Best Grants for Preschools in Iowa

Boone County Community Foundation

The Boone County Community Foundation was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment projects in Boone County. The foundation is made up of community minded individuals who have the ability to assess community needs, implement asset development, evaluate area grant applications, encourage partnerships and initiate activities to enhance Boone County.

Mission: The Boone County Community Foundation is a charitable foundation created by and for local citizens to improve the quality of life right here in our communities. We are here to help donors make a positive, local impact by offering a variety of giving tools to help people achieve their charitable giving goals and do good work in our communities that lasts forever.

Grants

Each year the foundation makes grant awards to worthwhile projects located in the county that are identified through a community grants application process. Our foundation’s areas of emphasis include: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.

Three types of grants based on grant amount: Simple Grant; Standard Grant and Impact Grant

Impact Grant

$15,001 and up

The Lawson Charitable Foundation offers Amplify Grants to support nonprofits in New England and beyond, focusing on large-scale initiatives and fundraising efforts. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,000, these funds are intended to inspire additional donations and enhance organizational capacity. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits, aligning with the foundation's mission and demonstrating sustainability beyond the grant period. Priority is given to projects serving New England.

The CAFE Group 

We resource leaders, invest in their genius, and bring people together to reimagine what philanthropy can do.

Founded by Liz and Don Thompson, The CAFE Group is a national nonprofit transforming how change is resourced. 

With a focus on education equity, social capital, and philanthropic transformation, we pair catalytic funding, community-rooted leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen the people and institutions shaping a more just future. Everything we do is grounded in relationship, because we believe the way resources move matters just as much as where they land.

The 1954 Project Luminary Award

The 1954 Project Luminary Award celebrates transformational education nonprofit leaders dedicated to serving Black students and communities through powerful investments in their organizations' ability to create lasting change.

The Luminary Experience

Each Luminary organization gets more than funding. Through The 1954 Project, leaders gain a community, a platform, and space to grow with tailored support over the course of the three year journey.​

• $1 Million, Unrestricted: Catalytic funding to expand what’s working.
• Leadership Coaching + Capacity Support: Guidance from peers and experts who are committed to helping you build a lasting, impactful organization.
• National Network: Luminaries join a powerful community of innovators, change-makers, and visionaries driving systemic progress to support students and communities across the U.S.

The 1954 Project’s Impact Areas

We focus on three interconnected areas critical to advancing equity:

• Innovation in Teaching and Learning: Create education models that center Black students through culturally affirming approaches that challenge traditional structures and transform how learning happens, ultimately serving all students. 
• Diversity in Education: Build pathways that increase and sustain Black educators and education leaders who transform where and how students learn.
• Pathways to Economic Mobility: Build pathways to wealth, ownership, and economic power for Black students, families, and communities through innovative educational programming.

Our Selection Criteria

We seek out extraordinary applicants who embody our values and vision across three categories:

Leader: We look for leaders whose influence and vision contribute to the collective well-being and advancement of the Black community. These leaders:

• Are Visionary: They demonstrate a strategic and pragmatic mindset, articulating a transformative vision for significant, positive change.
• Show Demonstrated Commitment: They embody steadfast dedication to your cause, inspiring and influencing others, and galvanizing community involvement.
• Are Adaptive: They assertively tackle challenges, turning setbacks into opportunities for innovation, while maintaining humility and thoughtfulness in problem-solving.

Organization: We look for organizations that drive significant change, anchored by a deep love for people and driven by the genius within communities of color. These organizations: 

• Have a Defined Problem: They clearly identify the issue they are addressing and explain in detail how your organization tackles root causes. 
• Take a Strategic Approach: They have clear, measurable, and achievable organizational goals with a well-defined strategy informed by thorough analysis. 
• Show Demonstrated Impact: They have a tested model that has produced positive results, incorporating continuous learning and iteration. 
• Have a Transformation Plan: They present a clear plan for using the $1M award to advance your organization's mission, vision, and long-term goals. 
• Embrace Collaboration: They use collaborate to build partnerships based on trust, love, and common goals. 

Radical Imagination: We seek leaders who challenge and redesign societal norms to build a just and equitable future. They demonstrate:

• Community-Rooted Leadership: They maintain and cultivate genuine community ties, integrating professional expertise and personal commitment to drive visionary, impactful strategies. 
• Long-Term Commitment: They are in it for the long haul, committing to sustained impact across generations and prioritizing long-lasting solutions over short-term gains. 
• Collectivism: They embody the philosophy of "I am because we are," actively engaging in collaborative networks and fostering community-reflective solutions. 

