The Community Foundation’s competitive grant programs are supported by the Greater Good Fund, an unrestricted, endowed fund established to help nonprofits meet the needs of Linn County. Additional support comes from Field of Interest Funds, established by donors who want to support a specific charitable cause in our community.
Program Support Grant Fund
Spring Grant Cycle Awards:
| Organization | Purpose | Amount | Fund Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American Family Resiliency Association | Resilient Youth and Family Supports and Programs | $3,650 | |
| Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre | CRO: Season Sponsorship FY25 Young Artist Program | $5,430 | Iva C. Robb Fund for Artistic Initiative, a Liars Theater Legacy Fund |
| $9,202 | Margaret I. Haupt Music Enrichment Fund | ||
| $368 | |||
| Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity | Affordable Repairs Program 2024 | $15,000 | |
| ChildServe Foundation Inc. | ChildServe – Cedar Rapids Autism Day Classroom | $13,000 | |
| Eastern Iowa Health Center | EIHC Unmet Needs Program-Serving the Community | $9,506 | Van Nostrand Fund for Health Related Activities |
| $8,844 | White Cross Society Fund | ||
| $6,650 | Nina and Victor Merveaux Fund for Health and Health-Related Programs | ||
| Friends of the Family | Shelter Services For Survivors | $793 | Homer E. and Irma B. Busby Fund for Human Services |
| $24,207 | |||
| His Hands Free Clinic | Medications for Hope and Healing | $467 | Ralph E. and Barbara J. Hughes Endowed Fund for Church-Related Human Service Activities |
| $1,384 | Nina and Victor Merveaux Fund for Health and Health-Related Programs | ||
| $23,149 | |||
| Iowa Legal Aid | Cedar Rapids Community Schools Project – Funded for two years | $44,464 | |
| $5,536 | Henry Jackson Carson Endowed Field of Interest Fund | ||
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | JA BizTown® Mobile – Where Our Community Comes to | $25,000 | |
| Linn County Public Health Department | Linn County Health Equity Workgroup | $25,000 | |
| Miracles in Motion Therapeutic Equestrian Center | Making Miracles through equine-assisted therapy | $10,000 | |
| Planned Parenthood of the Heartland | Essential Health Education for Cedar Rapids Youth | $25,000 | |
| Power of Women and Children | Vehicle Purchase to Support Underprivileged Women | $5,000 | Co-funded by Anonymous donor |
| $5,000 | |||
| Tanager | Tanager’s Mental Health Equity Fund | $370 | Abbott, Joan and Ann Lipsky Endowed Fund for Child-Centered Programs |
| $19,858 | |||
| $4,772 | Robert and Sara Stark Charitable Fund | ||
| The Freedom Foundation | Veterans Weekly Lunch | $5,000 | |
| Trees Forever | Growing Futures Workforce Development Program | $11,862 | John A. and Elsie M. Nelson Fund |
| $1,862 | GP Fund for the Environment | ||
| $11,276 | |||
| Willis Dady Homeless Services | Willis Dady Street Outreach Program | $2,435 | Tokheim Family Field of Interest Fund for the Homeless and Hungry of Cedar Rapids |
| $1,087 | Vern W. Reeder Memorial Fund | ||
| $1,217 | Claire and Vernon Hudek Fund | ||
| $15,490 | |||
| $4,771 | Robert and Sara Stark Charitable Fund | ||
| YPN | Building Bright Futures Program Support | $10,070 | Robert E. and Corinne L. Yaw Fund |
| $5,107 | Nina and Victor Merveaux Fund for Low-Income Families | ||
| $2,383 | Jay and Bonnie Petersen Fund for Children and the Underprivileged | ||
| $2,669 | |||
| $4,771 | Robert and Sara Stark Charitable Fund |
Fall Grant Cycle Awards:
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African American Museum of Iowa | Teaching Iowa’s Cultural Heritage with the AAMI | $20,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa | Building and Sustaining Effective Youth Mentoring | $25,000 |
| Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Dubuque – Cedar Rapids office | Immigration Legal Services (2-year grant) | $50,000 |
| Central Furniture Rescue | Turning a Place to Live into a Home | $10,000 |
| College Community School District | Prairie View Professional School Therapy Dog | $4,000 |
| Community Health Free Clinic | Direct Patient Care | $15,000 |
| Discovery Living | Safety: Generators for Vulnerable Individuals | $25,000 |
| Feed Iowa First | Grow Don’t Mow Program Support | $25,000 |
| Foundation 2 aka Foundation 2 Crisis Services | Emergency Youth Shelter Support | $25,000 |
| Fuerzas Culturales Ballet Folklorico de Cedar Rapids Inc | New Costumes & More Practice to Increase Capacity | $7,000 |
