Iowa Capacity Building Grants

This program provides leadership training and funding to small to mid-sized nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Iowa to enhance their operational capacity and sustainability.

This grant provides financial support to small Iowa city and county governments, as well as tribal governments, to improve local housing policies and attract housing development through workshops and data-driven assessments.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Greater Des Moines for collaborative projects that enhance community support and inter-organizational partnerships.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Greater Des Moines to strengthen their internal capacity through initiatives like strategic planning, leadership development, and financial stability.

This grant provides funding to local organizations in Jasper County, Iowa, that are making a positive impact in their community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in Johnson County, Iowa, to enhance their operational capacity through infrastructure and technology upgrades, with a focus on benefiting grassroots and BIPOC-led initiatives.

This grant provides financial assistance to businesses and building owners in downtown Ames for improving their building façades, with a focus on historically significant features.

This program provides up to $5,000 in funding and business support to small business owners in Iowa City who are certified or eligible as Targeted Small Businesses, focusing on those owned by women, minorities, service-disabled veterans, or individuals with disabilities.

Applications are now being accepted for the Black Hawk County Gaming Association Grant Program. Donor Name: Black Hawk County Gaming Association State: Iowa County: Black Hawk County (IA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/23/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Black Hawk County Gaming Association (BHCGA) is interested in awarding grants that will make the Cedar Valley a stronger, better place to live, work, and play. The board prefers to receive requests for the following types of projects: Capital improvements that contribute to better cities, neighborhoods, and inclusive spaces Capacity-building plans that help organizations build stronger skills, processes, and resources to better serve the Cedar Valley Collaborative approaches that align with community initiatives Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be a governmental entity or nonprofit with a valid 501(c)3 or 501(c)19 status under the US IRS Code. The applicant’s nonprofit status will be verified through GuideStar or a Determination Letter through the IRS. Applicants are not allowed to share or borrow nonprofit status from another organization. No distribution will be granted to any organization that has an employee, officer, or director who is a member of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Requests that will NOT be Considered: Endowment funds Political causes, candidate, or lobbying efforts Individuals, including scholarships, fellowships, or personal benefits Religious workshops, education, or proselytizing Debt incurred or purchases made prior to the award date Capital requests of more than 50% of the total project budget For-profit organizations or organizations using a fiscal sponsor For more information, visit BHCGA. Related Posts:Midwest BDC Empowerment Grant Program 2024-2025Community-Wide Assessment Grants for States and TribesEPA Community-Wide Assessment Grants 2025EPA: Brownfield Assessment Grants 2025Washington County Riverboat Foundation Grant Program in IowaApplications open for Community Empowerment Grant ProgramPeter Capell Award for Midwestern Creativity &…Peter Capell Award for Midwestern Creativity &…Bureau of Land Management: Recreation and Visitor…EPA: Office of Land and Emergency Management Tribal Program2025–2026 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health…Framing the Future: Industrial Technologies Photo ContestRequest for Applications for Tribal Transit ProgramTrauma-Responsive Training and Resources for…Facilitation Skills for Cognitive Behavioral…City of Surprise Neighborhood Grant Program…Submit Applications for Quality of Life GrantsCapacity Building Grants Program – IndianaJudicial Tools to Combat Impaired DrivingApply now for Indigenous Earth FundFunding available for API LGBTQIA+ Communities

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.

Donor Name: Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (National Park Service) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: Draft: August 9, 2024; Final: September 3, 2024 Size of the Grant: Not specified Grant Duration: Not specified Details/Overview: The Certified Local Government (CLG) grant program is open to Iowa cities, counties, and land use districts that have signed a CLG Agreement with the State of Iowa and the National Park Service. The grant supports historic preservation projects for CLGs in good standing and current with annual reports. Draft applications are due by August 9, 2024, and final applications by September 3, 2024.

Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s Black Hawk County Grants one-time grants awarded to organizations and projects that benefit residents of Black Hawk County, Iowa. Donor Name: Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa State: Iowa County: Black Hawk County (IA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Areas Arts and Culture Access- Programs that offer new and expanded access to arts and cultural opportunities. Infrastructure– Programs and projects that protect history and make long-lasting impacts in the community. Talent Development- Programs that help grow the visual and performing creative class in their community Community Betterment Economic Development– Programs that create or expand businesses, create new jobs opportunities, and leverage outside financial support. Civic Engagement– Programs that support civic action, service learning, and cross-cultural understanding. Shared Amenities- Through the creation or expansion of public amenities like parks and trails, libraries, farmers’ markets, etc. Education and Youth Development Child Care-Programs that address the academic, health, and social/emotional needs of children pre-kindergarten. Mentorship-Through K-12 programs that provide guided and continuous mentoring, coaching, and teaching during or outside regular school hours that improve academic performance. Career Readiness- Through 9-12 programs that support postsecondary attainment and workforce readiness. Environment and Animal Welfare Conservation- Through projects that protect ecosystems and minimize their use of natural resources. Restoration- Through projects that work to re-establish the healthy functions of ecosystems. Education- Programs that foster a stronger awareness and understanding of environmental and sustainability issues. Health Case Management- Programs that provide guided and continuous behavioral healthcare and wellness services. Prevention- Programs that focus on education, physical health screening, and suicide prevention. Access- Programs that expand access to high-quality physical and mental healthcare Human Service Case Management- Through programs that help people overcome barriers to self-sufficiency. Prevention- Programs that focus on prevention of child abuse, violence, and substance abuse. Basic Needs- Programs that meet basic human needs of food, shelter, housing, transportation, and emergency assistance. The Community Foundation prioritizes requests that align with their community initiatives and program areas and embraces organizations that work to address two or more of these. The Community Foundation has identified community initiatives to provide focus on what we fund and how they spend the time in community initiatives and leadership. Those include: Advancing Racial Equity – They are committed to supporting organizations and initiatives that are BIPOC-led and/or support BIPOC populations. Expanding Child Care – They strive to increase equitable, accessible, and sustainable child care opportunities. Enhancing the Arts – They work to enrich and enhance an inclusive arts community that amplifies diverse voices and viewpoints. Strengthening Workforce Readiness – They support the community-wide need to create a more qualified, prepared workforce for the future. Building Nonprofit Capacity – They want to build the capacity of their nonprofit partners so their work is strengthened to serve their community well. Funding Information The majority of competitive grants range from $5,000 to $25,000. Eligibility Criteria Organizations must provide benefits to the people of Black Hawk County and meet the following criteria: Be classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or be a government entity. Tax-exempt organizations classified as other than 501(c)(3) are also eligible if and only if the project is deemed charitable. For groups, projects, or initiatives that do not meet the above eligibility requirement, we will consider projects submitted through a fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must be classified as a 501(c)(3) or a government entity. CFNEIA prefers the fiscal sponsor’s mission closely align with the sponsored project. Applicants must be current with all state and federal reporting requirements. In addition, the following conditions must be met: Applicants must not have any past due grant reports for previous CFNEIA grants. Applicants with a separate supporting, eligible organization (like a “friends of” or a foundation) can apply through either the organization or through its supporting organization, but not both. The Foundation encourages applications to be submitted through the supporting organization. The Foundation will consider requests for capital campaigns but will not provide multiple grants (in subsequent years) for the same campaign. For more information, visit CFNEIA.

The Arts & Culture Capacity Building Grant Program provides funding to support initiatives that aim to create a more sustainable and effective organization. Donor Name: City of Dubuque State: Iowa City: Dubuque Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/10/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Eligible organizations may apply for grants of up to $8,000 to support capacity-building initiatives. The organization must maintain a cash operating expense budget, exclusive of other City of Dubuque grant support, of no less than $10,000 per year. A total of $35,000 in funding is available. Examples of capacity-building initiatives include: strategic planning creating a development plan and/or fundraising strategy donor experience improvements staff and/or board member nonprofit 101 training leadership development project or program development program management volunteer management Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) training. Grant Period Funding is available in fiscal year 2025 (FY25), which runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Applicant is an arts and culture organization as defined by grant guidelines. Applicant is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with at least two years of programming documentation and two Form 990s. Applicant’s official business address is located in the city limits of Dubuque (P.O. Boxes will not be accepted). Applicant serves residents of Dubuque and programming occurs within the city limits. Applicant will have a clean record of compliance and be in good standing with the City of Dubuque’s Arts and Culture Grant Program(s). For more information, visit City of Dubuque.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations serving Linn County, Iowa, to develop innovative programs or sustain ongoing initiatives that benefit the community.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Linn County, Iowa, for their general operating costs or capacity-building projects to enhance their services and sustainability.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is now accepting a second round of applications as part of the $3 million, 5-year Underserved Farmer to Farmer grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico division. Donor Name: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The DNR is looking to increase the ability of historically underserved farm communities to address nutrient pollution and frequent flooding through the grant. Underserved farmers are defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as those who are beginning, socially disadvantaged, veterans or with limited resources. Other classifications may be supported as negotiated. Funding Information Projects funded through the grant may receive up to $250,000. Currently, remaining funds for subawards totals $700,000. Eligibility Criteria  Grants will be distributed through subawards to entities including: Conservation districts Institutions of Higher Learning Local or state government entities, including 28E agreement entities such as Watershed Management Authorities NGOs and nonprofits Tribal nations Beginning farmer groups U.S. military veteran farmer groups. For more information, visit DNR.

