Richard O. Jacobson Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $8.8 million (2020)
Total Assets: $12.5 million (2020)
Grant Range: $50,000 - $1,100,000
Geographic Focus: Iowa, Midwest, and Pinellas County, Florida
Application Method: No formal deadline or application form

Contact Details

Grant Inquiries: BKD LLP 1401 50th Street, Suite 350 West Des Moines, IA 50266 Phone: (515) 223-0159

Main Office: 505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 321 Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: (515) 490-1617

For Memorial Donations: Richard O. Jacobson Foundation 4201 Westown Parkway, Suite 124 West Des Moines, IA 50266

Overview

The Richard O. Jacobson Foundation was established in 1976 by Richard Orrin "Dick" Jacobson, a distinguished businessman and philanthropist who founded Jacobson Warehouse Company in 1968 with $3,500 and two employees. The company grew to become one of the largest privately-owned warehouse organizations in the nation, The Jacobson Companies, with more than 9,000 employees and 194 locations. Following Jacobson's death in April 2016 at age 79, the foundation continues his philanthropic legacy. With total assets of $12.5 million and annual grant distributions of approximately $8.8 million (2020), the foundation has focused for more than 45 years on supporting education at all levels, youth development programs, and medical research. Richard Jacobson was recognized with the Iowa Award in 2012, the state's highest citizen award, and was named the 12th Most Generous Person of 2011 by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates with a streamlined approach, offering grants through direct contact rather than formal programs:

No formal grant programs - Awards determined by trustees on a case-by-case basis
Grant range: $50,000 - $1,100,000, with most grants falling in the $100,000 - $500,000 range
Application method: No deadline, no specific form required - contact BKD LLP to discuss potential funding

Priority Areas

Education (Primary Focus)

Primary and secondary education institutions
Higher education, particularly Iowa universities (University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Drake University, Grand View University)
Educational foundations and scholarship programs

Youth Development

Youth services organizations
Youth emergency services and shelters
Special Olympics programs
Junior Achievement programs

Medical Research and Healthcare

Pediatric specialty care
Cancer research and treatment facilities
Hospital infrastructure and patient care facilities
Medical research programs

Community Improvement

Science and educational centers
Community development organizations
Marine conservation and environmental education (Florida focus)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation restricts grants to "qualified institutions under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code," which typically means:

Grants are made only to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations
Individual grant requests are not accepted
For-profit entities are not eligible

Governance and Leadership

The foundation maintains a private governance structure with limited public information about current trustees. The foundation is administered through BKD LLP, a professional services firm that handles grant inquiries and foundation operations.

Richard O. Jacobson (1937-2016), Founder

University of Iowa Class of 1958
Founder and Chairman of Jacobson Companies
Co-founder of the I Have A Dream Foundation

Jacobson's philanthropic philosophy emphasized providing transformational support to organizations serving children and educational institutions. His approach was characterized by major, multi-year commitments rather than small, one-time grants. He was known to say his giving focused on "providing hope to disadvantaged schoolchildren" through mentorship and guaranteed college funding.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Richard O. Jacobson Foundation does not have a formal public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees.

To be considered for funding:

Contact BKD LLP at (515) 223-0159
There is no submission deadline and no specific application form
Prepare to discuss your organization's mission, programs, and funding needs
Be ready to provide standard nonprofit documentation (501(c)(3) status, financial statements, program descriptions)

The foundation has historically made grants through:

Trustee-initiated relationships
Direct outreach from organizations with established reputations
Long-term partnerships with major institutions
Personal connections to the founder's philanthropic interests

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's giving pattern suggests several specific approaches for organizations seeking to connect:

Geographic Connection: The foundation has strong ties to Des Moines and the broader Iowa community, as well as Clearwater/Pinellas County, Florida. Organizations serving these communities have received significant support.

University Connections: The University of Iowa has received multiple major gifts from the foundation, totaling more than $86 million during Jacobson's lifetime and through his foundation, including a transformational $70 million gift in 2022 (the largest in the university's 175-year history). Organizations with connections to Iowa educational institutions may find receptive audiences.

