Stories

Iowa West Foundation funnels $3 million + into southwest Iowa communities

November 22, 2021

Grants & initiatives bolster education, economic development, placemaking and healthy families (Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $3.2 million in grants and initiatives, bringing the total funding awarded in 2021 to approximately $16 million. Causes that received financial support ranged from bolstering entrepreneurs and workforce development to providing more accessibility […]

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Iowa West Foundation announces multi-million dollar round of grants & initiatives

July 6, 2021

Projects and programs will help multiple communities in southwest Iowa The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently awarded $3.7 million in grants and initiatives to 25+ area nonprofits and government entities. The impact will be felt throughout the region as the funding reaches the communities of Atlantic, Audubon, Clarinda, Council Bluffs, Elk Horn, Hancock, […]

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One Year Later: Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund A Lifeline for Local Arts & Culture Nonprofits

March 28, 2021

Pottawattamie County museums grateful for IWF, PCCF support From shutdowns to sanitizing to social distancing, pandemic protocol has forced local arts and culture nonprofits that rely on visitors to repeatedly adjust and adapt over the past year. Even though their buildings were often closed down, expenses didn’t stop piling up. Therefore, the nonprofit continuity of […]

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Iowa West Foundation awards more than $9 million in grants and initiatives

March 7, 2021

More than a dozen southwest Iowa communities receive funding for education & wellness (Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently awarded $9.4 million in grants and initiatives to several area nonprofits. Missions fueled by this cycle of funding include alleviating poverty, providing essential equipment for volunteer firefighters, supporting infrastructure and amenities in […]

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Foundations Fuel Hospitals’ Joint Effort to Combat COVID-19

February 16, 2021

(Council Bluffs, IA) – In a world full of competition, four distinct, yet like-minded organizations in the heartland have come together for the common good. The Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund, a collaboration between the Iowa West Foundation and the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, recently awarded $150,000 – approximately $75,000 each – to the two […]

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Iowa West Elects New Board Member

January 24, 2021

Iowa West’s Board of Directors recently elected a new board member to serve a 3-year term. Steve Baumert, CEO of Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, brings decades of experience to the role, having served on a number of nonprofit boards throughout southwest Iowa including the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest […]

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“Looking Up” Sculpture Moving Out of Council Bluffs’ River’s Edge

December 2, 2020

Similar version of popular art piece by Tom Friedman will fill empty space in 2021 (Council Bluffs, IA)  The popular “Looking Up” sculpture along the Council Bluffs Riverfront, which serves as a unique photo backdrop for residents and visitors alike, will be removed and transported to a private location this week. However, the space won’t […]

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Iowa West Foundation awards more than $2 Million in final cycle of 2020

November 16, 2020

Grants primarily focused on healthy families (Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved nearly $2.3 million in grants and initiatives funding, with a focus on programs and projects that seek to strengthen families in Pottawattamie County. The healthy families portfolio includes critical community needs such as mental health, housing/homelessness, and diversity. […]

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BLink Wi-Fi Celebrates Five Years Online

October 30, 2020

Thousands of students and residents access the Internet for free daily; more expansion coming soon (COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA) – In October of 2015, the City of Council Bluffs and Council Bluffs Schools, with support from key partners such as Iowa West Foundation and Google, launched Phase 1 of a free public Wi-Fi initiative at the […]

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