Well Told Grants

Foundations / Iowa

W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust

Preselected recipients only Creston, Iowa · EIN 866589915

W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust is a private foundation in Creston, Iowa. In tax year 2025 it gave $313,000 in 22 grants; the typical grant was $3,000 and the largest $128,200. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was up from $289,000 the year before.

41% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2024$289,00028$6.3 million
2025$313,00022$6.8 million

How to apply

W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 9 states, the most to Iowa.

StateGrantsAmount
Iowa14$238,700
Tennessee1$31,300
Missouri1$21,000
Arkansas1$10,000
South Dakota1$4,000
Kansas1$3,000
Texas1$3,000
California1$1,000
Nebraska1$1,000

Grants paid in 2025

All 22 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Southwestern Community College
Creston, IA
Scholarship$128,200
Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Scholarship$47,500
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Education of the learning disabled$31,300
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO
Scholarship$21,000
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
Scholarship$16,000
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Scholarship$15,000
Central College
Pella, IA
Scholarship$11,000
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR
Scholarship$10,000
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
Scholarship$4,000
Simpson College
Indianola, IA
Scholarship$4,000
Columbia College
Dubuque, IA
Scholarship$3,000
Des Moines University
West Des Moines, IA
Scholarship$3,000
Drake University
Des Moines, IA
Scholarship$3,000
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
Scholarship$3,000
Allen College
Waterloo, IA
Scholarship$3,000
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX
Scholarship$3,000
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, IA
Scholarship$2,000
Graceland University
Lamoni, IA
Scholarship$1,000
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, NE
Scholarship$1,000
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
Scholarship$1,000
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA
Scholarship$1,000
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA
Scholarship$1,000

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust give?

$313,000 in tax year 2025, across 22 grants, with a typical grant of $3,000.

Who runs W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust?

Its 2025 filing lists Iowa State Savings Bank (Trustee).

What does W D & Shirley Schafer-Ray Educational Trust fund?

Based on its grants, mainly education.

Similar foundations in Iowa