Youth-Serving Organizations: The foundation has consistently supported organizations including Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Homes of Mid-America, Youth Emergency Services and Shelter, and Special Olympics of Iowa. Organizations in these sectors with demonstrated impact may be well-positioned.

Major Medical Institutions: Beyond the foundation, Richard Jacobson personally gave $100 million to Mayo Clinic in 2010 for proton beam therapy, indicating strong interest in innovative medical treatment programs.

Decision Timeline

No specific timeline is publicly available. Given the foundation's governance structure and private nature, decision timelines likely vary significantly based on:

Relationship with the organization
Size and complexity of the request
Trustee meeting schedules

Based on the foundation's major gifts, transformational grants ($1 million+) may involve extended discussion and due diligence periods.

Success Rates

No public data is available on application success rates. The foundation made nine grants in recent reporting periods, suggesting a highly selective approach focused on significant, strategic investments rather than broad-based grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

No formal reapplication policy is published. However, the foundation's track record shows multi-year, ongoing relationships with key beneficiaries (particularly the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and major Iowa youth-serving organizations), suggesting that successful grantees maintain long-term partnerships.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private nature and lack of formal application process, success factors are drawn from publicly documented giving patterns:

Alignment with Founder's Values: Richard Jacobson focused on "providing hope to disadvantaged schoolchildren" and believed in "guaranteeing high school graduates a fully funded college education." Organizations demonstrating clear impact on educational access and youth opportunity align with these values.

Transformational vs. Incremental: The foundation's major gifts ($70 million to UI, $4.5 million for pediatric chairs, $1+ million gifts to various organizations) suggest preference for projects that create lasting, transformational change rather than supporting ongoing operations.

Iowa and Florida Geographic Focus: The vast majority of documented grants serve Iowa communities, with secondary focus on Pinellas County, Florida. Organizations outside these regions face significant barriers.

Established Institutions: Recipients include major universities, established youth-serving organizations, and recognized medical institutions. The foundation appears to favor organizations with proven track records and institutional stability.

Infrastructure and Capacity Building: Major gifts have supported building projects (University of Iowa patient care building), endowed chairs (pediatric specialists), and program expansion rather than general operating support.

Education at All Levels: The foundation has supported "primary, secondary, and higher education," demonstrating willingness to fund across the educational continuum, not just universities.

Medical Research and Innovation: Support for pediatric specialty care, cancer research, and proton beam therapy indicates interest in cutting-edge medical treatment and research programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - Success requires direct relationship-building with the foundation's administrators at BKD LLP or connections to the trustee network
Think big and transformational - The foundation makes relatively few grants but at significant levels ($100,000 - $1,100,000+); small grant requests unlikely to align with giving pattern
Geographic focus is critical - Iowa (especially Des Moines area) and Pinellas County, Florida are primary service areas; organizations outside these regions should carefully consider fit
Education and youth development are core - More than 45 years of consistent focus on these areas; organizations serving other causes should evaluate alignment carefully
Institutional credibility matters - Track record shows preference for established organizations with demonstrated impact rather than startup or emerging nonprofits
Multi-year partnerships are the norm - The University of Iowa received $86 million over multiple gifts; successful applicants should be prepared to cultivate long-term relationships
Infrastructure and innovation attract support - Building projects, endowed positions, and program expansion (rather than general operating support) characterize major grants

References

Richard O Jacobson Foundation - Cause IQ Profile - Accessed December 2024
Jacobson (Richard O.) Foundation, Inc. - Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center - Accessed December 2024
Richard O Jacobson Foundation Inc - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Accessed December 2024
The Richard O. Jacobson Foundation gives $4.5 million to improve pediatric specialty care - UI Health Care - Accessed December 2024
Richard O. Jacobson Foundation Gives $70 Million to Expand Health Care for Iowans - University of Iowa Center for Advancement - Accessed December 2024
DAA Awardee: Richard O. Jacobson - University of Iowa Center for Advancement - Accessed December 2024
Richard O. Jacobson, Iowa philanthropist, dies at 79 - Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier - Accessed December 2024
Richard Jacobson Obituary - Dignity Memorial - Accessed December 2024
Mayo Clinic Receives $100 Million Gift to Support Proton Beam Therapy Program - Accessed December 2024