The 2025 Strategic Alignment Grant Program, administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, supports nonprofit organizations exploring collaborative strategies to improve systemic support around a community issue, align operations and programming, or deepen inter-organizational partnerships. The grant emphasizes strategic alignment, which is broadly defined as either coordination—formal relationships enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of individual organizations—or collaboration—jointly secured or pooled resources resulting in measurable social impact beyond the individual entities involved.
Funding is available to support various exploratory projects such as shared staffing models, structured dialogue between boards considering a merger, or collective planning to address a specific community concern. Organizations may apply for up to $25,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are typically reviewed with funding decisions communicated within approximately 10 business days.
The grant application process includes several recommended steps designed to strengthen submissions. Applicants are encouraged to first engage in a preliminary conversation with a member of the Community Impact Team. This initial meeting is used to assess project alignment, identify potential consultants, and discuss work plans and budgets. Following this, applicants may submit a draft application for feedback before submitting the final application through the Manage My Grants Portal. Organizations that do not have portal credentials must first register.
Applicants are required to provide comprehensive organizational and project information, including executive contact details, project title, tax ID, budget specifics, and a description of the need and intended outcomes of the strategic alignment. Required documents include a project budget that outlines other funding sources, board lists for each participating organization, and if applicable, a consultant work plan that details costs and deliverables.
The grant program explicitly excludes funding for annual operational or program costs, capital infrastructure projects, sectarian religious initiatives, and tactical items such as hardware or donor management software. Projects focused on areas like strategic planning or governance may be better suited for the Foundation’s Capacity Building Grant.
For further inquiries, applicants can contact Ellie Burns, Senior Director of Nonprofit Relations, at burns@desmoinesfoundation.org or by phone at (515) 883-2629. Initial conversations about project alignment can be scheduled by contacting Jenny McCloud at mccloud@desmoinesfoundation.org.
