The Wellmark Foundation

1331 Grand Avenue Station 4W526 - Des Moines - IA 50309, Iowa

Latest Filing: 2023

Total Assets: $68.75M

Total Giving: $4.18M

Grants: 35

Median Grant: $100,000

The Wellmark Foundation is a 990pf foundation in Iowa with assets of $69M.

2023 Summary

$68.75M

Total Assets

$4.18M

Funding Awarded

Grants Given

$100,000

Median Grant

$1.16M

Largest Grant

$10,000

Smallest Grant

2023 Recipients

Recipient	Award	Location	Purpose
Blues Care Giving Contributions	$1.16M	Des Moines, IOWA	See Attachment 2
Food Bank Of Iowa	$100,000	Des Moines, IOWA	Building Healthy Futures: Expand The Distribution Center.
Food Bank Of Iowa	$100,000	Des Moines, IOWA	In Our Commitment To The Vision Of A Hunger Free Iowa, Fboi Is Excited To Expand Existing School Pantry Programming Across Our Service Area By Offering A No Cost School Pantry To Every School That Wants One, Gradually Increasing Pantries Year Over Year. During The Pandemic, These Outlets Became A Central And Highly Effective Component Of Our Crisis Efforts Despite Frequent School Closures. Through This Project The Food Bank Of Iowa Will Partner With Iowa Schools To Operate School Pantries, Expanding Service By At Least 35 Sites (At Least 15 Will Be Rural) And Delivering Over 3.5 Million Pounds Of Food Assistance Over The Next Two Years, Allowing Children To Come To School Nourished, Ready To Learn And Reach Their Ultimate Potential.
Newbo City Market	$100,000	Cedar Rapids, IOWA	Expand Market To Be An Incubator For Entrepreneurs To Sell Fresh Produce. This Will Include A Fully Licensed Production Kitchen And Classrooms.
Ymca Of Washington Iowa	$100,000	Washington, IOWA	The Ymca Of Washington County Indoor Aquatic Center Will Be A 12,440 Square Foot Addition Onto The New Ymca Facility Built In 2020. The Indoor Aquatic Center Will Include A 3,500 Sq. Ft. 6 Lane Lap Pool, A 1,700 Sq. Ft. Recreational Pool, Whirlpool, Sauna And Spectator Seating Area. This Addition Will Also Include A Restroom, Office Space, Storage Space And Mechanical Rooms. The Indoor Aquatic Center Will Replace The 97 Year Old, 4 Lane, 20 Yard Pool That Has Served As The Only Indoor Public Pool For The Washington Community. This New Aquatic Center Will Continue The Legacy Of Decades Of Young Children Learning The Vital Skill Of Learning To Swim. It Will Also Ensure That Community Members Of All Ages Will Have Access To The Benefits Of Aquatic Exercise Year Round And Because This New Facility Will Be Ada Compliant People With All Abilities Will Have Access To This Form Of Low Impact Exercise.
Wesleylife Community Services Inc	$100,000	Johnston, IOWA	The Goals Of The So Much More Than Meals Campaign/Project Are: Acquire And Renovate The Building At 3206 University Avenue To Allow Increased Capacity For Meal Production And Intergenerational Social Interaction. Expand The Meals On Wheels Commercial Kitchen To Increase Meal Production Capacity From 1,000 Meals Per Day To 3,000 Meals Per Day. Improve The Nutritious Quality Of Meals By Creating An Indoor Vertical Garden.
The Cedar Falls Schools Foundation	$100,000	Cedar Falls, IOWA	This Project Is An Innovative Collaboration Between The Cedar Falls School District, City Of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa (Uni) And The Community To Build A Community Natatorium. The Natatorium Includes Two Separate Pools In One Building Adjacent To The New Cedar Falls High School. One Pool Is A 10 Lane, 25 Yard By 25 Meter, Deep Water Competition & Recreation Pool With Two 1 Meter Springboards. The Second Pool Is A 4 Lane, 25 Yard Shallower Teaching & Therapeutic Pool. The Smaller Pool Can Be Kept Warmer, Which Is Optimal For Toddler Swim Lessons, Seniors And For Special Needs And Therapeutic Programming. An Independent Entrance To The Facility Will Provide The Public With Access Throughout The School Day Expanding Programming 70 Hours Week. The Pool Design Includes Features Directly Benefiting Youth, Adults, Seniors & Special Needs Individuals.
