Learn about grants for Iowa by browsing our curated list of top Iowa funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.
Giving Trends in Iowa
Iowa’s economy is dominated by agriculture and food production, with the vast majority of the state’s land used for farming. There are about 1,700 households in Iowa that manage a private foundation, and 62 private foundations with assets over $10 million, according to a report by the nonprofit consulting firm Eden+. Grants for Iowa have amounted to more than $1 billion per year in recent years, Candid data shows.
Iowa has a strong network of more than 130 community foundations that make grants for Iowa. Endow Iowa, a substantial state tax credit for donations to Iowa community foundations, bolsters support for these locally focused grantmakers. Community foundations as well as private and family foundations and corporate funders come together through the Iowa Council of Foundations, which is focused on strengthening and growing Iowa philanthropy.
Community foundations are top funders in Iowa, and private, family, health conversion, and corporate foundations also play a role in making grants for Iowa. Leading funders of Iowa grants include the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Quad Cities Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Iowa West Foundation, Catholic Health Initiatives, Central Iowa Hospital Corporation, St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital, Richard Jacobson Foundation, United Way of Central Iowa, Prairie Meadows Race Track & Casino, Hawkeye Area Community Action Program,The Principal Financial Group Foundation, AEGON Transamerica Foundation, MidAmerican Energy Company,John Ruan Foundation Trust, Hall-Perrine Foundation, and Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust.
Foundations in Iowa
ADAMS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Adams Community Foundation supports education, the environment, animals, health, public and society benefit and human services in Iowa.
ATHENE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Athene Charitable Foundation supports education, human services and health and wellbeing in Iowa.
HAROLD R. BECHTEL CHARITABLE TRUST
The Harold R. Bechtel Charitable Trust supports education, youth, and arts and culture in Iowa.
MARIE H. BECHTEL CHARITABLE TRUST
The Marie H. Bechtel Charitable Trust supports education, health, economic development, arts and culture, libraries, and youth in Iowa.
ROY J. CARVER CHARITABLE TRUST
The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust supports elementary and secondary education, higher education, medical and scientific research, youth services and recreation, and community libraries in Iowa and Northwest Illinois.
CLARDINA FOUNDATION
The Clarinda Foundation supports arts, culture, humanities, community betterment, education, health, human service, recreation and the environment in Iowa.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DES MOINES
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines supports arts and culture, community betterment, education, health, social capital, strengthening individuals and families, workforce development, and capacity-building in Iowa.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque supports technical assistance, women and children, youth, arts and culture, basic needs, education, and other community needs in the Dubuque region of Iowa.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON COUNTY
The Community Foundation of Jackson County supports community development, diversity, education, environment, family development, fine arts, health, human services, historical projects, senior citizen programs, wellness projects, and youth programs in Maquoketa and other communities in Jackson County, Iowa.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JOHNSON COUNTY
The Community Foundation of Johnson County supports health, human services, education, the arts, the environment, youth services and social services in Iowa.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MUSCATINE
The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine supports health, arts and culture, education, human services, housing, youth, environment and heritage in Iowa.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHEAST IOWA
The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa arts and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation, and human services in the Northeastern region of Iowa.
EMC INSURANCE FOUNDATION
The EMC Insurance Foundation supports art, health, human services, recreation, housing, education, literacy, youth and other community cases in Iowa.
FORT DODGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Fort Dodge Community Foundation supports quality of life, youth, the common good, economic vitality and community betterment in North Central Iowa.
PETER H. AND LUCILLE GAASS KUYPER FOUNDATION
The Peter H. and Lucille Gaass Kuyper Foundation support human services, education, religion, arts and health in Iowa.
GREATER CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation supports education, health, human services, arts and culture, environment, and public benefit in the Cedar Rapids are of Iowa.
GREATER JEFFERSON COUNTY FOUNDATION
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation supports education, arts and culture, health, human services, emergency services, elderly, children and youth, and parks and recreation in Iowa.
GREATER POWESHIEK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation supports education, financial aid for students, public libraries, healthcare, arts and culture, public affairs, community development, social services, agriculture and natural resources in Iowa.
MAX AND HELEN GUERNSEY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation supports education, social issues and humanity, health, recreation, sports and fitness, family life and community betterment in Iowa.
HALL-PERRINE FOUNDATION
The Hall-Perrine Foundation supports education, historical preservation, art and culture, housing, and religion in Linn County, Iowa.
JOHN K. AND LUISE V. HANSON FOUNDATION
The John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation supports arts and culture, family recreation, and youth development and education in north-central Iowa.
HNI CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The HNI Charitable Foundation supports healthcare, education and community development initiatives in Iowa.
IOWA WEST FOUNDATION
The Iowa West Foundation supports economic development, education, healthy families, and place-making in 18 counties in Southwest Iowa and Eastern Nebraska.
JASPER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Jasper Community Foundation supports arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health, human services, recreation and other community needs in Iowa.
LAKE MILLS FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
The Lake Mills Foundation for Community Improvements supports education, youth, libraries, recreation, beautification and other community needs in Iowa.
LEE FOUNDATION
The Lee Foundation supports arts and culture, education, human services and animal welfare in Iowa.
MANSFIELD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Mansfield Charitable Foundation supports human services, education and arts and culture in Iowa.
R.J. MCELROY TRUST
The R. J. McElroy Trust supports education and youth causes in northeast Iowa.
MEREDITH CORPORATION FOUNDATION
The Meredith Corporation Foundation supports arts and culture, education and human services in Des Moines, Iowa.
MID-IOWA HEALTH FOUNDATION
The Mid-Iowa Health Foundation supports local health, especially for children and youth, in Iowa.
NORTHEAST IOWA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Northeast Iowa Charitable Foundation supports education, health, parks, human services and other community needs.
PELLA ROLSCREEN FOUNDATION
The Pella Rolscreen Foundation supports education and community betterment in Iowa and other places where the Pella company does business.
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP FOUNDATION
The Principal Financial Group Foundation supports financial security, education, arts and culture, recreation, and disaster relief in portions of Iowa and Nebraska.
JOHN RUAN FOUNDATION TRUST
The John Ruan Foundation Trust supports arts and culture, education, health, mental health, employment, and human services in Iowa and beyond.
SIOUXLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Siouxland Community Foundation supports arts and culture, civic affairs, education, environment, health, and human services in the Sioux City region of Iowa.
SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The South Central Iowa Community Foundation supports arts and culture, education, environment and animals, health, human services and public and societal benefit in Iowa.
MARTHA ELLEN TYE FOUNDATION
The Martha Ellen Tye Foundation supports arts and culture, community betterment, education and human services in Iowa.
UNITED FIRE GROUP FOUNDATION
The United Fire Group Foundation supports arts and culture, education, employment, human services and disaster relief in Iowa.
VERMEER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Vermeer Charitable Foundation supports Christian causes, education, environmental protection, and business mentoring in Iowa.
VOGEL FOUNDATION
The Vogel Foundation supports human services, housing, education, health and religion in Iowa.
YOUNG FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Young Family Foundation of Waterloo, Iowa supports the environment, conservation, natural resources and recreation in Iowa.
