Community Foundation for western iowa awards $65,364 in 2025 impact grants funding cycle

(Council Bluffs) - After a thorough evaluation process, the Community Foundation for Western Iowa and its Impact Grants Committee – a group of county residents and board members – are pleased to announce this year’s grant award recipients. The Community Foundation elected to award 42 Community Impact Grants totaling $65,364.00 to nonprofit and city organizations throughout Pottawattamie County.

The Community Foundation received 72 grant proposals totaling $285,630.33 in project requests, with combined total project budgets exceeding $9 million, signifying the incredible work being done in the communities throughout Pottawattamie County.

Individual grant awards for this year’s funding cycle ranged from $500 to $4,000 to benefit innovative and meaningful projects that align with the Foundation’s mission to improve the lives of all county residents. Annually, Community Impact Grants funding is eligible to any tax-exempt, nonprofit organization or governmental entity for creative or impactful projects that meet a clear, identifiable need in Pottawattamie County. Grants are allocated to projects in a variety of focus areas, such as: Arts & Culture, Community Betterment, Community Engagement, Education, Environment, Health, Human Services, and Youth.

Donna Dostal, CEO of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, states: “On behalf of the Board of Directors, Impact Grants Committee, and staff at the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, we are honored to support the transformative work of our nonprofit and city partners. Pottawattamie County and southwest Iowa are strengthened every day by the work of these mission-driven organizations to build stronger, healthier, and vibrant communities. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to each of these outstanding organizations and look forward to the lasting change these grants will help bring to our communities.” 

The majority of the Community Foundation’s grant-making is directed by donors who have established funds to purposefully impact charities located within our community and throughout Western Iowa. The Community Impact Grants are given from the discretionary funds of the Community Foundation. Dostal added that individuals and businesses can create their own fund through the Community Foundation to “give back,” and contributions can receive major tax benefits. In 2024, investors at the Community Foundation awarded 320 grants totaling nearly $3.9 million to a variety of nonprofit organizations. For information on creating a fund, please call 712-256-7007 or visit www.givewesterniowa.org for details. The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is nationally accredited by the Council on Foundations (www.cfstandards.org).

2025 community Grants Award Recipients

• AIM/Applied Information Management Institute - Southwest Iowa Youth in Tech Program

• All Care Health Center - Breaking Barriers to Care through Interpretation

• American Midwest Ballet - AMB Season 16 Education & Community Engagement

• Ataxia Connection - A Better Tomorrow Grant Program

• Avenue Scholars Southwest Iowa - Summer Career Experiences

• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands Inc. - Readers to Leaders

• Carson Business Club - 32nd Annual Carson Christmas Celebration: Gnome for the Holidays

• Carson Community Rodeo - 2025 Skybox Addition at the Carson Community Rodeo

• Carter Lake Village Winter Fest Fund - Carter Lake Village Winter Festival Lighting Ceremony

• Carter Lake Public Library - Pollinator Event

• Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus - Back to School

• CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs - The Basic Health Needs Assistance Program

• City of Avoca - Entertainment and Customer Engagement on Avoca Main Street

• City of Avoca - Holidays on Main 2025

• Council Bluffs C.A.R.E.S. Inc - Tropical Paradise Prom 2025

• Council Bluffs Public Library - Reminisce and Visit with the Library

• Dexter's Dream Foundation - Sensory Santa

• Dreamweaver Foundation - Music, Laughter, and Memories for Seniors

• Eckels Memorial Library - Story Walk in the Park

• Focusing Philanthropy - Increasing Vision Care Access for Students in Pottawattamie County

• Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB - It Starts With You

• Inter-Faith Response, Inc. - Program Fund

• Iowa Legal Aid - Legal Services for Low Income Pottawattamie County Residents

• Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital Foundation - Caring for Our Communities

• Macedonia Historical Preservation Society - The Painted Camel Gallery 2025 Programming

• Midlands Humane Society - Compassion in Action: Supporting Pets and Their Owners in Times of Need

• Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation - Economic Development for Immigrant Communities

• Oakland Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department - Windshield Cutter and Reciprocating  Purchase

• Omaha Bridges Out of Poverty, Inc. - Southwest Iowa Poverty Alleviation Initiative

• Omaha Performing Arts - Southwest Iowa Music & Arts Education Programs

• Omaha Symphony - 2026 Mission Imagination Education Program at Iowa Western Community College

• Partners for Livable Omaha - Council Bluffs Youth Talent Show at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park on June 15

• Pottawattamie Arts Culture & Entertainment (PACE) - 2025 Music in the Park Series

• Prevent Blindness Iowa - Children's Vision Screening

• Reach Out and Read, Inc. - Investing in Pottawattamie County’s Youngest Children

• Share My Smile - Project Birthday Joy

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. - No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town! NE-Omaha

• Southwest Iowa Art Tour - 12th Annual Southwest Iowa Art Tour

• Southwest Iowa Leadership Academy - 2025-26 Leadership Programs

• TeamMates Mentoring Lewis Central - Furnishing for Mentoring Areas

• The Salvation Army - Personal Care Pantry

• Thriving Titans - Thriving Titans Clothing Closet

• Visiting Nurse Association of Pottawattamie County (VNAPC) - Parenting Support- Helping Pottawattamie County Families Thrive

• Walnut Community Center Foundation, Inc. - Playground Update