Iowa Arts Grants

This program provides training and support for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations in Iowa focused on arts, culture, history, and humanities to help them overcome unique challenges.

Arts Midwest is offering Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants of up to $67,000 to small arts and culture organizations rooted in communities of color, providing general operating support for those with annual expenses up to $500,000 in selected states.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Iowa businesses with at least 75 employees to develop or expand child care facilities, particularly in high-demand areas, to help address local child care shortages.

The Pella Community Foundation Impact Grants, ranging from $15,000 to $25,000, are available to 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental agencies for projects that significantly improve Pella's quality of life, demonstrate community impact, and show evidence of long-term planning and sustainability.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska that focus on improving financial literacy and employment readiness to help individuals achieve financial stability.

This grant provides funding for community projects in Humboldt County that enhance arts, health, education, environmental initiatives, and social services.

The Iowa Community Cultural Grant program helps cities, county governments, tribal councils, and nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations support the development of community programs that provide jobs for local Iowans while promoting Iowa’s cultural, ethnic, and historical heritages through festivals, music, drama, cultural programs, and tourism projects. The program is administered by the Iowa Arts Council within the Iowa Economic Development Authority and is funded through an appropriation by the Iowa Legislature.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to artists and organizers in Nebraska and Iowa who are working to challenge societal norms, foster community engagement, and promote collaboration through their creative endeavors.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and government entities in Chickasaw County to implement projects that enhance the community's quality of life across various sectors, including arts, education, health, and environment.

The Ackley Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, is offering grants to support charitable capital projects, activities, services, programs, and organizations. The core mission of this grant program is to enhance the quality of life for residents of Ackley, Iowa, aligning with the Foundation's broader goal of fostering a community where people desire to live, work, play, and stay. This strategic focus ensures that all funded initiatives contribute directly to the betterment of the local community. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are the people of Ackley, Iowa. The program aims to create a positive and lasting impact across various sectors, including Art and Culture, Community Betterment, Education & Youth Development, Environment and Animal Welfare, Health, and Human Services. The overarching goal is to address community-based needs and improve the overall well-being and vibrancy of Ackley. Funding priorities emphasize requests that demonstrate a clear community need, broad community support, and benefits for the entire community. High priority is also given to organizations that can leverage funding and support from other sources, showcasing matching funds in their budgets. Furthermore, the Foundation values initiatives that maximize community resources through cooperation and collaboration with other local organizations, avoiding service duplication. The capacity of the organization and its staff to achieve desired results, as well as the long-term sustainability of the project without continuous financial reliance on the Ackley Community Foundation, are also critical considerations. Expected outcomes include tangible improvements in the quality of life for Ackley residents, such as enhanced cultural opportunities, stronger community bonds, improved educational outcomes for youth, better environmental stewardship, and increased access to health and human services. The Foundation's theory of change posits that by strategically investing in these key areas, it can catalyze positive social and economic development, leading to a more attractive and thriving community for all its inhabitants. The minimum request amount is $500, with most grants ranging from $500 to $3,000, ensuring a broad range of projects can be supported.

This grant provides financial assistance to small businesses in Dubuque, Iowa, to help cover operating costs and support long-term success for income-qualified owners.

This grant provides funding to educators and nonprofit preschool organizations in Iowa to create innovative projects that integrate agriculture into classroom instruction or afterschool programs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to charitable nonprofits in various sectors, including arts, education, and health, to help them implement programs or expand initiatives within the community.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority, through the Iowa Arts Council, offers the Iowa Screenwriters Grant to support career advancement for Iowa screenwriters. The grant provides professional development resources tied to an active screenplay and aims to elevate the creative screenwriting industry in the state. Applicants may request between 500 and 2,500 dollars for one time project expenses incurred during the funding period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Eligible activities include conference or workshop registration, software or books for screenwriting, classes or apprenticeships, mentorship, and professional feedback on current work. Eligible screenplay formats include feature, short, web series, and episodic works including pilots and new seasons, as well as proof of concept and adaptations. Eligible applicants are individual screenwriters 18 years or older who are full time Iowa residents and who are currently registered in the Produce Iowa Production Directory. Projects must demonstrate clear professional development goals tied to the advancement of an active screenplay. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Additional information is available from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and government entities that aim to improve the quality of life in Howard County, Iowa, through projects in areas such as arts, education, health, and community betterment.