| Growing Real Opportunities for Work at Kazimour Farm & Orchard | GROW Spring 2025 Program | $14,784 |
| Hawkeye Area Community Action Program | Maternal Health Nurse Home Visitation Program | $25,000 |
| Heritage Area Agency on Aging | Case Management and Elder Abuse Support | $25,000 |
| Horizons – A Family Service Alliance | Closing the Gap in Meals on Wheels Funding (2-year grant) | $50,000 |
| Indian Creek Nature Center | Immersive Outdoor Field Trips for All at ICNC | $25,000 |
| Kids First Law Center | Resolving Youth Conflict & Preventing Dropout (2-year grant) | $50,000 |
| Lavender Legal Center | LGBTQ Legal Advocacy of Linn County | $25,000 |
| NewBo City Market | Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Equity | $25,000 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace | Community Bed Build 2024024 Linn County | $20,000 |
Organization Support Grant Fund
Spring Grant Cycle Awards:
| Organization | Purpose | Amount | Fund Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa | Maximizing Youth Mentoring Impact | $25,000 | |
| Brucemore Inc. | Expanding Access: Virtual Content Sharing | $17,000 | |
| Cedar Rapids Museum of Art | FY 2025 General Operating Support | $25,000 | |
| Central Furniture Rescue | Shipping Containers Storage | $10,000 | |
| Freedom Stitchers of IA | Enhance lighting and subsidize lease & utilities | $3,200 | |
| Heritage Area Agency on Aging | Heritage Area Agency on Aging | $25,000 | |
| Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development | Growing Executive & Financial Leadership Capacity | $16,500 | |
| Matthew 25 | Matthew 25 Organization Support Grant | $25,000 | |
| Orchestra Iowa | Orchestra Iowa’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan | $741 | Fund for Management Resourcing |
| $24,259 | |||
| The Arc of East Central Iowa | Operating Support for Sustainability | $25,000 | |
| The History Center | Preserving & Telling Linn County’s Stories | $25,000 | |
| United We March Forward | Welcome is Karibu | $25,000 |
Fall Grant Cycle Awards:
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African American Museum of Iowa | AAMI General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Catherine McAuley Center | Technology and Finance Support | $25,000 |
| Feed Iowa First | Organic Vegetable Distribution in Linn County | $25,000 |
| Fellowship Club Cedar Rapids | Empowering Recovery: One Meeting at a Time | $15,000 |
| Foundation 2 Crisis Services | Leadership Driven Recruitment and Retention | $25,000 |
| Horizons – A Family Service Alliance | Advance Community Commutes for Essential Services | $25,000 |
| Indian Creek Nature Center | Creating Champions of Nature for the Next 50 Years | $25,000 |
| Kids First Law Center | Attract and Retain Qualified Family Law Attorneys | $25,000 |
| Linn County Trails Association | New Sustainable Functional Website for Trail Users | $6,000 |
| Miracles in Motion Therapeutic Equestrian Center | Miracles in Motion Organizational Support | $24,000 |
| NewBo City Market | NewBo City Market 2025 Operational Support | $25,000 |
| Red Cedar Chamber Music | Building Community Through Chamber Music | $20,000 |
| Safe Place Foundation | Bus Passes for New Residents | $5,000 |
| Theatre Cedar Rapids | Theatre Cedar Rapids General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Together We Achieve | Ensuring Food Access & Essential Support Services | $25,000 |
| Wheelchair Ramp Accessibility Program Coalition | Growth and Development | $15,000 |
| Willis Dady Homeless Services | Building Futures of Self Sufficiency: WDHS | $20,000 |
Linn County Grants
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa | Empower Potential Celebrating 50 Years & Beyond | $10,000 |
| Central Furniture Rescue | Expanding Delivery Services | $5,000 |
| Families Helping Families of Iowa | Fostering Linn County’s Children in Foster Care | $10,000 |
| Friends of the Lisbon Public Library | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | $1,500 |
| Hawkeye Area Council, Boy Scouts of America | Dakin Dining Hall Remodel | $10,000 |
| Horizons – A Family Service Alliance | Southeast Linn Meals on Wheels | $10,000 |
| Iowa Legal Aid | Legal Services for Low Income Linn County Families | $10,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Dream, Believe, Achieve: Youth Empowerment Program | $10,000 |
| Kids First Law Center | Advocacy for Children of High Conflict Divorce | $10,000 |
| Lavender Legal Center | LGBTQ Legal Advocacy for Rural Linn County | $8,000 |
