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IOWA WEST FOUNDATION

Iowa West Foundation

Iowa West Foundation

Contact information:
25 Main Place, Suite 550
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Phone: 712-309-3000
Website:http://www.iowawestfoundation.org/

Type of foundation: Independent

Types of grants: Program, equipment, general operating, seed money, capital, scholarships.

Description: The Iowa West Racing Association (IWRA) was officially formed in 1984, and the Iowa West Foundation was established in 1994. The Foundation is funded by investment income and the IWRA, which receives contracted fees paid by local casino operators - Ameristar and Harrah's. The Foundation supports many communities in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. It funds organizations working in the areas of:

  • Community Development & Beautification: Focusing on neighborhood revitalization and beautification.
  • Economic Development: Focusing on promoting retention and creation of family wage jobs that result in increased economic self-sufficiency for area families and residents. The Foundation sees its role as building the capacity of the public and the non-profit sectors to effectively plan and manage economic development projects.
  • Education: Focusing on new and innovative programs that promote life-long learning, academic performance and workforce preparation. The Foundation also supports early childhood education programs serving children from economically and educationally disadvantaged families in Pottawattamie County. 
  • Human and Social Needs: Focusing on programs that strengthen families, address the needs of underserved youth, provide services to senior citizens and help citizens to reach their potential (e.g., homeless/transitional housing needs; teen pregnancy reduction; prenatal care services; chemical dependency programs).

Sample grants:

  • $5.2 million over five years to fund curriculum development, instructional coaches and summer school in the Council Bluffs Community School District (2009).
  • $1,300,000 to Loess Hills Area Education Agency 13 for early childhood learning programs in Pottawattamie County school districts (2008).
  • $230,000 to Iowa Public Television for a mobile digital unit and southwest Iowa programming (2007).
  • $75,000 to Film Streams for a start-up capital campaign for a non-profit cinematic organization in Omaha (2006).
  • $17,000 to Iowa Newspaper Foundation to provide newspapers in school classrooms (2008).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation is strongly committed to funding innovative programs that improve education and quality of life in the communities it serves. There may be room for public media projects that address these issues. The Foundation is strongly interested in supporting collaborations among community partners as a means of expanding impact, which may also provide opportunities for public media.

Eligibility: Applicant must be an IRS-approved tax-exempt non-profit under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as described in IRC 501(c) (3) or a tax-exempt school or other government entity. The Foundation's geographic focus is southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska, the primary focus being Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County.

Deadline: There are quarterly deadlines for letters of inquiry. Full proposals are due two weeks after each letter of inquiry deadline. The Foundation begins accepting applications approximately one month prior to each letter of inquiry deadline.

How to apply: Applicants should start with the online eligibility quiz, which provides access to the online application. Applicants are encouraged to consult with Foundation staff. Staff are willing to meet with applicants regarding proposals prior to their submission.

Foundation staff refer proposals to four grant advisory committees that correspond with the Foundation's four focus areas. Community volunteers serve on these advisory committees. Recommendations from Foundation staff and the grant advisory committees are then forwarded to the Board of Directors' Grant Review Committee for their consideration in making funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. Applicants should not lobby the community volunteers regarding their proposals.

Applicants are encouraged to secure, minimally, a dollar-for-dollar match for their grant requests.

Grants are not awarded for:

  • Political campaigns or any attempt to influence elections or legislation.
  • Individuals, other than through the Foundation's scholarship program.
  • For-profit businesses.
  • Projects outside of southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska.
  • Benefit and fundraising events, such as galas or golf tournaments.
  • Capital campaigns for hospitals, medical facilities, assisted living projects, nursing homes, independent care and extended care facilities.
  • Capital requests for improvements to school property.
  • Financing publications, films, books, seminars, symposia and conferences.
  • Funding proposals that were declined by the Foundation board within the previous 12 months.

Giving range: Varies widely, but several grants are in the $100,000 – $500,000 range. Some major grants range up to $3,000,000. 

Assets: $273,570,815 (2008)

Total giving: $20,820,597 (2008)

View 2008 Annual Report.