What is the EIN of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION?

The employer identification number (EIN) of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION is 42-1376689.

Is IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1992.

Are donations to IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

When is the next return of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending October 31, 2026) is due March 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended October 2025.

Who is the principal officer of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION?

The 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 names Peter Cownie.

Who are the officers and directors of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION?

The 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 lists 18 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $247,895 (Peter Cownie, Executive Director).

How much revenue does IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION have?

On its 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,057,376, expenses of $10,272,141 and total assets of $23,827,268 at year end.

Nonprofit · EIN 42-1376689

IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION

Also known as DBA BLUE RIBBON FOUNDATION

Tax-exempt · DES MOINES, IA 50317

Financials

Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end

Financials of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year ended	Form	Revenue	Expenses	Net income	Total assets	Liabilities	Net assets
October 31, 2025	990	$7,057,376	$10,272,141	-$3,214,765	$23,827,268	$3,139,864	$20,687,404
October 31, 2024	990	$14,814,061	$6,456,735	$8,357,326	$26,349,924	$2,454,155	$23,895,769
October 31, 2023	990	$5,319,602	$6,481,287	-$1,161,685	$22,677,711	$7,139,268	$15,538,443
October 31, 2021	990	$3,626,337	$5,608,672	-$1,982,335	$11,154,654	$1,678,445	$9,476,209

Financial details: 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants: $4,418,811
Program service revenue: $0
Investment income: $580,116
Net income from fundraising events: $817,423
Net income from sales of inventory: $1,241,026
Other revenue: $2,058,449

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid: $6,652,331
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees: $459,104
Other salaries and wages: $212,289
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total): $671,393
Professional fundraising fees: $0
Legal fees: $4,655
Accounting fees: $5,800
Program services (functional): $7,841,698
Management and general (functional): $1,199,824
Fundraising (functional): $1,230,619

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year: $26,349,924
Total assets, end of year: $23,827,268
Total liabilities, end of year: $3,139,864
Net assets, end of year: $20,687,404
Gross unrelated business income: $14,695
Gross receipts: $7,057,376
Employees: 15
Volunteers: 700
Year formed: 1991
State of legal domicile: IA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Name	Title	Hours / week	Compensation	Other / benefits
Peter Cownie	Executive Director Trustee or director, Highest-paid employee	40	$247,895	$47,939
Robin Taylor	Assistant Director Trustee or director, Key employee	40	$130,809	$32,460
Jo Reynolds	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Tennie Carlson	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Darwin Gaudian	President Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Alan Brown	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Jared Horning	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Curtis Claeys	Vice President Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0
John Harms	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Deb Zumbach	Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0
Randy Brown	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
VerDon Schmidt	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
CW Thomas	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Danny Olson	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Kim Reynolds	Governor Trustee or director	0	$0	$0

3 more people on this return

Name	Title	Compensation
Michael Naig	Secretary of Agriculture Trustee or director	$0
Wendy Wintersteen	President of Iowa State University Trustee or director	$0
Jeremy Parson	Secretary Trustee or director, Officer	$0

990 for the year ended October 31, 2024: 18 people

Name	Title	Hours / week	Compensation	Other / benefits
Peter Cownie	Executive Director Trustee or director, Highest-paid employee	40	$235,194	$46,186
Robin Taylor	Assistant Director Trustee or director, Key employee	40	$91,949	$22,680
Jo Reynolds	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Tennie Carlson	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Darwin Gaudian	President Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0
Alan Brown	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Gary McConnel	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Curtis Claeys	Vice President Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0
John Harms	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Deb Zumbach	Secretary Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0
Randy Brown	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
VerDon Schmidt	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
CW Thomas	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Gary Van Aernam	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Kim Reynolds	Governor Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Michael Naig	Secretary of Agriculture Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Wendy Wintersteen	President of Iowa State University Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Jeremy Parson	Secretary Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0

990 for the year ended October 31, 2023: 18 people

Name	Title	Hours / week	Compensation	Other / benefits
Peter Cownie	Executive Director Trustee or director, Highest-paid employee	40	$219,172	$44,880
Robin Taylor	Assistant Director Trustee or director, Key employee	40	$86,853	$31,162
Jo Reynolds	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Tennie Carlson	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Darwin Gaudian	President Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0
Alan Brown	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Gary McConnel	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Curtis Claeys	Vice President Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0
John Harms	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Deb Zumbach	Secretary Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Randy Brown	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
VerDon Schmidt	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
CW Thomas	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Gary Van Aernam	Director Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Kim Reynolds	Governor Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Michael Naig	Secretary of Agriculture Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Wendy Wintersteen	President of Iowa State University Trustee or director	0	$0	$0
Jeremy Parson	Secretary Trustee or director, Officer	0	$0	$0