The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation is actively seeking grant applications from nonprofit organizations operating within Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois. The foundation's mission is deeply rooted in enhancing community well-being through strategic investments in three key areas: culture and the arts, education, and social welfare. This aligns with their overarching goal of fostering a vibrant, educated, and supportive community by addressing critical needs and enriching local life. Within the realm of culture and the arts, the foundation prioritizes cultivating and supporting both visual and performing arts, investing in landmark cultural institutions, and backing new, innovative programs that contribute to community enrichment. For education, their focus extends to pre-K–12 education, encompassing after-school and summer programs, creative learning initiatives, life skills and career training, environmental education with a sustainability emphasis, and crucial mental health programs for students and their families. Social welfare initiatives are designed to support accessible programs for individuals and families, specifically targeting at-risk and low-income family services, food and nutrition support, housing security, immigrant and refugee community support, and physical and mental health services. The foundation's funding strategies support a variety of grant types to achieve its impact goals. These include capital campaigns and acquisitions for construction and renovations, operational and/or program grants for up to three years following a capital campaign, and multi-year program grants, also not exceeding three years. These program grants may also cover general operating expense reimbursement. The target beneficiaries are primarily nonprofit organizations serving the specified counties, and through these organizations, individuals and families who will benefit from improved access to cultural experiences, educational opportunities, and social support. Expected outcomes include a more culturally vibrant community, improved educational outcomes and access, enhanced life skills, increased environmental awareness, better mental health support for students and families, and stronger social safety nets for vulnerable populations. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly laid out in its long-term funding priorities and its defined areas of focus. Their theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in these three core areas through various grant mechanisms, they can catalyze positive, sustainable change within the communities of Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and thriving society.

The FY 2025 Latino Community Development Grant (LCDG), solicited by the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA), aims to bolster Latino-serving programs within the District of Columbia. This grant seeks to enhance initiatives across various critical areas, including Education (all ages), Workforce and Economic Development, Housing Services, Civic Engagement, Legal Services, Public Safety, Crisis Intervention, Health and Wellness, and Arts, Culture, and Humanities. This aligns with MOLA's mission to support and empower the Latino community in the District. The grant targets the District of Columbia’s Latino community, with an emphasis on improving the quality of life and fostering stronger communities. The expected outcomes include strengthening the middle class, ensuring access to job opportunities, and enabling residents to build better lives for themselves and their loved ones across all eight wards. By investing in these key areas, the program intends to create a more equitable and prosperous environment for Latino residents. Key funding priorities include the "Downtown Comeback," which seeks to reimagine Downtown DC as a vibrant center for living, working, and playing, positioning the District as a global and forward-thinking leader. Another critical priority is "Public Safety," aiming to create significant, lasting change by reducing all forms of violence, including gun violence. "Education" is also a core focus, with the goal of ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential through strong schools, reading, math, recreational activities, and civic and youth engagement. The strategic approach of this grant is rooted in the belief that investing in education, housing, and economic development will lead to improved public safety and overall quality of life for residents. By empowering the District to remain a city for people of all ages and stages of life, and by fighting to protect the middle class, the program aims for comprehensive community upliftment. The grant’s theory of change posits that targeted support for CBOs providing direct services will result in tangible progress towards these community-wide goals.

This program provides financial support to property owners and long-term leaseholders in downtown Decorah for exterior building renovations and the conversion of upper-story spaces into residential units, promoting economic growth and community vibrancy.

The Arts & Culture Capacity Building Grant Program, offered by the City of Dubuque, is designed to support initiatives that foster more sustainable and effective arts and culture organizations within the city. This program aligns with a mission to strengthen the operational capacity of local arts and culture entities, ensuring their long-term viability and ability to contribute to the community. Funding is available for fiscal year 2025, from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with a total of $35,000 allocated for grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, although eligible organizations can apply for up to $8,000. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are arts and culture organizations that are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, have at least two years of programming documentation and two Form 990s, and are officially located within the city limits of Dubuque. These organizations must serve residents of Dubuque and conduct programming within the city. The program aims to impact these organizations by enhancing their capacity in various key areas, ultimately leading to improved organizational health and effectiveness. The program prioritizes a range of capacity-building initiatives. These include strategic planning, creating development plans and/or fundraising strategies, improving donor experience, providing nonprofit 101 training for staff and board members, leadership development, project or program development, program management, volunteer management, and Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) training. These focus areas are intended to address common challenges faced by arts and culture organizations and equip them with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive. Expected outcomes include organizations with stronger strategic frameworks, enhanced fundraising capabilities, improved donor engagement, more skilled staff and board members, and more effectively managed projects and programs. Measurable results would involve the successful implementation of these capacity-building initiatives, which could be tracked through reports detailing new strategic plans, implemented fundraising strategies, attendance at training sessions, and improved operational metrics. The City of Dubuque's strategic priorities for this grant program appear to be rooted in a theory of change that by investing in the foundational and operational strength of its arts and culture sector, it will foster a more vibrant, resilient, and inclusive cultural landscape for its residents.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities for projects that improve the quality of life in Franklin County, focusing on areas such as arts, education, health, and community development.