Sioux Falls Skatepark Association	$100,000	Sioux Falls, SOUTH DAKOTA	A State Of The Art 22,000 Square Foot Concrete Skatepark At Nelson Park Near Downtown Sioux Falls. We Estimate That Approximately 65% Of Impoverished Youth In Our City Live Within A 1 Mile Radius Of The Park. It Will Have Areas For Participants Of All Skill Levels And Include A 3 Tiered Bowl, Several Quarter Pipes, Ramps, Rails And Ledges. The Park Will Be Lit And Available From 7 Am To 10 Pm Daily. It Will Be Free To The Public. Statistics Indicate That Our City Could Have As Many As 2,500 Kids That Are Interested In Skateboarding.
Polk County Conservation	$100,000	Granger, IOWA	Driven By Community Members, Government Leaders, Local Corporations, And Iowa Based Nonprofits, The Easter Lake North Shore Capital Campaign Will Help Complete The Transformation Of Easter Lake Park Into An All Inclusive Recreational Hub For Individuals Of All Ages And Abilities. Plans For Improvement Include A Beach Walkway And Zero Entry Dock, Accessible Canoe/Kayak Launch, Swimming Beach Expansion, Adaptive Pontoon Fishing Boat And Garage, Inclusive Natural Playscape, Beach Concessions, And Space For Environmental Education. Each Improvement Has Been Thoughtfully Considered With A Goal Of Making Recreation And Wellness Accessible To All Iowans And Visitors To Greater Des Moines. Funding Will Be Used To Construct An Accessible Beach Walkway Providing Water Access To Individuals Of All Ages And Abilities For Physical Activities Like Swimming, Water Aerobics, Canoeing, And Kayaking.
Nahant Marsh Education Center	$100,000	Davenport, IOWA	Nahant Marsh Education Center, Located In Southwest Davenport, Ia Will Construct A 0.5 Mile Paved Connector Trail, A 0.75 Mile Hiking Trail, And Related Amenities. This Project Will Be The First Phase In A Larger Project That Will Ultimately Connect The Mississippi River Trail/American Discovery Trail (Mrt/Adt) To Nahant Marsh And To Southwest Davenport Neighborhoods And Will Allow For Future Creation Of A 6 7 Mile Trail Network Around The Nahant Marsh Preserve. The Purpose Of Phase I Of This Project (This Proposal) Is To Provide A Safe, Off Road, Route From The Mrt/Adt To Nahant Marsh. The Other Purpose Is To Facilitate More Physical Activity By Providing More And Better Access To Hiking And Biking, Especially For Those Who Live And Visit Southwest Davenport.
Jasper County Conservation	$100,000	Newton, IOWA	The Red Rock Prairie Trail Corridor Rail Line Was Established In The Late 1800 S. It Is Comprised Of A Rock Ballast Fill Approximately 12 Feet In Width. Jasper County Conservation Purchased The Rail Bed Easement In 2016. The Rails And Ties Have All Been Removed And The Area Has Been Seeded With Both Warm And Cool Season Grasses. When Completed, This Trail Corridor Will Be A Vital Link In The Volksweg Trail From The Pella/Red Rock Area To Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Near Prairie City To Mitchellville, And Eventually To The Des Moines Metro Area. This Phase Of This Project Will Focus Upon The Development Of 7 Miles Of Bicycle And Pedestrian Improvements On The Railbed From The Edge Of Prairie City Near Commerce Drive To The End Of The Rail Line At The Edge Of The Town Of Mitchellville At Ne 116 Th St. This Will Complete The 16.35 Mile Trail Linking Monroe, Prairie City, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge And Mitchellville.
