Richard O Jacobson Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The filing describes the foundation's support as wide-ranging and directed to medical, humanitarian and educational programmes, so a charity working in one of these areas has a fair basis to approach it, though no narrower priorities are set out.
- Only qualified institutions under section 170 of the Code are eligible, so confirm that status first.
- Half of its seven grants to organisations across its last three filings were $200,000 or less, so a modest request fits best; its typical grants have run from $10,000 to $4,000,000, and that top figure is not a ceiling.
- The filing gives no deadlines and says applicants may use any form, so a short letter describing the work and the amount sought is a sensible first step, and its most recent filing shows none of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two earlier filings.
- Its grants are mainly in Iowa and Florida, but that is a pattern in the filings rather than a stated geographic limit.
Overview
Richard O Jacobson 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 (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (mayomagazine.mayoclinic.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its support as wide-ranging and directed to medical, humanitarian and educational programmes. Its founder says its work is about changing lives and that it works with organisations that help the most people in the most effective way. Its application information limits awards to qualified institutions under section 170 of the Code. The returns record contributions to charitable organisations; they give no further description of the purposes. The sources reviewed do not set out a narrower list of issue priorities or a geographic policy.
Themes
- Medical programmes
- Humanitarian programmes
- Educational programmes
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Iowa and Florida.
How to apply
The filing says applicants may use any form.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, none 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 7 grants to organisations were $200,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation says it works with organisations that help the most people in the most effective way. (as reported in other published sources)
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 84% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 0% of grant dollars went to organisations Richard O Jacobson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Build a Better Belmond · Contribution$200,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Will J Hoekman — Secretary
- Mark N Larson — Treasurer
- Carlton T King — Vice President
- Bruce L Rastetter — Chairman & CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,245,064 | $4,218,000 | $22,083,260 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $384,397 | $370,125 | $66,699,452 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $277,782 | $200,000 | $69,165,825 | 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.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Richard O Jacobson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (515) 490-1617
- Des Moines, IA
Applying to Richard O Jacobson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (515) 490-1617
- Des Moines, IA