Iowa Center for Economic Success
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE IOWA CENTER'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER IOWANS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO SUCCEED AS THEY PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS. THE IOWA CENTER ACHIEVES ITS MISSION BY DELIVERING THREE LINES OF DIRECT SERVICE THAT OPEN UP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AS A PATHWAY TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM: BUSINESS COACHING, CREDIT + LENDING, AND TAX SERVICES.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 52%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 163
- Highest pay
- $147,256, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 52% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $420,543 spent. THE IOWA CENTER OFFERS TWO TAX SERVICES PROGRAMS. THE STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHO GENERALLY EARN UP TO ABOUT $70,000. THE IOWA CENTER PROVIDES VITA SERVICES DIRECTLY AND ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING, OVERSIGHT AND COMPLIANCE TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE STATEWIDE ACCESS TO THIS SERVICE. THE IOWA CENTER ALSO PROVIDES TAX PREPARATION AND PLANNING SERVICES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE TAX SERVICES PAIRED WITH EDUCATION TO HELP IOWANS UNDERSTAND AND FULFILL THEIR TAX OBLIGATIONS, AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ACCESSING ALL OF THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO THEM UNDER THE TAX CODE.
- $366,291 spent. BUSINESS COACHING. THE IOWA CENTER PROVIDES SKILL-BASED COACHING RESOURCES IN BOTH THE CLASSROOM AND THE 1:1 SETTING TO BUILD KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE IN SMALL BUSINESS FUNDAMENTALS. THE IOWA CENTER IS ALSO HOME TO THE IOWA CENTER WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) WHICH IS PART OF THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION'S NATIONAL NETWORK OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
- $233,994 spent. CREDIT + LENDING. THE IOWA CENTER SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS WITH BUSINESS COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR BORROWERS PURSUING TRADITIONAL LENDING OPTIONS, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO ALTERNATIVE FLEXIBLE LENDING OPTIONS. CERTIFIED BY THE SBA AS A MICROLENDER, AND HOME TO THE IOWA CENTER LOAN FUND (ICLF), COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI), THE IOWA CENTER PROVIDES LOANS WITH FLEXIBLE UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AT EVERY STEP OF THE LOAN PROCESS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.