Herreid Area Housing Development Inc	$100,000	Herreid, SOUTH DAKOTA	Herreid Pool Improvement Project. The Planned Improvements Include Replacing The Existing 300 Square Feet Step In Wading Pool With A Zero Depth Entry Pool With Various Pool Spraying Equipment And A Signature Dump Bucket. Also Planned Is A New Ada Bathhouse Complete With Additional Storage For Pool Chemicals, A Mechanical Room, And Public Restrooms That Are Accessible To Individuals Who Are Using The Karl Deibert City Park And Playground, Which Is Adjacent To The Pool. Main Pool Improvements Include: Adding A New Diving Board To Address Safety Concerns, Update The Slide With A Commercial Grade Slide With Landing Pad, A New Pool Heater That Will Service Both Pools, All New Pool Deck With Pool Markings, Safety Perimeter Fencing, New Chairs, And Sunshades. The Proposal Also Includes Upgrades To The Parking Lot For Handicap Accessibility Including Signs And A Sidewalk Ramp For Ease Of Access. Including Signs And A Sidewalk Ramp For Ease Of Access.
Friends Of Lacey Keosauqua State Park	$100,000	Keosauqua, IOWA	Lacey Keosauqua State Park Provides A Campground That Is Located Approximately One Half Mile Away From The Cabins, Beach, Beach House And Lodge. With The Increase In Outdoor Recreational Activities At The Park, Friends Of Lacey Would Like To Build A Separate Walking/Biking Trail Along This Route To Enable The Bikers, Hikers And Walkers To Access The Various Amenities Along This Route Safely. This Trail Would Be 10' Wide And 1/3 Mile In Length And Will Take The Bikers, Hikers And Walkers Past The Park Office, The Bust Statue Of John F. Lacey And The Park Bird Blind, All The Way Down To The Beach House, Lake And Lodge. Currently, There Are Approximately 6,000 Campers Per Year That Travel This Roadway And An Additional 1,000 Hikers.
Davis County Trails Council	$100,000	Bloomfield, IOWA	The Davis County Trails Council Is Constructing The Phase 4 A Of The Trail. This Section Of Trail Travels Around Two Local Ponds, Through A Timber Area And Back Around The New Baseball And Softball Fields Located In The New Sports Complex On The West Side Of Town. Phase 4 A Trail Is Located Directly Next To The Davis County Fairgrounds, Which Holds Events Throughout The Year For People Of All Ages And Abilities. The Trail Goes Directly Adjacent To Available Campgrounds And Can Provide Safe Ways To Enjoy The Outdoors And Exercise. There Are Several Events Throughout The Year That Involve Camping, Two In Particular Are The Music Festival And Davis County Fair. This Trail Is An Excellent Way To Incorporate Some Outdoor Exercise Without Worrying About The Many Cars, Trucks, Campers And Trailers That Are Constantly Moving Around The Grounds. This Trail Will Also Provide A Safe Way To Walk Between The Fairgrounds And The New Sports Complex Without Having To Walk On The Old Highway 2.
City Of Winterset	$100,000	Winterset, IOWA	Winterset Park And Recreation Has Commissioned The Design Of A Large All Inclusive Playground At Winterset City Park Through A Request For Proposals (Rfp) Process To Replace The Current Playground Structure Due To The Current Age And Deteriorating Condition. Winterset City Park Is 76 Acres Of Wide Ranging Landscapes At The Southeast Corner Of The City, 8 Blocks From Downtown. The Park Receives 120,000+ Visitors Annually From All Over The Iowa And Beyond. The Visitors Enjoy Playgrounds, One Of The Famous Covered Bridges, Iowa's Only Hedge Maze, Natural Trails In Thick Urban Timber, A Modern Campground, Beautiful Historic Limestone Open Shelters, And The Famous Clark Tower. Two Major Playgrounds Are Found In The Park. One Of Them, The "South Playground," Is Small And Aging. The Plan Is To Remove The Aging Playground And Replace It With A $1 Million All Inclusive Playground, Of Which People With All Abilities Can Enjoy Together As One.
Black Hills Works Inc	$100,000	Rapid City, SOUTH DAKOTA	Black Hills Works Is Joining The Rapid City Special Olympics Youth Team And Rapid City Parks & Recreation To Make Our Shared Vision Of Permanent, Regulation Sized Bocce Ball Courts A Reality. Bocce Ball Has Become A Very Popular Sport With Special Olympics And Is Growing Quickly With All Populations In The United States. We Have Worked With One Of The Only Bocce Ball Court Builders In The U.S. To Design And Plan Our Bocce Court. It Will Consist Of Twelve Bocce Courts, Which Are 12 Feet By 60 Feet Each. The Rapid City Flame Special Olympics Team Leaders Have Worked Closely With Rapid City Parks To Identify The Best Location For The Courts. The City Of Rapid City Has Been Very Supportive Of This Project Throughout And Is Excited To Bring Bocce Ball To Its Citizens.