| Linn County Fair Association | Handicapped accessibility | $10,000 |
| Linn County Historical Society dba The History Center | Field Trip Programs Serving Linn County | $8,000 |
| Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance Service | Train Like the Real Deal. | $8,900 |
| Marion Public Library Foundation | Library materials for bookmobile | $10,000 |
| Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre | Install professional, fireretardant curtains | $10,000 |
| NewBo City Market | Incubating Linn County Farmers | $10,000 |
| Red Cedar Chamber Music | Chamber Music in Rural Linn County 2025 | $10,000 |
| Southeast Linn Community Center Corporation | Expanding Summer Meals Mount Vernon Lisbon | $2,243 |
Rapid Response Grant Fund
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African American Museum of Iowa | Emergency Expense: Elevator Repairs for Accessible Access | $2,500 |
| Brucemore Inc. | Emerging Opportunity: Ballet Des Moines Summer STEM Tour | $2,500 |
| Cedar Rapids Inferno Soccer Club | Emergency Expense: Essential Costs | $2,500 |
| Ecumenical Community Center Foundation | Emergency Expense: Critical Repairs | $2,500 |
| Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio | Emergency Expense: Outreach Van | $2,500 |
| Linn Area Mountain Bike Association | Emergency Expense: Trail Maintenance Equipment | $2,500 |
| Playtime Poppy Children’s Theatre | Emergency Expense: Transportation Costs | $2,500 |
| Word of Faith Pentecostal Church of God in Christ | Emerging Opportunity: Mental Health Awareness & Resources | $2,500 |
Endowment Challenge Grants
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NewBoCo | Supporting Long Term Impact in Iowa with NewBoCo | $25,000 |
Competitive Donor-Advised Funds
Altorfer, Inc.
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation | Inspiring Big Dreams – Westside Library Project | $2,000.00 |
| Central City PTO | Central City PTO All Inclusive Playground Project | $2,400.00 |
| Eastern Iowa Arts Academy | Repurposing Arthur: An Inclusive Arts Hub | $2,400.00 |
| Indian Creek Nature Center | All-terrain wheelchairs at ICNC | $2,000.00 |
| Linn County Trails Association | LCTA Altorfer 2024 | $2,400.00 |
| Hawkeye Area Council, Boy Scouts of America | Veterans Memorial Camp Fire Ring Accessiblity | $2,000.00 |
| Brucemore | Building on Experience: Holiday Infrastructure | $2,000.00 |
| Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity | Affordable Repairs Program | $2,500.00 |
| Central Furniture Rescue | Good Nights sleep | $2,500.00 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Dream, Believe, Achieve: Youth Empowerment Program | $3,000.00 |
| Miracles in Motion Therapeutic Equestrian Center | Adaptive Riding | $3,000.00 |
| The Freedom Foundation | Veterans Emergency Assistance Fund (VEAF) | $3,500.00 |
CRST International
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids Museum of Art | Spring 2024 Exhibition and Educational Programming | $15,000 |
| Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre | Cedar Rapids Opera: 26th season | $30,000 |
| CR Independent Film Festival | 2024 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival | $3,100 |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois | Leadership Program for Underserved Girls | $5,000 |
| His Hands Free Clinic | Expanding dental services-reaching at risk adults | $7,000 |
| Horizons, A Family Service Alliance | Meals on Wheels Food Transport | $11,100 |
| Iowa College Foundation | ICF Annual Unrestricted Request to CRST 09_23 | $5,000 |
| Iowa College Foundation | ICF Opportunity Scholarship Request to CRST 09_23 | $10,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Inspiring Choice Filled Lives: Economic Education | $20,000 |
| Kirkwood Community College Foundation | Kirkwood Community College – Aviation Maintenance | $15,603 |
| Matthew 25 | Transform Week: Improving lives with home repairs | $30,000 |
| National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library | 2024 Arts and Culture Programming | $30,000 |
| Orchestra Iowa | Orchestra Iowa’s 2023-24 Season | $35,000 |
| Tanager | A Week of Camp At Camp Tanager | $35,000 |
| The History Center | Two Admission-Free Months | $8,500 |
| Theatre Cedar Rapids | TCR’s 2023-2024 Broadway Series Sponsorship | $30,000 |
| Cornell College | Operations | $25,000 |
| Cornell College | General Support for Berry Center | $5,000 |
| Mount Mercy University | Operations | $15,000 |
| United Way of Greater Cincinnati | General Operating Support | $1,300 |
