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Matt & Shanda Carstens Family Foundation

EIN 93-4482011 · Grimes, IA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE MIDWEST AND ADVANCE CHARITABLE PURPOSES BY SUPPORTING PUBLIC EDUCATION, EMPOWERING FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND ENSURING RURAL VITALITY.

Income
$192,424
Spending
$417,369
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
7

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 117% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $341,381 spent. THE ORGANIZATION SPENT $341,381 IN CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTUCTION-RELATED COSTS FOR THE BUIDING OF ITS PERFORNACE CENTER, AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY ON SCHEDULE O.
  2. $42,133 spent. THE ORGANIZATION MADE GRANTS TO 25 DIFFERENT CHARITABLE RECIPIENTS TOTALLING $42,133. MOST OF THE RECIPIENTS WERE MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
  3. $1,420 spent. THE ORGANIZATION MADE TRANSFER REIMBURSEMENTS FOR AMOUNTS PAID ON ITS BEHALF.
  4. PART III, LINE 4D: THE ORGANIZATION PAID $250.00 IN ACCOUNT FEES TO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DES MOINES, AND $36.00 IN MISCELLANEOUS FEES AND TAXES RELATED TO ITS EXEMPT ACTIVITIES. THE ORGANIZATION PAID $95 IN TRAVEL EXPENSES. PART III, LINE 3: AS NOTED ON ITS FORM 1023, THE ORGANIZATION PLANNED TO BUILD AN EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE CENTER DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, PROVIDE A COMMUNITY CENTER AND PROMOTE RURAL VITALITY IN IOWA. CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERFORMANCE CENTER HAD BEGUN IN 2023, BUT THE ORGANIZATIONS ZONING VARIANCE REQUEST FOR THE PERFORMANCE CENTER WAS DENIED BY THE POLK COUNTY, IOWA, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ON JANUARY 19, 2024. AS A RESULT, COMPLETION OF THE CONSTRUCTION WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND ABANDONED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.