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
Is your organization making a difference in Waterloo? We’d love to hear from you! Our competitive grant cycle is now open, and we’re inviting proposals that strengthen our community in one of five areas:
Health and Human Services – Strengthens the well-being of individuals and families by addressing basic needs, promoting health, and providing essential social services.
Arts & Culture –Â Supports creative expression and cultural experiences that enrich the community, including the visual, performing, and literary arts.
Education – Advances learning and skill development at all ages, from early childhood through adult education, preparing individuals for personal and professional success.
Economic Development – Fosters community growth and prosperity by supporting initiatives that create jobs, strengthen local businesses, and enhance economic opportunity.
Inclusion – Promotes Ability Awareness, the recognition that what someone can do matters more than what they cannot, and ensures equal access to opportunities, resources, and participation for everyone, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disabilities. Inclusion emphasizes participation together, not separation.
Our typical grant size is $5,000. All grant requests are reviewed by a team of community members and approved by our Board of Directors.
Our Online Grant System Has Been Updated
Applications are submitted through our online grants portal. If you’ve applied for a grant with us before, you’ll notice a refreshed look to the Online Applicant Dashboard. All your current and past information is still available, but the layout has been redesigned. Learn more about the updated dashboard here.
If you need help accessing the grants portal or have any questions about the application process, please reach out to Paige Price at paige.price@wloocommunityfoundation.org or 319-883-6022. We are happy to help!
The application and required documents are due by Thursday, October 9 at 4:00 p.m.
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 trains youth in daily life skills such as communication, decision-making, relationship building, and more through interactive role-playing, creative expression, and physical activity programming.
Lutheran Services in Iowa – Black Hawk County Baby Safety Project
The Baby Safety Project coordinates with local providers such as hospitals and home visitation programs 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 empowers disconnected youth through a performing arts competition and an Excellence Expo featuring college and career resources, leadership and wellness seminars, and workshops in dance, step, flag, and drum.
Waterloo Public Library – Discovery Table for Youth Department
The Waterloo Public Library’s newly renovated Youth Area now features a Discovery Table with a lightbox top. This engaging space is fostering hands-on earning, 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.
Cedar Valley Youth Sports Association – CVYSA Access to Youth Sports
CVYS offers recreational league sports to the youth of the Cedar Valley. Through this grant, they will be able to provide 100 children with free youth sports for the summer of 2026.
Refugee and Immigrant Youth Organization (RIYO) – Youth Navigator Program
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 and supports the livelihood of local farmers by providing vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers.
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley – BGCCV STAR Program
BGCCV is partnering with UNI’s Department of Social Work to pilot the STAR (Support and Training for Adolescent Resilience) Program, providing a site for undergraduate students to offer behavioral and mental health support to in-need Club kids.
Friends of the Family – Housing Retention Program
Friends of the Family accelerates permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness by recruiting landlords to expand affordable options. They also offer RentWise training to equip individual with skills to obtain and maintain stable housing.
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
