Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
/OVERVIEW: 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.
IP TAKE: This is the top grantmaker in the state of Iowa, and because of its affiliate program, numerous counties are served by CFGDM evenoutside of the Des Moines region.
PROFILE: Established in 1969, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines (CFGDM) is a community foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. Community leaders came together to create this foundation to improve the lives of people in Greater Des Moines and invest in critical needs here, and it was originally administered by the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. CFGDM aims to improve the “quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about, and providing leadership on important community issues.” It funds local efforts for arts and culture, community betterment, education, health, social capital, strengthening individuals and families, workforce development, and capacity-building.
Grants for Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education, Health, and Work and Economic Opportunity
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines offers competitive grant cycles for its Better Together Fund for leadership grants and also for capacity-building grants. Leadership grants focus on important community issues and the leaders who are moving projects forward to strengthen Greater Des Moines. Capacity-building grants fund governance, management, development, and support around priority community issues. Within its grantmaking focus areas, interests include reducing barriers to health, improving neighborhoods, access to the arts, underrepresented communities, job training, and collaborations for academic achievement.
Past local grantees include Community Youth Concepts and the By Degrees Foundation.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $5,000 and $50,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the funder’s recent leadership grants page of its website. Grantmaking focuses on the Des Moines region of Iowa. However, CFGDM has affiliate foundations that focus on the following Iowa counties: Adair, Boone, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clarinda, Clay, Dallas, Davis, Dickinson, Greene, and the Greater Carlisle Community.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits for leadership and capacity-building grants. Leadership grants have two cycles, with letters of inquiry due in the spring and fall. CFGDM accepts capacity-building grant applications at any time of the year. Each affiliate foundation has its own grant application deadlines each year. Direct general questions to the staff at 515-883-2626 or via online form.
PEOPLE:
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