Community Foundation Advances Community Priorities Through Grants Totaling $750,000
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines recently supported local initiatives that help families gain access to physical and mental health resources and access to food and supportive services. Leadership Grants totaling $750,000 have been awarded to:
- Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) for the establishment of a legal services program that helps refugee families meet requirements to access healthcare and food assistance,
- Oakridge Neighborhood Services for an Integrated Health Pilot Program to embed behavioral health services within its housing community and
- WayPoint Resources to co-locate their existing food pantry, as well as supportive services, to an expanded standalone space.
As families navigate the complexities of putting food on the table and obtaining access to healthcare services, these grants represent meaningful investments in the long-term health and resilience of our community,” said Kristi Knous, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. “They strengthen pathways for access to supportive services that build stronger foundations and promote quality of life for all.”
Leadership Grants are grounded in regional and community plan alignment. They invest in initiatives that drive change, significantly influence community outcomes and/or challenge existing systems to address the root causes of community issues through targeted strategies. Leadership Grants are made possible by the Better Together Fund.
Donor support of the Better Together Fund provides for community needs now and into the future, as identified through the Community Foundation’s grantmaking process facilitated by the organization’s expert staff, Grantmaking Committee and Board of Directors.
Immigration Legal Services – Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI) ($100,000)
Funding will support the establishment of a legal services program to help refugee individuals and families secure or maintain legal status, impacting their access to healthcare, food assistance and employment. The project prioritizes engagement by offering culturally and linguistically responsive services and shifts to a preventative, coordinated model through collaboration with existing immigrant and refugee legal service providers. The program will launch with a goal of impacting more than 700 filings over a two-year period.
Support from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines will help expand access to timely and trusted legal assistance that enables individuals and families to maintain employment authorization, access healthcare and nutrition benefits and pursue long-term stability,” said Laura Thako, director of immigrant and refugee community services with LSI. “By helping families secure the resources they need to thrive, this investment strengthens both individual households and the broader Central Iowa community.”
Integrated Health Pilot Program – Oakridge Neighborhood Services ($150,000)
Investment will connect behavioral health services to the Oakridge Neighborhood housing community, which serves more than 700 residents that are considered low-income, as well as clients Oakridge serves throughout Central Iowa. The Integrated Health Pilot Program will provide onsite screenings, care coordination and ongoing mental health support through licensed clinicians and navigators, reducing barriers such as transportation and cost. The pilot aims to shift care to preventative, improving access and continuity and building a sustainable model through diversified funding streams.
"This grant helps make it possible for us to launch Oakridge’s behavioral health pilot, which will serve as a bridge, connecting residents to existing community services, strengthening continuity of care and ensuring no one has to navigate the system alone,” said Deidre DeJear, president and CEO of Oakridge Neighborhood Services. “A trusted, community-based behavioral health pilot that brings care directly to residents will reduce barriers such as transportation, language, cost, stigma and unfamiliar systems. The pilot will help address urgent needs earlier, and create a more accessible, community-centered model of care.”
On Our Way: Facility Relocation & Expansion – WayPoint Resources ($500,000)
Funding will support co-location of services within the Waukee service area, including a food pantry, free healthcare clinic, emergency rental assistance and clothing closet, to a standalone space with expanded square footage, enhanced accessibility and additional hours of operation. In Waukee, one in four households falls below the ALICE (asset limited, income-constrained and employed) threshold. The expansion and integrated service model will allow for projected annual growth of 8,500-10,000 household visits annually, a 30-50 percent increase.
"Waukee is one of Iowa’s fastest-growing cities, but growth does not mean every family is thriving,” said Melissa Stimple, executive director of WayPoint Resources. “This Leadership Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines will help us strengthen a coordinated system of care, making it easier for families to address multiple needs in a single visit and connect with support before a difficult situation becomes a crisis.”
Investments from the Leadership Grant program prioritize and foster inclusive engagement and impact to improve quality of life for all in our community. The Community Foundation Fall Leadership Grant Cycle is now open and accepting letters of intent by October 1, 2026, at noon. To learn more about Leadership Grant application, guidelines and instructions, click here.
Additional details on Leadership Grant recipients and how to get involved are available here: