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Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$10.9M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.7M
Decision Time
7mo

Charles E Lakin Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10.9 million (typical year); $27.7 million (2024 with major initiative)
  • Total Assets: $135 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $1,700,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Number of Grants: Approximately 81 grants annually
  • Geographic Focus: Southwest Iowa (Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page counties) and Greater Omaha area (Douglas and Sarpy counties, Nebraska)

Contact Details

Address: 705 N. 16th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: 712-256-5580
Email: grants@lakinfdn.org
Website: https://www.lakinfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1983 by Charles E. Lakin and rededicated in 2016 following his death, the Charles E. Lakin Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation with approximately $135 million in assets. The foundation was restructured in 2016 with a six-member Board of Directors composed of four family members and two local community champions. From 1995 to 2022, the foundation awarded $70 million across 130 grants to 71 nonprofit organizations. The foundation's mission is to fund programs and organizations in Southwest Iowa and Greater Omaha that help people in need overcome adversity, restore dignity, and ultimately transform their lives. In 2024, the foundation made headlines with a $165 million grant to the Community Foundation for Western Iowa to support the Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative, aimed at reversing economic decline in 51 rural communities through investments in housing, childcare, education, and community development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with two grant cycles per year. Grant invitations are extended in December and June, with funding distributed six months later. The foundation has shifted from an open application process to strategically funding a select group of grantees for longer project periods at higher dollar amounts.

Typical Grant Range: $500 - $1,700,000
Median Grant: $25,000

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three core areas:

  1. Children and Families ($35 million allocated 1995-2022): Supporting assistance to children and families in crisis or need, including emergency shelter services, family support programs, and child welfare initiatives.

  2. Education and Training ($23 million allocated 1995-2022): Providing scholarships, school support, teacher resources, workforce development, and educational research funding.

  3. Economic Resilience ($12 million allocated 1995-2022): Helping citizens overcome adversity and achieve self-sufficiency through job training, housing support, food security, and economic development.

Recent Major Grant Recipients (2023):

  • Avenue Scholars Foundation: $1.7 million
  • Boys & Girls Club (Council Bluffs): $1.1 million
  • Southwest Iowa Family Services Inc: $880,000
  • Micah House Corporation: $762,000
  • African American Empowerment Network Inc: $523,000

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not support:

  • Startup organizations (new nonprofits without track record)
  • Government entities
  • Broad-based public institutions (hospitals, universities, museums)
  • Endowments
  • Arts and culture programs
  • Political or lobbying activities
  • Religious denomination projects
  • Individual grants or scholarships to individuals
  • Fundraising events

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Current Board Members:

  • Steve Wild – President; Investment Committee Chair (Missouri Valley, IA)
  • John Hoich – Vice-President (Valley, NE)
  • Tina Garland – Treasurer
  • Jennifer Green – Secretary; Operations & Grants Manager
  • Robyn Ritsch – Director (Eagle, CO)
  • Cliff Roberts – Director (Arlington, VA)
  • David Gorgani – Director (San Francisco, CA)
  • Chuck Lakin – Director (Yuma, AZ)

Founders

Charles E. Lakin (1921-2016) and Florence M. Lakin (1920-2016): Married for 78 years, the couple donated approximately $26 million during their lifetime. Charles personally made all grant decisions from the foundation's inception until his death in 2016.

Foundation Philosophy

According to the foundation: "Our success isn't measured in terms of wealth or profit margin, but by the outcomes of our contributions to making the community a better place."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Charles E. Lakin Foundation does not have an open application process. Proposals are accepted by invitation only. The foundation proactively seeks grantmaking opportunities by identifying organizations or programs that target specific issues of strategic interest.

Letter of Inquiry Option: Organizations not yet invited to apply may submit a brief letter of inquiry via email (grants@lakinfdn.org) or mail that includes:

  • Organization description
  • Project details and purpose
  • Requested funding amount
  • Project timeline
  • Organization's website address

The foundation emphasizes that the letter should be brief and focused on these key elements.

Eligibility Requirements

Required:

  • Current 501(c)(3) IRS tax-exempt status
  • Project location within the foundation's service area (six Iowa counties: Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page; two Nebraska counties: Douglas, Sarpy)
  • Mission alignment with one or more of the three core focus areas

Decision Timeline

  • Grant Cycles: Two cycles annually
  • Invitation Timeline: Grant invitations extended in December and June
  • Funding Timeline: Funding distributed six months after invitation
  • The foundation also addresses major community emergencies outside of regular grant cycles

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model, reapplication depends on receiving a new invitation from the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Approach

The foundation's shift to an invitation-only model reflects a strategic decision to "fund a select group of grantees for longer project periods at higher dollar amounts" rather than making many smaller grants. This suggests the foundation values:

  1. Deeper partnerships over broad distribution: Multi-year funding relationships rather than one-time grants
  2. Proactive identification: The foundation identifies organizations aligned with strategic priorities rather than responding to general applications
  3. Significant impact potential: Projects that can demonstrate transformational outcomes rather than incremental improvements

Geographic Alignment is Critical

The foundation serves a specific geographic footprint—six Iowa counties and two Nebraska counties. Organizations outside this service area will not be considered, regardless of mission alignment.

Human Services Focus

All funding falls under the umbrella of human services. The foundation's three core areas—Children and Families, Education and Training, and Economic Resilience—all focus on helping people overcome adversity and achieve self-sufficiency. Programs should demonstrate clear pathways to improving individual and family outcomes.

Evidence of Organizational Capacity

The foundation's explicit exclusion of "startup organizations" indicates they seek established nonprofits with proven track records. Organizations should be able to demonstrate organizational stability, financial management capacity, and previous success in program delivery.

Long-Term Community Impact

The foundation's $165 million Revitalize Southwest Iowa Initiative demonstrates commitment to systemic, long-term community change. While not all grants will be at this scale, the foundation appears to value projects that address root causes and create sustainable community improvements.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: This is not a foundation for unsolicited proposals. Submit a brief, focused letter of inquiry if your organization is not yet on their radar, but understand that most funding goes to identified strategic partners.
  • Geographic restrictions are absolute: Only organizations serving the six Iowa counties (Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page) and two Nebraska counties (Douglas, Sarpy) will be considered.
  • Human services is the singular focus: Despite three program areas, all funding supports human services that help people overcome adversity. Arts, culture, academic research, and institutional support are outside scope.
  • Established organizations preferred: The exclusion of startups and preference for "longer project periods at higher dollar amounts" suggests the foundation seeks stable, proven partners capable of managing substantial multi-year grants.
  • Mission alignment over sector: The foundation funds across diverse sectors (education, housing, workforce development, family services) united by the common thread of helping people achieve dignity and self-sufficiency.
  • Scale matters: With median grants of $25,000 but grants reaching $1.7 million, the foundation appears to match grant size to project scope and organizational capacity.
  • Community embeddedness: The foundation's leadership includes local community champions and focuses exclusively on Southwest Iowa and Greater Omaha, suggesting they value organizations deeply embedded in and accountable to local communities.

References

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