| Inland Empire United Way | General Operating Support | $10,899 |
| United Way of Allen County | General Operating Support | $7,093 |
| United Way of Central Alabama | General Operating Support | $2,879 |
| United Way of Greater Los Angeles | General Operating Support | $112 |
| Metro United Way, Inc. | General Operating Support | $687 |
| Valley of the Sun United Way – AZ | General Operating Support | $733 |
| United Way of San Joaquin County, Inc. | General Operating Support | $1,832 |
| United Way of Lane County | General Operating Support | $234 |
| United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum | General Operating Support | $692 |
| United Way of Buffalo & Erie County | General Operating Support | $2,455 |
| United Way of East Central Iowa | General Operating Support | $61,536 |
Diamond V
| Organization | Purpose | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County Trails Association | LCTA Diamond V 2024 | $5,000 | |
| African American Museum of Iowa | Teaching Iowa’s Cultural Heritage with the AAMI | $5,000 | |
| Iowa Children’s Museum | Storytime STEM intro to coding for CR elementaries | $5,000 | |
| Indian Creek Nature Center | Protecting Production at ICNC’s Permaculture Farm | $10,000 | |
| Trees Forever | Growing Futures Teen Workforce Development Program | $10,000 | |
| Deafinitely Dogs | Continuing the Growth – PTSD Service Dog Program | $2,500 | |
| ChildServe Foundation Inc. | Expansion of ChildServe-Cedar Rapids Services | $2,500 | |
| Feed Iowa First | Cultivating Communities: Growing Nutritious Food | $7,500 | |
| Hawkeye Area Council, Boy Scouts of America | Scouting for Food Community Service Project | $2,000 | |
| Horizons, A Family Service Alliance | Horizons Meals on Wheels: Aid to Older Adults | $7,500 | |
| Junior League of Cedar Rapids | Supporting a Healthy Life for Foster Youth | $2,500 | |
| Matthew 25 | Cultivate Hope | $25,000 | |
| The Freedom Foundation | Veterans Pantry | $5,000 | |
| Together We Achieve | Committed to an Empowered Linn County | $5,000 | |
| YPN | Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank Program Support | $2,500 | |
| Linn Area Mountain Bike Association aka LAMBA | Beverly Park Beginner Trail Resoration | $2,500 |
Girls With Goals
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa | Mentoring Girls: Empowering Littles to be Leaders | $1,000 |
| CAN PLAY | H.E.R.S.: Health.Empowerment.Respect.Sports | $1,000 |
| Eastern Iowa Arts Academy | Shine Bright: Arts Access to Empower Young Women | $1,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa | GSGI Mission Outreach Day at Camp | $1,000 |
| Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa | Scholarships for Linn County GOTREI Participants | $1,000 |
| Junior League of Cedar Rapids | Bridging the G.A.P. (Guide. Advocate. Provide.) | $1,000 |
| NewBoCo | Girls Who Code Clubs Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 | $1,000 |
GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African American Museum of Iowa | Juneteenth Festival | $5,000 |
| Alzheimer’s Association – Iowa Chapter | Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sponsorship | $2,000 |
| American Cancer Society – Cedar Rapids | GreatAmerica and Relay For Life 2024 | $5,000 |
| Area Substance Abuse Council | ASAC patient group room space | $10,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa | Supporting Youth Experiencing Mental Health Crises | $10,000 |
| Brucemore Inc. | Building Relevancy – History Tours 2024 | $15,000 |
| Catherine McAuley Center | Supporting ESOL Education for Adult Learners | $8,000 |
| Cedar Rapids Museum of Art | CRMA Gala 2024 Sponsorship | $10,000 |
| Cedar Rapids Museum of Art | Fall 2024 Exhibitions and Educational Programming | $15,000 |
| Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation | Inspiring Big Dreams – Westside Library Project | $100,000 |
| Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity | Walker Build | $10,000 |
| Central City PTO | Central City Playground Inclusivity Improvement | $5,000 |
| Coe College | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Community Health Free Clinic | CHFC Vision Care Services | $5,000 |
| Cornell College | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Deafinitely Dogs Inc. | Paws for a Decade – Annual Title Sponsorship | $2,500 |
| Eastern Iowa Arts Academy | “Catalyst for Change” Arts Programming Fund | $2,000 |
| Foundation 2 aka Foundation 2 Crisis Services | Emergency Youth Shelter Support | $10,000 |
| Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services | Four Oaks Achievement Academy Academic Enrichment | $5,000 |
| Harmony School of Music | Increase access for under-served children | $2,000 |
| His Hands Free Clinic | Laughter is the Best Medicine Sponsorship | $5,000 |
| Horizons – A Family Service Alliance | Meals on Heels Fundraiser | $7,500 |
| Indian Creek Nature Center | Providing Immersive Nature Programming for All | $10,000 |
| International Academy for Russian Music, Arts & Culture | IARGUS 2024: Seven-String Guitar Festival in Iowa | $2,000 |
| Iowa College Foundation | ICF Annual Request to GreatAmerica 2_24 | $20,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Inspiring Choice Filled Lives: Economic Education | $12,000 |
| Kids First Law Center | Restoring Stability for High-Conflict Families | $2,500 |
| Kirkwood Community College Foundation | GreatAmerica Financial Services Scholarship | $20,000 |
| Linn County Trails Association | LCTA 2024 Capital Request | $5,000 |
| Matthew 25 | Cultivate Hope – 180240 | $10,000 |
| Mercy Medical Center | 2024 Especially for You Race Sponsorship | $5,000 |
| Mount Mercy University | Scholarship Fund | $10,000 |
| Mount Mercy University | General Fund | $25,000 |
| National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library | Concert performance of Dvorak’s opera Rusalka | $25,000 |
| National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library | 50th Anniversary Celebration | $10,000 |
| NewBoCo | CoderDojo Cedar Rapids | $5,000 |
| Northwest Neighbors Neighborhood Association | Friends of Shakespeare Garden Education Elements | $6,000 |
| Orchestra Iowa | Orchestra Iowa’s 2023-24 Season | $30,000 |
| Patrons of the Performing Arts at Washington High School | Improved experience for youth in the arts | $5,000 |
| Red Cedar Chamber Music | Chamber Music in Linn County Public Schools | $5,000 |
| Revival Theatre Company | RTC’s production of Next to Normal | $3,000 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace | Community Bed Build 2024 Linn County | $3,000 |
| The Freedom Foundation | Veterans Weekly Lunch | $5,000 |
| The Teacher Store | Free School Supplies for Local K-12 Educators | $5,000 |
| Theatre Cedar Rapids | TCR 2025 Spring Musical Sponsorship | $35,000 |
| Trees Forever | Growing Futures Teen Workforce Development Program | $5,000 |
| Willis Dady Homeless Services | Building Pathways to Stability: Street Outreach | $10,000 |
| Zach Johnson Foundation | Kids on Course | $25,000 |
Lil’ Drug Store Products
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ChildServe Foundation Inc. | Expansion of ChildServe-Cedar Rapids Services | $2,500 |
| Eastern Iowa Arts Academy | Catalyst for Change Arts Programming Fund | $4,000 |
| Eastern Iowa Health Center | Unmet Needs Program-Providing hope in healthcare | $5,000 |
| Feed Iowa First | Clinic-Based Vegetable Distribution | $5,000 |
| Friends of the Family | Friends of the Family Safety & Sheltering Services | $5,000 |
| Iowa College Foundation | Annual Request to Lil’ Drug Store Products 6_24 | $1,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Dream, Believe, Achieve: Youth Empowerment Program | $5,000 |
| Matthew 25 | Cultivate Hope | $3,000 |
| Mercy Medical Center | 2024 Especially for You Race Sponsorship | $5,000 |
| Paradox Transitional Home | Help Immigrant Newcomers Build a Future Life | $2,300 |
| The Arc of East Central Iowa | Employment Supports for People with Disabilities | $5,000 |
| Willis Dady Emergency Shelter | PSH: A True Solution to Homelessness | $5,000 |
| YPN | Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank Program Support | $5,000 |
World Class Industries
| Organization | Purpose | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa College Foundation | ICF Annual Request to World Class Industries | $4,000 | |
| Mount Mercy University | Catherine McAuley Scholarship Program | $10,000 | |
| NewBoCo | NewBoCo Computer Science Professional Development | $5,000 | |
| Community Health Free Clinic | Direct Patient Care Services | $4,000 | |
| Catherine McAuley Center | Transportation for Newly Arrived Refugees | $5,000 | |
| Kids First Law Center | Restoring Stability for High-Conflict Families | $7,500 | |
| Matthew 25 | Cultivate Hope | $10,000 | |
| Waypoint Services | Waypoint Domestic Violence Safety Net Project | $10,000 | |
| Willis Dady Emergency Shelter | Addressing Housing Instability through Employment | $10,000 | |
| YPN | Building Bright Futures Program Support | $5,000 |