Competitive Donor-Advised Funds are different from other grants offered at the Community Foundation because they are donor-driven. The funding priorities, exclusions, decision-making and timing of grant awards are determined by the donor advisor.
Competitive Donor-Advised Funds are not related to the Program Support or Organization Support Grant programs. Therefore, applications to Competitive Donor-Advised Funds are not subject to the application limits for those two grant programs.
Grant Details
Purpose
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation accepts grant applications for a number of local corporations and family funds. Funding priorities are determined by each donor-advisor and may include programmatic or operating support, capital campaigns, and event sponsorships.
Organization Eligibility
- The Community Foundation accepts applications from nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status, governmental organizations, and non-501(c)(3) organizations that have completed arrangements to obtain a fiscal sponsor.
- Eligible activities and funding priorities are different for each donor-advised fund. Information regarding donor-advisor priorities may be found here.
Duration of Grants and Frequency of Application
- Typical award ranges for each competitive donor-advised fund may be found below.
- Typically, organizations may receive one grant from each competitive donor-advised fund in a 12-month period, however, there are exceptions. Please contact the program officer for clarification.
Timing of Grant Awards
The timing of grant awards is different for each donor-advised fund. Donor advisors typically provide grant recommendations two or three months after the deadline, however, it may take longer.
Important Note
Under federal legislation, donor-advisors may not receive tangible benefits, goods or services as a result of a grant from their fund. This includes membership, dinners, tickets and other benefits.
Duration of Grant
12 months
Funding Priorities, Typical Awards, & Deadlines
Competitive donor advisors accept applications in the following grant funding cycles:
| Fund Name | Priorities, Eligible and Ineligible Requests | Average Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 2025 | 2025 |
|||
| Altorfer, Inc. | Priorities: Historic preservation, community development Eligible: Program or Capital Ineligible: Individual public schools, projects outside Linn County, fundraisers/sponsorships | $2,400 | |||
| Bloomhall Family | Priorities: Health-related activities Eligible: Program or Capital Ineligible: Fundraisers/sponsorships (instead, consider applying for the program for which you are raising funds), conferences, travel expenses, religious organizations for religious purposes | ||||
| Diamond V | Priorities: Food insecurity, sustainability, environment, and diversity/inclusion Eligible: Program or Capital Ineligible: Fundraisers/sponsorships (instead, consider applying for the program for which you are raising funds), conferences, travel expenses, religious organizations for religious purposes | $7,500 | |||
| Girls With Goals | Priorities: This fund supports nonprofit organizations working to empower girls ages K-8 in Iowa. Eligible: Program, Capital or Sponsorship | Up to $1,000 | |||
| GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation | Eligible: Program, Capital or Sponsorship Ineligible: Individual public schools, travel expenses, religious organizations for religious purposes | $9,000 | |||
| Lil’ Drug Store Products | Priorities: Projects within Cedar Rapids Eligible: Program, Capital or Sponsorship | Up to $5,000 | |||
| McGrath Automotive Group | Priorities: Children's needs Eligible: Program, Capital or Sponsorship Ineligible: Travel expenses, projects/organizations outside Linn County | $3,000 | |||
| World Class Industries | Priorities: Basic health and human services, classroom education for Iowa Core Standards, capital improvements to support program areas (please submit a program application for these improvements to provide context) Eligible: Program Ineligible: Fundraisers/sponsorships (instead, consider applying for the program for which you are raising funds), religious organizations for religious purposes | $500 to $10,000 | |||
How to Apply
Applications are accepted online here. For detailed instructions on the application process, click here. The documents below are for reference and planning only – all information will need to be entered directly into the online portal.
The forms below are updated for each grant cycle. Please download new forms for each grant cycle to avoid using outdated versions. Each category – program, capital, or sponsorship – has a unique set of questions within the application. If you have questions regarding the appropriate category, please contact the Program Officer prior to beginning work on your application.
Competitive Donor-Advised Application Questions
Competitive Donor-Advised Project Budget Form
Budget Explanation Key
Questions? Contact Us.
 Rochelle Naylor, MPP |