Carroll County Conservation Board	$100,000	Carroll, IOWA	This Project Involves Resurfacing 6.2 Miles Of The Sauk Rail Trail From Swan Lake Up To Maple River. The Sauk Rail Trail Is A 33 Mile Multi Use Trail That Runs From Swan Lake State Park Near Carroll To Black Hawk State Park In Lake View. It Is The Only Trail System In The State Of Iowa That Connects Two State Parks. When The Trail Was Originally Constructed In The 1980 S And Early 1990 S, The Loop Around Swan Lake And Then Up To Maple River Was Built Using Asphalt. The Section From Maple River North Was Just Crushed Limestone Originally. In 2007/2008, The 11 Mile Section From Maple River To Carnarvon Was Paved To Concrete. In 2015, The 3.8 Mile Loop Around Swan Lake Was Resurfaced To Concrete. The Remaining 6.2 Miles Between Swan Lake And Maple River Is Still The Original Asphalt Trail. This Project Would Involve Resurfacing This Segment Of Trail With A New Concrete Surface. Once Complete, The Entire 33 Mile Sauk Rail Trail Will Be Concrete.
Casey Service Club Inc	$100,000	Casey, IOWA	The Casey Service Club Is Seeking Funding To Assist With The Installation Of A Handicapped Accessible, Paved Recreational Walking/Biking Path To Follow Loosely Around The Perimeter Of The City's Abram Rutt Park. The Proposed Path Will Be Approximately .4 Miles Long And 6 Feet Wide. Once Complete, The Project Will Showcase The Park's Gentle Rolling Hills, Which Will Add To The Aesthetics Of The Space And Ultimately Attract More Visitors To The Community. The Project Will Include Grading Of The Park To Protect The Path From Flooding During Periods Of Heavy Rain, Will Feature Concrete Benches At Strategic Locations Along The Trail, And Will Serve As A Catalyst For Future Improvements In The Park.
City Of Burlington	$100,000	Burlington, IOWA	The Dankwardt Park Playground Project Will Replace The Existing Outdated And Deteriorating Playground With A New, Accessible And Inclusive Large Scale Playground That Will Provide Safe, Fun And Challenging Play For All Ages And Abilities. In Addition To The New Playground And Play Elements, The Entire Site Will Be Upgraded With New Accessible Parking, Sidewalk Connections Around The Site And To A Recently Refurbished Restroom, Seating, Lighting, Bike Racks, Drinking Fountains, Landscaping, And Interpretive Signage.
City Of Laurens	$100,000	Laurens, IOWA	The Laurens Pool Project Will Finance A New Swimming Pool At A Local City Park And Will Be A 3,083 Square Foot Concrete Pool Vessel With A Zero Depth Entry. There Will Be Five 25 Yard Swimming Lanes, A 1 Meter Diving Tower Over A 12 Foot Diving Depth And Pool Stairs For Accessibility. Pool Patron Capacity Will Be 168 Patrons. A New, Energy Efficient Bathhouse And Concession Stand Will Round Out The New Facility. Parking Will Remain Where It Currently Exists. The Pool Will Be Located In A City Park Near Other City Amenities. The Pool Will Be Used For General Swimming, Swim Team Practices And Meets And Separate Adult Swimming Time.
... and 15 more recipients.

$575,000

$3,601,564

State

Total

IA

Iowa

$3,601,564
SD

South Dakota

$575,000

Contacts

Name	Phone	Title
CHRISTA KUENNEN	5153765066	TREASURER
CHRISTA KUENNEN		Signing Officer

Historical Financials

Year	Total Assets	Total Giving	Grants	Median Grant	Max Grant	Min Grant
2023	$68,745,360	$4,176,564	35	$100,000	$1,164,048	$10,000
2022	$84,611,630	$3,934,034	54	$25,000	$1,413,890	$5,000
2021	$81,030,470	$4,091,238	1	$4,091,238	$4,091,238	$4,091,238