Grantmaking Priorities

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines supports catalytic community impact through strategic Leadership Grants, made possible by the Better Together Fund. The Grantmaking Committee annually reviews comprehensive community plans/visions as part of the process to determine the Grantmaking Priorities. Specific details on the targeted strategies within each focus area can be found here

  1. Arts & Culture
  2. Community Betterment
  3. Education
  4. Health
  5. Social Capital
  6. Strengthening Individuals & Families in our Community
  7. Workforce Development

Community Plans and Visions

The following community plans were part of the Grantmaking Committee’s review process; we invite you to learn more about the goals and strategies of these plans and how you can contribute to catalytic community solutions by clicking on the links below.   

  1. AARP Age Friendly City Priorities 
  2. Capital Crossroads 2.0
  3. Central Iowa Children’s Mental Health Crisis Services Planning Initiative
  4. Central Iowa Regional Cultural Assessment
  5. Challenges and Opportunities for Mental Health and Substance Use Service Delivery in Central Iowa 
  6. Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) 2021
  7. DART 2035
  8. Des Moines Regional Workforce Housing Strategy (Here We Grow)
  9. Des Moines Vision 2031
  10. Downtown DSM: Future Forward
  11. Ending Youth Homelessness Plan
  12. Housing Tomorrow Plan
  13. Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance for Community Development
  14. Nuestro Iowa Report
  15. One Economy Report (2017) & The Blueprint for Action (2020) 
  16. OpportUNITY: Creating Prosperity for All
  17. Refugee Community Plan
  18. The Path Forward: Strategies to advance an end to homelessness in Polk County
  19. The Tomorrow Plan
  20. United Way of Central Iowa - Five Elements of a Thriving Community
  21. Unsheltered Des Moines Study