Grantmaking Priorities
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines utilizes a strategic grantmaking plan which furthers its Leadership Agenda. Through its grantmaking and community programs, the Community Foundation is committed to allocating substantial resources towards specific strategies and outcomes.
The Leadership Agenda is reviewed annually by the Community Foundation Grantmaking Committee. Community initiatives and plans are discussed and aligned to the Leadership Agenda. Research these community plans and priorities for more information.
Highest priority is given to proposals that address one or more of the following aspects of the Community Foundation's Leadership Agenda. Applicants are strongly encouraged to articulate the proposed project's direct and aligned connection with the Leadership Agenda.
These targeted outcomes include
- Social Capital - build community connections through
partnership and collaboration; strengthen under-represented communities by
building capacity and connections; utilize community assets to advance a shared
vision.
- Arts and Culture - strengthen the administrative and artistic
capacity of arts and cultural organizations, particularly projects that enhance
earned revenue; improve access to the arts for new and underserved audiences.
- Community Betterment - improve the quality of the environment
through conservation, restoration and educational efforts; improve the quality
of life through community beautification or restoration efforts; improve the
quality of the community through economic development strategies; improve the
quality of neighborhoods through capacity building efforts.
- Education - promote collaborative initiatives to improve academic achievement,
particularly for children and youth identified as low-income, at-risk of
dropping out or falling below educational benchmarks or are from minority
populations.
- Health - promote health education and advocacy to provide better access to
healthcare for low-income and uninsured persons.
- Strengthening Children, Youth and Families - develop support systems for children, youth
and families; impact critical issues that negatively affect children, youth and
family development; develop progressive strategies to address critical human
needs issues, such as homelessness, affordable housing, and poverty
- Workforce Development - assist at-risk individuals to become self-supporting through job training and job skills enhancement, connect disadvantaged job seekers with meaningful employment.
Eligibility Requirements
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines is committed to the priorities of the Leadership Agenda. Please note, these priorities are reviewed on an annual basis and may be adjusted to reflect emerging trends and issues in the community.
Grants are made only to charitable organizations or causes with 501(c)(3) status, or to governmental agencies. Geographically, funding is limited to projects that will significantly improve the Greater Des Moines community.
Applicants submitting a Leadership Grant Letter of Intent are required to speak with Community Foundation Director of Community Investment and Initiatives Angela Dethlefs-Trettin. Your organization will not be considered for a Leadership Grant if you have not met with Community Foundation staff.
The Community Foundation will not consider
- Ongoing annual operating expenses
- Grants to individuals
- Sectarian religious programs
- Projects not serving residents of the Greater Des Moines community