Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation
Historical FunderCedar Falls, Iowa · EIN 42-1460664 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$2.2M
Organizations funded125
Typical grant$16,000
Total assets$49.9M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $6,500 and $30,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | MAX HELEN GUERNSEY CHARITABLE FOUND |
|---|---|
| Address | 3826 CEDAR HEIGHTS DRIVE STE 1, CEDAR FALLS IA 50613 |
| Phone | 3192263434 |
| Form and materials | APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING IDENTIFYING THE PURPOSE AND AMOUNT REQUESTED. THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PROOF OF 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION STATUS OR VERIFICATION THAT THE ORGANIZATION WILL USE THE FUNDS EXCLUSIVELY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES OR AS OTHERWISE DESCRIBED IN IRC SECTION 170(C)(1). |
| Deadlines | NONE |
| Restrictions | ALL AWARDS MUST BE TO CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY, OR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF IRC SECTION 501(C)(3) OR EXCLUSIVELY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES OR AS OTHERWISE DESCRIBED IN IRC SECTION 170(C)(1). |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
3% of grants went outside Iowa.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Valley Preschool & Childcare Center | Cedar Falls, IA | Building bright futures program | $35,000 |
| City of Tama | Tama, IA | Capital for safe routes to school network | $35,000 |
| Successlink Inc | Waterloo, IA | Together 4 youth programming | $35,000 |
| Transformations by Cedar Valley Angels | Waterloo, IA | Dare to dream & love box programs | $35,000 |
| Uni Foundation | Cedar Falls, IA | Kaleidoscope, theatre 4 very young, talent search series pgms | $33,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Cedar Valley | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Bremer County Fair Association | Sumner, IA | Capital - 4h/ffa youth enrichment center | $30,000 |
| Cedar Bend Humane Society | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Cedar Valley Friends of the Family | Waterloo, IA | Housing stability program | $30,000 |
| Cedar Valley Hospice Inc | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Christian Community Dev Dba House of Hope | Waterloo, IA | Operating expenses | $30,000 |
| City of Waterloo | Waterloo, IA | Capital - gates/byrnes park construction | $30,000 |
| City of Waucoma | Waucoma, IA | Capital - new fire station | $30,000 |
| City of Wellsburg | Wellsburg, IA | Capital - playground equipment | $30,000 |
| Dunkerton Historical Society | Dunkerton, IA | Capital - museum construction | $30,000 |
| Friends of National Cattle Congress | Waterloo, IA | Program discovery | $30,000 |
| Grin & Grow Ltd | Waterloo, IA | Program expenses - gap funding for low income families | $30,000 |
| Grout Museum Inc | Waterloo, IA | Educational programming | $30,000 |
| Hawkeye Community College Foundation | Waterloo, IA | Hawkeye celebrates the arts! program | $30,000 |
| Inrcog | Waterloo, IA | Waterloo housing trust fund project | $30,000 |
| Iowa Heartland Habitiat for Humanity | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Jesup Elementary PTO | Jesup, IA | Capital for elementary school playground | $30,000 |
| Marching Against the Darkness | Waterloo, IA | Programming - 2025 expo & competition | $30,000 |
| Northeast Iowa Food Bank | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Riverview Center Inc | Dubuque, IA | Crisis intervention program | $30,000 |
| Riyo Refugee & Immigrant & Youth Organization | Waterloo, IA | Refugee & immigrant youth programming | $30,000 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities | Iowa City, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Salvation Army | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $30,000 |
| Simulation in Motion Iowa | Iowa City, IA | Programming support | $30,000 |
| St Lucas Firefighters Association Inc | St Lucas, IA | Capital for new equipment | $30,000 |
| Vision to Learn | Los Angeles, CA | Operating support - vision care for bh county students | $30,000 |
| Waterloo Community Foundation | Waterloo, IA | Koats 4 kids program | $30,000 |
| Waterloo Community Playhouse | Waterloo, IA | 2025 season of searching program | $30,000 |
| Waypoint Services | Cedar Rapids, IA | Domestic violence victim services program | $30,000 |
| Youth Art Team | Waterloo, IA | Operating support & staff development | $30,000 |
| YWCA of Black Hawk County | Waterloo, IA | Youth & family services programming | $30,000 |
| All in Mentoring | Waverly, IA | Mentoring program | $25,000 |
| Americans for Independent Living | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Back 2 Basics | Waterloo, IA | Youth empowerment program | $25,000 |
| Cedar Falls Community Theatre | Cedar Falls, IA | Trustee option - capital improvements | $25,000 |
| Cedar Falls Community Theatre | Cedar Falls, IA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Waterloo, IA | Legal svcs for families with children program | $25,000 |
| Little Iron Mom | Cedar Falls, IA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Lutheran Services in Iowa | Des Moines, IA | Early childhood programming | $25,000 |
| North Star Community Services | Waterloo, IA | Adult day care programming | $25,000 |
| Pgc Outreach Dba Cv Thrift & Outreach | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Rise Ltd | Elkader, IA | Capital for oelwein day habilitation | $25,000 |
| The Center of Attention | Waterloo, IA | Women's transitional recovery housing program | $25,000 |
| The Larrabee Center Inc | Waverly, IA | Employment support services program | $25,000 |
| Try Pie | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $25,000 |
| Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens | Waterloo, IA | Operating support | $20,000 |
| Dysart Pickleball Organization | Dysart, IA | Capital - construction of pickleball courts | $20,000 |
| Family Crisis Centers Inc | Sioux Center, IA | Operating support - victim service call center | $20,000 |
| Hansen Elementary PTA | Cedar Falls, IA | Capital for playground expansion | $20,000 |
| Operation Threshold | Waterloo, IA | Parents as teachers program | $20,000 |
| Waterloo Community Foundation | Waterloo, IA | I believe leadership & sports academy program | $20,000 |
| Waverly Childcare & Preschool | Waverly, IA | Capital for playground equipment | $20,000 |
| Waterloo Community Schools Foundation | Waterloo, CA | Camp invention program | $18,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Ia & Western Illinois | Waterloo, IA | Leadership & life skills program | $17,500 |
Showing the 60 largest of 125 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,186,400 | 125 |
| 2023 | $2,560,800 | 136 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 7, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202533119349100013
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 42-1460664
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.