Funding Opportunities

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Our Program Team is available to answer any questions about our grant opportunities and application process. To meet our team, click here.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation provides a variety of grant funding opportunities. Available grant funds with deadlines can be found here.

FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY

Funds for the Community grants are made from permanently endowed funds entrusted to the Community Foundation. Grants are available for both emerging and established organizations and for projects ranging from small, time-limited grants to larger, multi-year commitments.

Due to COVID-19, the Community Foundation announced a flexible strategy to adjust the 2020 Funds for the Community to provide support to nonprofit organizations that reflect the realities of the pandemic and economic crisis. In most years, the Funds for the Community provide the funding source for grants from the Program Fund, Organizational Development Fund, and Endowment Challenge Fund. In 2020, the Funds for the Community is being re-directed to address organizational and community needs in Linn County resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funds for the Community Cycle 1: Supports nonprofit organizations to sustain and maintain essential functions, and to maintain the safety net for vulnerable populations.

Funds for the Community Cycle 2: Supports actions that allow nonprofit organizations to survive and maintain essential functions, including altering programs and program delivery models, constituency retention strategies, and planning for extended closures and/or phased reopening.

Funds for the Community Cycle 3: Supports actions that allow nonprofit organizations to survive and maintain essential functions, including altering programs and program delivery models, constituency retention strategies, and planning for extended closures and/or phased reopening.

Linn County Fund: Supports programs or projects that enhance the quality of life and community development outside the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. Awards: Up to $10,000

President’s Fund: Supports the immediate needs of nonprofit organizations. Awards: Up to $2,500

OTHER FUNDS

Disaster Recovery Fund: Supports Linn County communities during disasters to provide resources where they are needed most. As our community faces extraordinary challenges from the devastating derecho in Iowa on August 10, 2020, this fund provides philanthropic support to assist Linn County communities during recovery.

COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund: Supports health and human service needs that have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic crisis, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.

Creating Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities Fund: Supports programming that addresses the inter-relational factors that lead to youth violence in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Grove Signature Fund: Supports organizations in all nonprofit sectors that impact the quality of life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with a focus on human services, education, and arts and culture. Grants from this fund are determined by the donor. Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status are eligible to apply for program needs, capital campaign funding, event sponsorships, or projects that build efficiencies in the organization’s management systems and structures. Religious activities for religious purposes are not eligible.

 

COMPETITIVE DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS

The Community Foundation accepts grant applications for a number of local corporations and family foundations. Funding priorities are determined by each donor-advisor and may include programmatic or operating support, capital campaigns, event sponsorships or religious activities. 

Altorfer Inc.:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital or Sponsorship
  • Priorities:
    • Historic preservation
    • Community development
  • Ineligible:
    • Individual public schools
    • Projects outside of Linn County
  • Average Award: $2,400

Bloomhall Family:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital
  • Priorities: Health-related activities
  • Ineligible:
    • Fundraisers/sponsorships (instead, consider applying for a program for which you are raising funds)
    • Conferences
    • Travel expenses
    • Religious organizations for religious purposes

CRST International:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital or Sponsorship
  • Priorities: Arts and culture
  • Ineligible:
    • Individual public schools
    • Religious organizations for religious purposes
    • United Way agencies may not apply for program support but may apply for capital requests
  • Award Range: $500 to $30,000

Diamond V:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital
  • Priorities:
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Education with STEM as a high priority
    • Environment
    • Food Security
    • Programs and services for youth
  • Ineligible:
    • Fundraisers/sponsorships (instead, consider applying for a program for which you are raising funds)
    • Conferences
    • Travel expenses
    • Religious organizations for religious purposes
  • Average Award: $7,500

GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital or Sponsorship
  • Ineligible:
    • Individual public schools
    • Travel expenses
    • Religious organizations for religious purposes
  • Average Award: $7,000

Lil’ Drug Store Products:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital or Sponsorship
  • Priorities: Projects within Cedar Rapids
  • Awards: Up to $5,000

McGrath Automotive Group:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital or Sponsorship
  • Priorities: Children’s needs
  • Ineligible:
    • Travel expenses
    • Projects/organizations outside of Linn County
  • Average Award: $2,500

World Class Industries:

  • Eligible Categories: Program or Capital
  • Priorities:
    • Basic health and human services
    • Classroom education
  • Ineligible: Fundraisers/sponsorships (instead, consider applying for a program for which you are raising funds)
  • Award Range: $500 to $10,000