Iowa Environment Grants

This program provides funding for farmers and ranchers in the North Central region to develop and share sustainable agricultural practices through research and educational projects.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This grant provides funding to support the maintenance, safety, and enhancement of recreational walking and cycling trails in Warren County.

This program provides paint and coatings to Iowa communities for volunteer-led projects that beautify public spaces and foster civic pride.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues and improve public health in underserved communities across the U.S.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities that improve the quality of life for residents in Tama County, Iowa, through various community-focused initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. states, territories, and eligible Indian tribes for implementing approved plans to prevent and manage invasive aquatic species.

This program provides funding to individuals and groups for small-scale projects that improve neighborhood accessibility, promote environmental stewardship, and foster community connections.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities in Winneshiek County, Iowa, for projects that improve community quality of life across various areas such as arts, education, environment, and health.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Iowa and Wisconsin that address community needs in areas such as hunger, housing, workforce readiness, environmental stewardship, and community safety.

This grant provides funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and local government entities in Akron, Iowa, to support projects that enhance community quality of life in areas such as arts, education, health, and the environment.

The Walter F. Goodnough Trust offers grants specifically designed to support the rehabilitation of underprivileged disabled children, with its mission directly aligned with improving the health and well-being of this vulnerable population through hospitalization within the state of Florida. This grant program is a core component of the trust's philanthropic efforts, focusing on a critical area of need within the healthcare sector for children facing both disability and financial hardship. The foundation's strategic priorities are centered on direct impact within Florida's healthcare landscape, particularly for disabled children. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are underprivileged disabled children in Florida who require hospitalization for rehabilitation. The impact goal is to facilitate their recovery and improve their quality of life by providing financial support for necessary medical interventions. The trust prioritizes health-related programs and aims to ensure that eligible organizations, specifically 501(c)(3) exempt organizations, can access funding to serve these children. While specific detailed expected outcomes and measurable results are not explicitly stated beyond "rehabilitation," the implicit outcome is improved health and functional abilities for the children served. Success would likely be measured by the number of children assisted, the types of rehabilitation services provided, and potentially the duration or effectiveness of their hospitalization and recovery. The average grant size of $2,500 to $5,000, with an average total giving of $15,000 per year, indicates a focus on supporting individual or smaller-scale rehabilitation projects. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by providing financial grants to qualified organizations, they can directly enable access to crucial rehabilitation services that might otherwise be out of reach for underprivileged families. The geographic limitation to Florida and the program area of Health further underscore this focused approach to addressing specific community needs.

This grant provides funding for community-led projects in Ames, Iowa, that aim to reduce energy use, promote sustainable practices, and enhance environmental resilience.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) is offering its Community Forestry Grant Program, a state-funded initiative designed to support community-based tree planting for derecho recovery. This program is rooted in the Iowa Legislature's appropriation of state infrastructure funds, specifically earmarked for urban and community forestry services. The core mission of this grant program aligns with enhancing Iowa's natural environment and aiding in the recovery of communities affected by derecho events through strategic tree planting on public lands. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are state and local government entities, schools, volunteer organizations, and service organizations actively involved with local urban and community forest services. The overarching impact goal is to facilitate the purchase and planting of trees on publicly owned lands across Iowa, contributing to environmental restoration and community resilience following natural disasters. Eligible planting areas include, but are not limited to, street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries, and trails, ensuring broad community access to the benefits of reforestation. Grant priorities emphasize several key areas to maximize impact and ensure effective resource allocation. Priority will be given to projects demonstrating clear need stemming from derecho impact, cost-effectiveness through a $1 for $1 cash match, robust community involvement, alignment with Tree City/Campus/Line USA designation, and a focus on species/genera diversity and environmental impact. These priorities reflect a strategic approach to fostering sustainable urban and community forests, promoting ecological health, and encouraging local engagement in environmental stewardship. The expected outcomes of the Community Forestry Grant Program include the successful planting of a diverse range of suitable trees across publicly owned lands in Iowa. Measurable results will be tied to the number of trees planted, the extent of community involvement, and the degree to which projects address the specified priorities, particularly in derecho-affected and EAB Reforestation eligible counties. The program's strategic priorities are centered on recovery, environmental enhancement, and community engagement, working towards a theory of change where targeted tree planting leads to stronger, more resilient communities and improved ecological well-being throughout the state. The grants, ranging from $500 to $10,000, are specifically for the purchase and planting of trees, with special requests for other landscape plantings requiring detailed justification.

