Grants
Partner With Us
We are committed to staying engaged with the work of our local nonprofits and the needs of our neighbors so we can connect donors to the causes that matter. Our grant funding has supported young nonprofits as they get off the ground and those who are well-established prepare for the future.
Schedule a meeting with Program Manager Paige Price
We would love to get to know you and learn more about what your nonprofit is doing to serve Waterloo!
Paige Price
Program Manager
Grant Opportunities
Each fall, we seek grant proposals from qualified organizations benefiting the community of Waterloo in one of four areas: health and human services, arts and culture, education, or economic development. Our typical grant size is $5,000 and requests may be submitted for capacity building or programmatic projects.
2024 Grant Recipients
We awarded $50,000 in competitive grant funding in 2024.
Back 2 Basics – At Risk Diversion Intervention Program
The At Risk Diversion Intervention program is housed in a dedicated classroom space on the East side of Waterloo. Youth are trained in daily life skills such as communication, decision-making, relationship building, and more through interactive role-playing, creative expression, and physical activity programming.
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley – BGCCV STAR Program
BGCCV is partnering with UNI’s Department of Social Work to implement a pilot program, STAR (Support and Training for Adolescent Resilience) that provides a site for undergraduate students to provide behavioral and mental health support to in-need Club kids. Their goal is to reduce behavioral reports and suspensions for these Club kids, often those who need BGCCV the most.
Cedar Valley Youth Sports Association – CVYSA Access to Youth Sports
CVYS offers a place for youth in the Cedar Valley to learn the true meaning of sportsmanship, inclusion, fun, and teamwork through the dedication of the community, volunteers, coaches, umpires, and parents. Through this grant, they will be able to provide 100 children with free youth sports for the summer.
Friends of the Family – Housing Retention Program
Friends of the Family promotes rapid access to permanent housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness through active landlord recruitment, retention, and mediation, which increases the number of partner landlords offering affordable housing options. Additionally, they provide the RentWise Curriculum to empower community members with the knowledge and skills needed to secure and sustain stable housing.
Lutheran Services in Iowa – Black Hawk County Baby Safety Project
The Baby Safety Project coordinates with local providers such as hospitals, home visitation programs, etc. to provide essential infant safety items including car seats, pack-n-plays, child-proofing materials, and parent education to families in need.
Marching Against the Darkness – MATD Programming 2025
Marching Against The Darkness provides a performing arts platform that challenges disconnected youth to achieve excellence both during the competition and in life. The 4th annual Excellence Expo is in early fall 2025 at the Waterloo Career Center. This free event provides a college and career fair, seminars on leadership, mental wellness, and financial empowerment; and performing arts workshops on dance, step, flag, and drum.
Refugee and Immigrant Youth Organization (RIYO) – Youth Navigator Program Â
RIYO empowers refugee and immigrant youth through youth-led and community-driven solutions. The Youth Navigator Leadership Program is a 7 month leadership fellowship designed for 10 high school ELL (English Language Learner) students from diverse backgrounds, equipping them with essential leadership skills, career readiness, and fostering their overall well-being.
University of Northern Iowa Foundation – Veggie Vouchers
The Veggie Vouchers program helps close the nutrition gap for food insecure families, supports the livelihood of local farmers, and enhances the economic resilience of our Cedar Valley community by providing over $100,000 in vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers markets. Vouchers are distributed by seven host sites (MercyOne, ACE-SAP Free Clinic, UnityPoint Clinics, Peoples Community Health Clinic, Black Hawk County Public Health, Basurto Behavioral Health, and Jesse Cosby Center) who prescribe vouchers to clients with food insecurity and diet-related health conditions.
Waterloo Public Library – Discovery Table for Youth Department
The Waterloo Public Library is enhancing the newly renovated Youth Area with the addition of a Discovery Table with Lightbox Top. This table offers an interactive space that encourages hands-on learning, creativity, problem solving, and exploration through play.
Waterloo Schools – History in our Hometown
The History in Our Hometown project seeks to connect 8th grade students to the rich history of their community, particularly the events of the 1960s in East Waterloo. Students will engage in a guided tour of historic sites in Waterloo and a panel discussion with individuals who participated in the 1969 East High sit-in.
Past Grant Recipients
- Allen College, ACE-SAP Free Clinic
- Allen College, Summer Nurse and Health Careers Camp
- Back to Basics, Youth Empowerment Program
- Black Hawk Children’s Theatre, Waterloo Schools Theatre Field Trips
- Black Hawk County Public Health, Highland Community Garden
- Black Hawk County Sheriff, LOST Program (Loved Ones Safe Together)
- Boys and Girls Club, Group Mentoring Program
- Boys and Girls Club, Together We Can Capital Campaign
- EMBARC, Community Producers Program
- Eye of the Needle, Bringing It All Together Again
- Eye of the Needle, Here We Go Again, with Enthusiasm
- Eye of the Needle, Mobility Increases My Ability
- Grin and Grow, Child Care for Single Moms
- Grout Museum, Engagement and Isolation Relief for Seniors
- Grout Museum, Sensory-Friendly and Special Needs Programming
- Hawkeye Community College, Cedar Valley Health Summit
- Hawkeye Community College, Family Literacy Program
- Hospitality House, Bathroom Renovation
- House of Hope, Pillars Porch Replacement
- I Believe Leadership and Sports Academy, Empowering Men
- Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity
- Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center, Fan and Heat Relief Program
- Koats4Kids, Koats4Kids Program
- Leader Valley, Lincoln Elementary Leader in Me
- Link CCD , Link Youth Team
- Lutheran Services in Iowa, Black Hawk County Immigrant and Refugee Community Services Expansion
- Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Local Produce Purchasing Pilot Project
- North End Update, “Ms. Rocki n Chaveevah LIVE” show
- North Star, “Act-Ability” Inclusive Theatre Project
- North Star, “Inter-ACT-ion” Inclusive Community Theatre
- One City United, Momentum Urban Employment Program
- One City United, To Work Program
- Quota International, Cops ‘N Kids Literacy Program
- Riverview Center, Waterloo Crisis Intervention Program
- Salvation Army of Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Waterloo Salvation Basketball
- Silos and Smokestacks, Promoting Agri-Tourist
- Together for Youth, Health Education in the Waterloo Community School District
- Try Pie, Try Pie Food Truck
- Vision to Learn, Waterloo Student Vision Care
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, Evolution of African American Music Concert and Residencies
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, July 4th Concert at Riverloop Amphitheater
- Waterloo Public Library – Youth Area Update
- Waterloo Youth City Council, Start Up and One Time Cost
