Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust

OVERVIEW: The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust supports elementary and secondary education, higher education, medical and scientific research, youth services and recreation, and community libraries in Iowa and Northwest Illinois.

IP TAKE: Education and youth nonprofits throughout the state of Iowa should get familiar with this top Iowa funder because of its straightforward application process and sizable grants.

PROFILE: Established in 1987, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Muscatine, Iowa. Carver was a Muscatine industrialist and philanthropist who built his career with Carver Pump Company, Carver Foundry Products, and the Bandag Company. He was active in charitable efforts until his death in 1981 at the age of 71. The foundation “supports biomedical and scientific research, scholarships, and programs addressing the educational and recreational needs of youth.”

Grants for K-12 Education, Higher Education, Science Research, and Community Development

The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust supports kindergarten through high school education efforts that address literacy, science, and math. It funds both in-school and out-of-school-based programs for this demographic. Higher education grants support teaching and research in the natural sciences, as well as campus construction projects and scholarships. Medical and scientific research grants fund brain studies, nervous system, diseases, and structural biology studies. The foundation often supports the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, the University of Iowa, and Iowa State University. Youth and recreation grants benefit disadvantaged and disabled youth, with priority for projects in the Iowa counties of Muscatine, Cedar, Louisa, and Scott, and also the Illinois counties of Rock Island and Mercer. Carver has a grant program to support Iowa public libraries and also funds miscellaneous efforts in the Muscatine region, such as emergency disaster relief and natural environmental resources.

Past local grantees include Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities, Davenport Parks and Recreation, and Eldon Carnegie Public Library.

Important Grant Details

Grants range between about $10,000 and $1 million. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the recent grants page of the funder’s website. Grantmaking focuses on Iowa, especially Muscatine and the Quad Cities area, and also Northwestern Illinois.   

This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry from nonprofits. Carver requests that LOIs be submitted by mail or email before any formal request is submitted. LOIs are accepted throughout the year, and full proposal deadlines are the 15th of November, February, May, and August. Direct general questions to the staff at 563-263-4010 or via online form.

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