Community Foundation of Cedar County Grant

The Community Foundation of Cedar County, established in 2005, serves as a key philanthropic entity under the umbrella of the Quad Cities Community Foundation. With a mission “to enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve by encouraging permanent charitable giving to meet the needs of present and future generations,” the Foundation channels endowment earnings toward meaningful, community-focused initiatives. Since inception, it has distributed over $1 million in grant awards to nonprofit organizations across Cedar County, Iowa. The Foundation plays a pivotal role in addressing the diverse needs of the local population through its broad, flexible grantmaking approach. The Foundation operates two grant cycles annually—Spring and Fall—each structured to support projects that contribute positively to the Cedar County community. The Spring Grant cycle offers awards of up to $7,500 per project. This cycle emphasizes general community betterment initiatives and encourages a wide range of nonprofit projects. Conversely, the Fall Matching Grant Cycle focuses on incentivizing community investment through a dollar-for-dollar match requirement. Matching contributions must be raised from private fundraising or solicitation efforts and cannot come from organizational operating budgets or other grant sources. In-kind support is welcomed but does not count toward the required match. Eligible applicants for these grants include nonprofit organizations, preferably those with 501(c)(3) status, and qualified governmental entities. All applicants must comply with the Quad Cities Community Foundation’s Diversity and Non-Discrimination Policy. Each organization may only submit one application per grant cycle, whether independently or in collaboration with another organization for a joint project. Additionally, previous grant recipients must have submitted and received approval for their final reports before applying for new funding. Applications for the Spring Grant cycle are accepted exclusively online, with the application portal opening on January 1, 2026, and closing on February 28, 2026. Award notifications are expected by May 1, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Foundation’s online tutorial before beginning the application process to ensure compliance with technical requirements. Final Reports for Spring Grants are due by July 1 of the following year and must include invoices and photographs documenting the project’s outcomes. All submissions are evaluated based on alignment with the Foundation’s mission, project feasibility, community impact, and the applicant’s capacity to deliver. While the guidelines do not explicitly outline the evaluation rubric, they strongly emphasize adherence to mission, financial stewardship, and demonstrated community benefit. Applicants are advised to present a clear and compelling narrative supported by a viable budget and implementation plan. For inquiries and assistance, applicants can contact Kaleigh Trammell via phone at (563) 326-2840. The Community Foundation encourages applicants to reach out with questions to ensure project alignment and application completeness. The Foundation is located at 852 Middle Road, Suite 100, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722, and operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.