Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Approves Over $3.3 Million in Grants

The Board of Directors of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation recently approved over $3.31 million in grants to more than 130 nonprofit organizations. The awards include competitive Organization Support Grants, Program Support Grants, Linn County Grants, and grants from the Creating Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities (SET) Fund; as well as distributions from signature, donor-advised, designated, scholarship and agency funds.

The Community Foundation brings together private philanthropy with impactful nonprofits to support a healthy and vibrant Linn County. In 2022, the Community Foundation distributed over $17.1 million in grants.

The Community Foundation’s competitive grant programs are supported by the Greater Good Fund. Donors who make gifts to the Greater Good Fund have entrusted the Community Foundation to make grants that address ever-changing community needs and opportunities. These grant programs support efforts related to innovation, maintaining success, and building capacity through a competitive grantmaking process. During this grant cycle, the Community Foundation received over $1.2 million in requests for competitive grants and was able to fund $667,990 (or 53% of the requested amount).

A complete list of the nonprofit organizations who received grant awards is included below. More information about these awards, including the project, purpose and amount of funding, can be found here.

Program Support Grants

• Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity
• Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
• Feed Iowa First
• Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services
• Kids First Law Center
• Matthew 25
• NewBo City Market
• Orchestra Iowa
• The Friends of the Marion Public Library
• Theatre Cedar Rapids
• Willis Dady Homeless Services
• YPN

Organization Support Grants

• Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival
• Discovery Living Inc.
• Eastern Iowa Health Center
• Heritage Area Agency on Aging
• Horizons – A Family Service Alliance
• Indian Creek Nature Center
• NewBo City Market
• Waypoint Services for Women, Children and Families
• Willis Dady Homeless Services

Linn County Grants

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa, Inc.
• Families Helping Families of Iowa
• Friends of the Family
• Horizons – A Family Service Alliance
• Iowa College Access Network
• Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
• Kids First Law Center
• Linn County Trails Association
• NewBo City Market
• Old Opera House Community Arts Council
• Riverview Center Inc.
• Tanager
• The History Center
• Waypoint Services for Women, Children and Families
• Willis Dady Homeless Services
• YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metro Area

Creating Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities Fund

• Catherine McAuley Center Inc.
• Foundation 2
• Kids First Law Center
• Waypoint Services for Women, Children and Families

Cedar Grove Signature Fund

• African American Museum of Iowa
• Brucemore Inc.
• Feed Iowa First
• Indian Creek Nature Center
• NewBo City Market
• NewBoCo
• Tanager
• Theatre Cedar Rapids
• Willis Dady Homeless Services

CRST International Donor-Advised Fund

• Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
• Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Inc.
• His Hands Free Clinic
• Iowa College Foundation
• Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa
• Matthew 25
• Northwest Neighbors Neighborhood Association
• Orchestra Iowa
• Refugee and Immigrant Association
• Tanager Place
• Theatre Cedar Rapids

Girls with Goals Fund

• CAN PLAY
• YMCA of Greater Des Moines
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley
• Marion Independent School Foundation & Alumni Association
• Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa

McGrath Automotive Group Donor-Advised Fund

• American Cancer Society – Cedar Rapids
• Catherine McAuley Center Inc.
• Children’s Cancer Connection
• Community Health Free Clinic
• Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
• Feed Iowa First
• Foundation 2
• Horizons – A Family Service Alliance
• Iowa JAG Inc.
• Kids First Law Center
• Lavender Legal Center
• Linn County Trails Association
• Matthew 25
• Refugee and Immigrant Association
• Waypoint Services for Women, Children and Families
• YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metro Area