Capacity Building Grant Program Overview: The Capacity Building Grant Program is a biennial initiative alternating with the Special Projects Grant Program. The fiscal year 2025 (FY25) Building Capacity grant application period commences on April 2, 2024. Purpose: The Arts & Culture Capacity Building Grant Program aims to provide funding for initiatives fostering sustainable and efficient organizational development. Eligible organizations can request grants of up to $8,000 to support capacity-building endeavors. Definition of Capacity Building: As per the National Council of Nonprofits, capacity building encompasses activities essential for elevating a nonprofit's operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity. It's a continuous improvement strategy geared towards establishing sustainable and effective organizations. Examples of Capacity-Building Initiatives: Strategic planning Development of fundraising strategies Marketing/communications enhancements Improvements in donor experience Nonprofit 101 training for staff/board members Leadership development Project/program development and management Volunteer management Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) training Eligibility Requirements: Eligible Applicants: Arts and culture organizations meeting grant guidelines Nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities with at least two years of programming documentation and two Form 990s Official business address within Dubuque city limits Service provision to Dubuque residents within city limits Clean compliance record and good standing with City of Dubuque’s Arts and Culture Grant Program(s) Ineligible Applicants: For-profit entities, businesses, or sole proprietors Educational institutions (K-12 schools, colleges, universities, community colleges) City of Dubuque government departments/entities Individual artists Non-arts and culture nonprofits (e.g., social service, religious institutions) Organizations with delinquent City of Dubuque Arts and Culture Grant Program Final Reports Fiscal agent/sponsor usage is prohibited Funding Guidelines and Timeline: Funding Guidelines: Grant requests ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 accepted Requests below $4,000 will not be considered 1:1 cash match required; personnel time ineligible for cash match FY25 Grant Timeline: April 2, 2024: Informational webinar available; online application opens May 10, 2024, by 11:59 p.m.: Grant applications due via Slideroom July 9, 2024: Award notification August 2024: Anticipated fund disbursement Application Process: Applications submitted via SlideRoom, exclusively through the online portal Deadline for FY25 applications: May 10, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. Late, incomplete, or ineligible applications will not be considered Resources:

System and Capacity Building Grants offer substantial financial support for infrastructure and significant system change projects aligned with the core initiatives of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Interested parties are required to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) by the specified deadlines. Successful LOIs, as determined by a grant committee, will advance to the next stage, where they will have the opportunity to present their proposal to the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation Board of Directors. Grant renewed every year. Annual LOI Fall deadline: September 1st

System and Capacity Building Grants offer substantial financial support for infrastructure and significant system change projects aligned with the core initiatives of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Interested parties are required to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) by the specified deadlines. Successful LOIs, as determined by a grant committee, will advance to the next stage, where they will have the opportunity to present their proposal to the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation Board of Directors. Grant renewed every year. Annual LOI Spring deadline: March 1st

The Cultural Capacity Building grants provide general operating support over a three-year period to eligible arts, cultural and humanities organizations in Iowa. Donor Name: Iowa Arts & Culture State: Iowa County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: Organizations with annual operating expenses above $10,000 that demonstrate a commitment to enhancing their cultural and managerial excellence and community service are eligible to apply. Funding for the program is made possible by an annual appropriation from the Iowa Legislature to the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Funding Information Grant recipients will receive up to $5,000 in each fiscal year, for a total maximum award of $15,000 over three years, to support opera ng expenses that are incurred within each eligible funding period. Funding Period The three-year funding period will be in effect from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027. Who Qualifies? Iowa 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations whose primary mission and purpose is focused on arts or culture and arts or cultural divisions of a municipal government. Eligible entities must maintain a cash operating expense budget of no less than $10,000 per year. Applicant must have a minimum of one dedicated staff or volunteer position that works for the organization year-round and is responsible for oversight and management of the organization. For more information, visit Iowa Arts & Culture.