The Leadership Grant program, offered by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, aims to launch or scale initiatives that strengthen the community in seven key focus areas, all drawn from established community priorities. This program aligns with the foundation's mission to significantly fund projects that improve the quality of life within Greater Des Moines. The foundation intentionally structures its grantmaking priorities and cycles to center around equity, ensuring that awards support projects with the potential to create substantial impact on community issues and opportunities.
The primary target beneficiaries of these grants are organizations serving Greater Des Moines. The foundation's "Better Together" philosophy emphasizes projects that leverage the strengths of diverse stakeholders, promoting collaboration and widespread community engagement. The impact goals are centered on fostering significant positive change and addressing critical community issues through equity-centered strategies.
The grantmaking priorities for 2024 are a central focus for applicants. Projects must address one or more of these priorities, clearly demonstrating how they utilize equity-centered strategies to strengthen the community. Furthermore, successful projects are expected to leverage other funders, partners, and stakeholders, amplifying their potential to create significant impact on community issues and opportunities within the Greater Des Moines area.
While there is no formal minimum or maximum, Leadership Grants typically range from $20,000 to $250,000, though the description also mentions a broader range of $100,000 to $500,000. The grant duration is not specified. The expected outcomes include tangible improvements in quality of life and the advancement of community-wide equity through well-aligned and impactful projects.