The Operations and Program Grant program by the Quad Cities Community Foundation aims to provide essential general operating or program support to successful ongoing efforts. This initiative aligns with the Community Foundation’s strategic commitment to effective grantmaking practices by offering flexible and reliable funding. A key aspect of this alignment is the preference given to general operating support requests, acknowledging their crucial role in the long-term success of nonprofit organizations. The program allows for both one-year and two-year funding requests, enabling organizations to secure stable support for their critical work. The program targets nonprofit organizations located in Scott County, IA, or Rock Island County, IL. Organizations outside these counties but within a 60-mile radius of Rock Island, IL, are eligible for funding from the Amy Helpenstell Foundation Fund only. The program's impact goals are broad, covering various fields of interest including Animals & Environment, Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Health, and Youth Development. By supporting these diverse areas, the Community Foundation aims to address a wide range of community needs and foster overall well-being in the Quad Cities region. The Operations and Program Grant program prioritizes several key areas. Preference is given to applications seeking general operating support and those supporting existing successful organizations or programs. The program also focuses on organizations and programs that meet an identified community need in at least one of the six fields of interest, demonstrate effectiveness in achieving their goals, and strongly contribute to overall success. Furthermore, a significant focus is placed on organizations that advance racial and other forms of equity in the Quad Cities region through their actions and leadership, and those with a track record of success and positive community impact. Expected outcomes include enhanced organizational stability and effectiveness for nonprofits, improved community well-being across various sectors, and the advancement of equity in the Quad Cities region. Measurable results are tied to the effectiveness of programs, the achievement of organizational goals relative to dollars used, and the demonstrated positive community impact. The Community Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are evident in its commitment to flexible and reliable funding, its focus on general operating support, and its emphasis on supporting established, successful initiatives that address identified community needs and promote equity. Each fund within the program maintains its original purposes and donor intent, ensuring that grants are awarded in alignment with specific areas such as risk management, arts and culture, or youth development.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is offering the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) to advance pollinator conservation. The core mission of this fund is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. This aligns with NFWF’s broader Monarch Butterfly Business Plan, indicating a strategic, long-term commitment to these species. The fund aims to support both technical assistance for private working lands and direct habitat improvement projects. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include monarch butterflies and other at-risk native insect pollinator species, such as the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. The program also indirectly benefits private landowners, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, especially those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by providing resources and incentives for conservation practices on their lands. The overall impact goal is to significantly enhance the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across eligible states. The Pollinator Fund has two main categories of focus. The first is Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands, which prioritizes increasing voluntary engagement of private landowners in conservation practices through staff resources and targeted outreach for Farm Bill programs like CSP and EQIP. The second category, Habitat Improvement, focuses on on-the-ground restoration and enhancement of pollinator habitat, emphasizing regionally appropriate milkweed and diverse native nectar plants, as well as increasing the supply of native seeds and seedlings. These priorities align with NFWF's strategic goal of fostering sustainable ecosystems through direct habitat restoration and incentivizing private land stewardship. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to this program. All proposals must demonstrate how they will directly and measurably contribute to the Pollinator Fund's goals, specifically by providing the number of acres restored or enhanced. A minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states must be restored or enhanced. Historically, successful projects have averaged 2,120 acres, indicating a substantial scale for expected impact. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial assistance and technical support, and by focusing on key geographical areas and species, NFWF can effectively reverse declines in monarch and other native pollinator populations, thereby contributing to broader ecosystem health and biodiversity. The total funding of up to $5.1 million in 2024, contributed by a diverse group of partners, underscores the collaborative and impactful nature of this strategic initiative.

The Economic Development Match Grant, offered by the Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD), aims to foster collaboration among funders and support economic development projects in Woodbury County, Iowa. This grant is specifically designed for initiatives requiring substantial funding and partnership, aligning with MRHD's mission to stimulate local economic growth. The MRHD's strategic priorities are evident in the grant's focus on creating and retaining jobs, developing a critical job force, supporting new projects or services with significant community impact, and improving the overall quality of life and community development. The grant targets educational entities, local governments, and tax-exempt organizations whose principal place of business and project are located within Woodbury County, IA. The intended beneficiaries are the citizens of Woodbury County, with a strong emphasis on projects that demonstrate a lasting impact on the community's economic development and/or the specific target population. The grant seeks to achieve measurable impact by funding projects that are sustainable beyond the grant period, have clearly stated and measurable outcomes, and, if applicable, a sound evaluation process. Proposals must align with at least one of MRHD's four economic development focus areas: job creation and retention, critical job force development, new projects or services with substantial community impact, and improved quality of life and community development. Furthermore, projects must be a demonstrated priority by the community, leveraging private, public, and/or community resources, and maximizing stakeholder collaboration. This approach reflects MRHD's theory of change, which posits that by fostering partnerships and supporting impactful, sustainable projects, they can drive significant and lasting economic and social improvements within Woodbury County. Expected outcomes include projects that are sustainable long-term, do not require additional grants for maintenance, and have clearly stated, measurable outcomes with a sound evaluation process. Successful proposals will also demonstrate a strong community priority, utilize local resources, and provide a detailed project budget with evidence of a match. With a total of $1,000,000 available for the FY24 grant cycle, and maximum awards ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000, the MRHD is committed to investing in high-impact projects that align with its vision for a thriving Woodbury County.

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

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities to support projects that enhance community life in Worth County, Iowa, across various sectors such as arts, education, health, and environment.

This program empowers high school students in Black Hawk County to distribute funds to nonprofit organizations, fostering youth philanthropy and community engagement.