990 for the year ended October 31, 2021: 18 people

Name	Title	Hours / week	Compensation	Other / benefits
Peter Cownie	Executive Director Trustee or director, Key employee, Highest-paid employee	40	$190,933	$39,382
Robin Taylor	Assistant Director Highest-paid employee	40	$75,796	$27,100
Dave Hoffman	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Tennie Carlson	President Trustee or director, Officer	1	$0	$0
Darwin Gaudian	Vice President Trustee or director, Officer	1	$0	$0
Alan Brown	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Gary McConnel	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Curtis Claeys	Treasurer Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
John Harms	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Deb Zumbach	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Randy Brown	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Jerry Parkin	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
CW Thomas	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Gary Van Aernam	Director Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Kim Reynolds	Governor Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Michael Naig	Secretary of Agriculture Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Wendy Wintersteen	President of Iowa State University Trustee or director	1	$0	$0
Gary Slater	Secretary Trustee or director	1	$0	$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file): PO BOX 57130, DES MOINES, IA 50317-0003
In care of: % JESSICA BUCHHEIT
Principal officer (990 for 2024): Peter Cownie, PO Box 57130, Des Moines, IA 50317
Signed the 990: Peter Cownie, Executive Director
Phone: (515) 262-3111
Website: www.blueribbonfoundation.org
Return prepared by: Brick Gentry PC

Mission

Raise funds for renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds by soliciting gifts, donations, bequests and grants to help finance infrastructure projects to guarantee the Fair continues to be Iowa's great celebration, a salute to the state's best in ag, industry, entertainment and achievement.
990 for the year ended October 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

The Shivers Plaza was developed to revitalize an underused area at the fairgrounds. The space features open seating, thoughtful landscaping, a new restroom facility and convenient access to nearby concession stands.
Expenses $1,058,522
Development of the Fun Forest Playground which is a one and a half acre wooded children's play area featuring a fully accessible, sensory-friendly space with ramps, smooth stable surfaces and an agricultural-heritage theme which hosts daily children's entertainment and weekday activities
Expenses $421,286
Displays for 4H Building
Expenses $202,563
The top program service project expenses were itemized pursuant to instruction. The remaining program service expenditures consisted of promotion and advertising expense and smaller renovation and maintenance expense to the State Fairgrounds. See Part IX for an itemization of other program services expenditures
Expenses $6,159,327

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in October, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax year	Year ended	Due	IRS public records
2024	October 31, 2025	March 16, 2026	990 on file
2023	October 31, 2024	March 17, 2025	990 on file
2022	October 31, 2023	March 15, 2024	990 on file

IRS record

EIN: 42-1376689
Tax-exempt status: 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status: Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78): Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since: 1992
Accounting year ends: October
Files: Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE): Recreation and sports (N520)
Assets (IRS master file): $23,827,268
Income (IRS master file): $7,057,376

Filing history

Form	Year ended	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Return
990	October 2025	$7,057,376	$10,272,141	$23,827,268	XML
990-T	October 2025	–	–	–	IRS
990	October 2024	$14,814,061	$6,456,735	$26,349,924	XML
990-T	October 2024	–	–	–	IRS
990	October 2023	$5,319,602	$6,481,287	$22,677,711	XML
990-T	October 2023	–	–	–	IRS
990	October 2022	$13,279,780	$6,055,861	$20,880,199	IRS
990-T	October 2022	–	–	–	IRS
990	October 2021	$3,626,337	$5,608,672	$11,154,654	XML
990-T	October 2021	–	–	–	IRS
990	October 2020	–	–	–	IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 42-1376689).

Questions about IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION?: The employer identification number (EIN) of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION is 42-1376689.
Is IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION tax-exempt?: Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1992.
Are donations to IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION tax-deductible?: Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION file?: Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION due?: The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending October 31, 2026) is due March 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?: The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended October 2025.
Who is the principal officer of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION?: The 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 names Peter Cownie.
Who are the officers and directors of IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION?: The 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 lists 18 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $247,895 (Peter Cownie, Executive Director).
How much revenue does IOWA STATE FAIR FOUNDATION have?: On its 990 for the year ended October 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,057,376, expenses of $10,272,141 and total assets of $23,827,268 at year end.

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