Grants for Nonprofit Organizations

The Community Foundation has two competitive grant programs made possible by contributions to the Better Together Fund: Leadership Grants and Capacity Building Grants. Additionally, the Community Foundation is currently accepting requests for Nonprofit Adaptation Grants in response to ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic.

Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to the Community Impact team to discuss project goals and alignment prior to applying. Please contact Kameron Middlebrooks to schedule a conversation.

Funding needs not aligned with our competitive grant programs that meet our focus on creating impact for Greater Des Moines may be a fit for our GIVEdsm portal. Contact givedsm@desmoinesfoundation.org for organizational credentials.

Nonprofit Adaptation Grants

The pandemic is continuing to impact and grow the technology needs of nonprofit organizations as they strive to continue day-to-day operations and respond to the changing environment. In recognition of the extra and unanticipated technology needs facing the nonprofit sector as we mange the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has re-launched the Nonprofit Adaptation Grant program to complement our existing Capacity Building Grant program.

Nonprofit Adaptation Grant Details & Cycle:

Review Nonprofit Adaptation Grant Guidelines and Instructions.
Requests should be sent as a 1-page letter via email to Kameron Middlebrooks outlining organizational need and project cost by Monday, November 1 at 4 p.m.

Leadership Grants

The Community Foundation plays a key role in providing significant funding to projects that improve quality of life in Greater Des Moines. As our community continues to contend with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, we have intentionally evolved our grantmaking priorities and cycles to provide more nimble funding, center grant awards around equity, and serve populations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. We draw our grantmaking focus areas and priorities from more than a dozen key community plans, collected her e .

Leadership Grant Details & Cycle:

Grant Cycle 1: Letter of Intent due February 25 at noon, finalists notified March 4, full applications due March 22 at 4 p.m., grants approved April 15
Grant Cycle 2: Letter of Intent due April 14 at noon, finalists notified April 23, full applications due May 17 at 4 p.m., grants approved June 17

Capacity Building Grants

Capacity Building Grants seek to strengthen an organization’s effectiveness. We provide funding for strategic initiatives in areas related to governance or management and coalition development/strategic alignments around a community issue or priority.

Capacity Building Grant Details & Cycle:

Review 2021 Capacity Building Grant Guidelines and Instructions.
Capacity Building Grants are awarded throughout the year and can be requested at any time.