Sharon Krause is deeply committed to women's, children's, and families' rights, having worked extensively with Children & Families of Iowa. She shares her husband's passion for arts and culture in the Des Moines community.

Joint Recognition: The Krauses were awarded the 2010 Outstanding Individual Philanthropist of the Year Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and The Des Moines Register's 2010 Iowa Star Award. Most recently, they received the 2023 Bravo Award for their contributions to arts and culture in Greater Des Moines.

Both officers receive zero compensation from the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Kyle J And Sharon Krause Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, Kyle J. Krause and Sharon S. Krause, to organizations with which they have established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

The Krauses are deeply embedded in the Des Moines philanthropic and business community through extensive board service and community involvement:

  • Kyle Krause's Board Positions: Honorary Trustee of Des Moines Art Center, trustees council member and Contemporary Collectors Committee Chair at the National Gallery of Art, former board chairman of Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
  • Sharon Krause's Involvement: Active with Children & Families of Iowa and women's and children's causes
  • Community Presence: The Krauses are visible at Des Moines arts and culture events, having been honored by Bravo Greater Des Moines in 2023

Organizations seeking to build relationships with the foundation should focus on:

  • Demonstrating excellence and impact in areas aligned with the Krauses' documented interests (arts, culture, education, children and families, community development)
  • Building relationships through Des Moines community networks where the Krauses are active
  • Connecting through mutual board members or trustees of organizations the Krauses already support

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on a rolling basis at trustee discretion rather than through formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - only preselected organizations receive funding.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates through preselected grantmaking, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that have received Krause family support share these characteristics:

Alignment with Krause Interests:

  • Strong focus on arts, culture, and education
  • Commitment to Greater Des Moines community impact
  • Programs serving children, families, and youth
  • Organizations promoting diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ rights

Community Standing:

  • Established, reputable Des Moines-area nonprofits
  • Organizations with strong governance and demonstrated impact
  • Institutions where the Krauses or their associates have board involvement

Values Alignment: Based on the Krause Group's corporate giving philosophy (10% of profits donated annually) and the breadth of organizations supported (134 charitable contributions in 2023), the Krauses value:

  • Broad community impact across multiple sectors
  • Excellence in arts and culture
  • Educational opportunity
  • Support for vulnerable populations (children, families, youth)

The foundation has supported organizations including Des Moines Art Center, Ballet Des Moines, Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Community Playhouse, Des Moines Performing Arts, Bravo Greater Des Moines, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, ChildServe, Children & Families of Iowa, and numerous other Des Moines-area nonprofits.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder - the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and makes all grants to preselected organizations
  • Relationship-driven philanthropy - access to funding requires existing relationships with the Krauses or their trusted networks in the Des Moines community
  • Arts and culture priority - the Krauses' 2023 Bravo Award and extensive arts board service demonstrate their deep commitment to cultural institutions
  • Des Moines focus - while the foundation has substantial assets ($110.4 million), giving is concentrated in the Greater Des Moines area where the Krauses live and work
  • Discretionary and flexible - with 42-49 grants distributed annually, the Krauses support a diverse portfolio of causes rather than concentrating on a narrow focus area
  • Long-term community commitment - the Krauses' recognition as 2010 Outstanding Individual Philanthropists and 2023 Bravo Award recipients demonstrates decades of sustained giving to Des Moines
  • Board connection matters - Kyle Krause's extensive board involvement suggests that organizations where he or Sharon serve may have stronger access to funding

References

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