Iowa West Foundation grants more than $5 million to local nonprofits

Multi-year funding accounts for nearly half of total dollars awarded

The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $5.1 million in grants and initiatives to nearly 30 nonprofits in the region. Approximately $2.4 million went to nonprofits with missions centered on healthy families, education, and arts enrichment for youth in southwest Iowa, in the form of multi-year funding for operating costs.

“The multi-year funding program has provided more than $10 million to nonprofits who serve Iowa residents,” said Brenda Mainwaring, ““It’s difficult for nonprofits to secure funds for operating expenses.  We decided to address that gap in the funding stream. Our multi-year funding program is designed for long-standing nonprofit partners and allows them to focus less on fundraising and more on their missions for the community.”

The funding is critical to organizations like Council Bluffs’ based FAMILY Inc., which received $120,000 for the sixth year in a row.

“Our partnership with Iowa West Foundation on the multi-year funding program has been transformational,” said Kimberly Kolakowski, Executive Director of FAMILY Inc. “As a result of receiving operational funds that allow the organization’s focus to remain on serving families, we have implemented new programming, expanded infrastructure within the organization and ensured employees have the tools and training they need to provide the highest quality services.”

Mainwaring credits the long-term partnership with Ameristar, Harrah’s, and Horseshoe for the Foundation’s ability to make such a meaningful, long-term impact in the community. Fees from gaming and investment income are what enables Iowa West to fund operating, capital and programmatic grants throughout 18 counties in southwest Iowa.

For this cycle, the rural communities of Audubon, Griswold, Harlan, Treynor, and Woodbine received funding for placemaking projects in their communities, including recreation amenities, infrastructure upgrades, and fire safety. Treynor resident Wendy Andersen is “extremely grateful” for the $50,000 grant for a project that will include an inclusive playground, splash pad, and memorial trailhead in her community.

“This grant solidifies and ensures that we are able to start the construction process right now,” Andersen said. “We are excited to have an inclusive gathering place in the community for all families to experience life together.”

The Iowa West Foundation now accepts Letters of Inquiry (the first step in the grant application process) year-round with deadlines of Jan. 1, May. 1 and Sept. 1 prior to each of the three grants cycles. For more information on recent changes to the application process, a virtual grants workshop will be held on Thursday, April 21. Details and registration can be found at: www.iowawestfoundation.org.

2022 Cycle 1 Grants and Initiatives

American Midwest Ballet
Multi-year funding
$125,000

Audubon Recreation Foundation
Recreation center expansion
$75,000

Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands
Multi-Year funding
$85,000

Bridges Out of Poverty
Southwest Iowa Poverty Alleviation Initiative
$100,000

City of Griswold
Main Street revitalization
$40,000

Durham Museum
Multi-year funding
$25,000

FAMILY Inc.
Multi-year funding
$120,000

Green Hills AEA
Multi-year funding – preschool
$1,100,000

Golden Hills Resource Conservation & Development
Kitchen Council
$100,000

Heartland Family Service
Multi-year funding
$330,000

Iowa Western Community College Foundation
Multi-year funding – Arts Center
$30,000

Iowa Western Community College
Pottawattamie Promise
$542,443

Immigrant Legal Services
Multi-year funding
$65,000

Joslyn Art Museum
Multi-year funding
$25,000

Joslyn Art Museum
Evolve Joslyn capital campaign
$500,000

Lauritzen Gardens
Play and Grow
$500,000

Lauritzen Garden
Multi-year funding
$12,500

Lutheran Family Services
Multi-year funding
$50,000

Merrymakers Association
Music, Memories and Joy to southwest Iowa senior citizens
$4,488

MICAH House
Multi-year funding
$90,000

Omaha Children’s Museum
Multi-year funding
$45,000

Omaha Symphony Association
Multi-year funding
$25,000

Opera Omaha
Multi-year funding
$25,000

Rose Theater
Multi-year funding
$25,000

Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE)
Multi-year funding
$200,000

Pottawattamie County
CITIES Program – Carson
$24,000 

Pottawattamie County
CITIES Program – Neola
$100,000

Shelby County Fair Corporation
Fairground Improvements
$25,000

Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund
Housing repair
$100,000

Southwest Iowa Leadership Academy
Summer Leadership Academy
$6,250 

Treynor State Bank Community Foundation
The T – recreation center
$50,000

United Way of the Midlands
Community Care Fund
$255,500

Woodbine Fire & Rescue
Extrication Gear for EMS
$1,638