Community Foundation Distributes $2.5 Million in Grants and Scholarships

Published: May 20, 2014 | By: Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation | Category:

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Board of Directors of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation recently authorized the distribution of $2.5 million in grant awards to 148 nonprofit organizations and 70 scholarships to local students.  The awards include designated distributions, nonprofit agency distributions, donor-advised distributions, and competitive grants.

The Community Foundation invests in local nonprofit organizations that contribute to improving the quality of life in our communities.  It also manages more than 20 scholarship funds and nine competitive donor-advised funds, created by individuals, families and corporations to fulfill their philanthropic goals.

“It is our pleasure to connect the charitable intentions of donors to deserving nonprofits and students,” says Loren Coppock, Board Chair of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.  “The funding we provide helps nonprofits implement and sustain important community projects; and helps students who want to obtain a higher education.”

The Community Foundation’s Funds for the Community include gifts from donors who have entrusted the Community Foundation to make grants that address the ever-changing community needs and opportunities.  The funds support efforts related to innovation, sustainability and capacity building through a competitive grantmaking process.

During this grant cycle, the Community Foundation received $1.1 million in requests for competitive grants from theFunds for the Community and funded $373,000 (or 35%).

A complete list of the nonprofit organizations who received competitive grant awards from the Funds for the Community and the Competitive Donor-Advised Funds are included below.  More information about these awards, including the project or purpose for the funding, can be found here.

The Funds for the Community grant recipients include:

Program Fund

  • Cedar Rapids Community School District Foundation
  • Czech Village/New Bohemia Urban Main Street District
  • Feed Iowa First
  • First Congregational Church UCC
  • First Lutheran Church
  • Foundation 2
  • Green Square Meals
  • Hawkeye Area Community Action Program
  • Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development
  • Linn-Mar School Foundation
  • Marion Chamber of Commerce Foundation
  • Oak Hill Jackson Neighborhood Association
  • Olivet Neighborhood Mission
  • Tanager Place
  • Theatre Cedar Rapids
  • Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association

Organizational Development Fund

  • Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support Center
  • Catherine McAuley Center
  • His Hands Ministries
  • Legion Arts
  • Tanager Place

The Competitive Donor-Advised Funds grant recipients include:

GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation Donor-Advised Fund

  • African American Museum of Iowa
  • Alzheimer’s Association – East Central Iowa Chapter
  • American Cancer Society
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa
  • Catherine McAuley Center
  • Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
  • Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre
  • Orchestra Iowa
  • Community Health Free Clinic
  • Theatre Cedar Rapids
  • Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity
  • International Academy for Russian Music, Arts & Culture
  • Iowa College Foundation
  • Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
  • Kirkwood Community College Foundation
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa
  • Mercy Medical Center
  • National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
  • Old Creamery Theatre Company

The Gazette Foundation Donor-Advised Fund

  • Feed Iowa First
  • Iowa College Foundation
  • Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa

World Class Industries Donor-Advised Fund

  • Community Health Free Clinic
  • Linn County Historical Society

The next grant deadline at the Community Foundation is on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.  For more details about funding opportunities, visit www.gcrcf.org.

Visit the Nonprofit Giving Center and the Nonprofit Calendar to search for a nonprofit fund, organization, cause, or event to support.
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