The 2026 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program aims to tackle economic, health, and environmental issues in communities through innovative tree resource utilization. By transforming wood from various sources into valuable products like lumber and biochar, this initiative promotes local economies and enhances community resilience. Projects should align with community forestry plans, adhere to safety standards, and provide job creation opportunities, ultimately fostering sustainable urban forest management and utilization.

The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) aims to enhance access to essential preventive clinical and public health services for children through community-driven initiatives. Funded by the US HHS: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), this program focuses on empowering local communities to implement effective strategies that improve children's health outcomes and promote overall well-being. Projects funded under this initiative will play a vital role in ensuring healthier futures for children.

The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) program aims to enhance maternal health outcomes by providing technical assistance across all U.S. states and territories. This initiative focuses on implementing best practices to improve safety during childbirth, ultimately saving lives. By supporting jurisdictions and birthing facilities involved in AIM, the program seeks to promote quality improvements in maternal health care, ensuring safer births and better health for mothers and infants.

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association provides the best way for practitioners to give back to the Federal legal community. Chartered by Congress in 1954, the Foundation serves people in communities across the United States through its generous grants, scholarships, and programming.

Our Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to:

• Promote and support legal research and education;
• Advance the science of jurisprudence;
• Facilitate the administration of justice;
• Foster improvements in the practice of Federal law

Foundation Grants

Foundation grants support community service projects and civics programs which comply with the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education; advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law.

Pathways to the Profession Grant

The Pathways to the Profession Grant Program is designed to support educational, community service, or outreach projects and initiatives that support pathway programs and events that encourage high school, college and law school students, and newer lawyers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue and succeed in a legal career through educational, networking, mentorship programs and other opportunities. Through targeted funding, the program empowers FBA chapters, sections, divisions, national standing committees (FBA entity) and other organizations to develop and support projects that make a lasting impact on their communities.

Applicants may only receive one (1) Foundation grant per year.

About

Patient Advocate Foundation provides financial assistance to help patients afford treatment and cost of living needs, personalized case management to navigate complex healthcare and social needs challenges, and a wide array of resources to empower people to take charge of their health. Since our founding in 1996—and joining forces with the PAN Foundation in 2026—we have helped 3.8 million patients navigate and access care, granted over $7 billion in financial assistance, served 350,000 people through personalized case management and elevated the patient’s voice to drive improvements in the healthcare system.

Rett Syndrome (RS) Fund

Help with healthcare costs for Rett syndrome.

This TotalAssist fund helps you pay for out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including medication copays, coinsurance, and deductibles, health insurance premiums, and other expenses. Check your eligibility with our quick and easy tools below. If this fund is open, apply today for an instant approval decision and use your grant funding right away

About the disease

Rett syndrome (RS or RTT) is a rare, genetic neurological disorder that causes a loss of motor and spoken language skills, as well as other physical and neurologic impairments early in life.

Diagnosis codes

F84.2

The Pulmonary Hypertension Fund, supported by the Patient Advocate Foundation, offers financial assistance for patients dealing with pulmonary hypertension. This fund covers essential healthcare costs, including medication copays and health insurance premiums. Patients must meet specific eligibility criteria, such as having a confirmed diagnosis and appropriate health insurance. Since 1996, the foundation has empowered millions to navigate healthcare challenges, ensuring they receive the care they need without financial burden.

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association provides the best way for practitioners to give back to the Federal legal community. Chartered by Congress in 1954, the Foundation serves people in communities across the United States through its generous grants, scholarships, and programming.

Our Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to:

• Promote and support legal research and education;
• Advance the science of jurisprudence;
• Facilitate the administration of justice;
• Foster improvements in the practice of Federal law

Foundation Grants

Foundation grants support community service projects and civics programs which comply with the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education; advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law.

Community Outreach Grant

The Community Outreach Grants Program is designed to support projects and initiatives that provide legal services in local communities. Through targeted funding, the program empowers FBA chapters, sections, divisions, national standing committees (FBA entity) and other organizations to develop and support projects that make a lasting impact on their communities.

Applicants may only receive one (1) Foundation grant per year.

The Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) Fund, established by the Patient Advocate Foundation, offers vital financial assistance to patients managing the costs of treatment for primary biliary cholangitis. This fund covers out-of-pocket healthcare expenses such as medication copays and health insurance premiums, enabling individuals to access necessary treatments. Since its inception, the foundation has empowered millions by providing personalized support and resources, aiming to improve patient care and health outcomes.

The Pompe Disease Health Equity Fund, supported by the Patient Advocate Foundation, offers crucial financial assistance to patients diagnosed with Pompe disease. This fund helps cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including medication copays and health insurance premiums. Eligibility requires a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan, along with meeting specific income criteria. With a mission to enhance health equity, the fund empowers patients to access necessary care and improve their quality of life.

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association provides the best way for practitioners to give back to the Federal legal community. Chartered by Congress in 1954, the Foundation serves people in communities across the United States through its generous grants, scholarships, and programming.

Our Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to:

• Promote and support legal research and education;
• Advance the science of jurisprudence;
• Facilitate the administration of justice;
• Foster improvements in the practice of Federal law

Foundation Grants

Foundation grants support community service projects and civics programs which comply with the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education; advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law.

Civics Education Grant

The Civics Grant Program is designed to support projects and initiatives that promote a wider public understanding of democratic principles, the judicial system and the rule of law. Through targeted funding, the program empowers FBA chapters, sections, divisions, national standing committees (FBA entity), and other organizations to develop and support projects in their communities that foster public understanding of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, particularly among younger Americans.

Applicants may only receive one (1) Foundation grant per year.

The Pompe Disease Fund, supported by the Patient Advocate Foundation, offers vital financial assistance to individuals diagnosed with Pompe disease. This fund covers out-of-pocket healthcare costs including medication copays and health insurance premiums. Eligible patients must have a confirmed diagnosis and be receiving treatment or planning to start within 60 days. With over 3.8 million patients helped since its inception, the fund aims to alleviate financial burdens and enhance access to necessary treatments.

About Us

Who We Are

We unite people, ideas, and resources to transform lives across Story County, working toward our vision of a connected and thriving community.

Making a Difference since 1953

Since 1953, United Way of Story County (UWSC) has been a trusted leader and convener, mobilizing our community to create lasting change. We believe transformation happens when neighbors, businesses, nonprofits, and volunteers unite around shared goals.

A connected and thriving Story County.

Unite people, ideas, and resources to transform lives in Story County.

Investing in You

We provide grants to local nonprofits that are dedicated to serving Story County in our focus areas of health, education, and financial security. These grants aim to empower organizations that are making a difference in our community, helping them to enhance their programs and reach more individuals in need.

Community Impact Grants

These grants support unanticipated, emerging, or other distinct under-funded needs that further the mission of UWSC.

Law School Admission Council Inc (LSAC) is committed to promoting access in legal education and the legal profession. LSAC will consider grant proposals from institutions for projects focused on one or more of our strategic goals.LSAC Outreach GrantsLSAC's Board of Trustees has made available funds to support cooperative outreach and applicant-pool expansion events. These grants are designed to encourage law schools to work together to promote legal education. At least three LSAC-member schools must work together on each event. Examples of eligible events include law fairs, conferences, workshops, or other events that are a combination of these types.

Tree and Soil Research Fund for Landscape Architecture Grant Program

The TREE Fund Board of Trustees is launching the new Tree and Soil Research Grant, made possible by a permanently restricted endowment fund supporting areas of research of interest to the landscape architecture community with special focus in the area of trees and the soils that support them. Projects are expected to be completed within one to three years, with a maximum award value of $10,000. No project may receive more than one award from this program. 

Award amount:

• up to $10,000 (minimum $5,000) 

Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines improves quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about and providing leadership on important community issues…we’re simply better together. 

Lucas County Community Foundation

The mission of the Lucas County Community Foundation is to invest in projects that will make a difference in the lives of current and future Lucas County residents.

The Lucas County Community Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life throughout Lucas County by investing in area nonprofits through our grant programs and by providing individuals, families and area businesses who love our communities with a way to give back.

Lucas County Community Foundation Grants

Grants are available to 501(c)3 organizations and government entities serving Lucas County. Grant selections are made in an effort to create a better quality of life for people in Lucas County. The local governing committee reviews the applications from charitable organizations serving their community. 

Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines improves quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about and providing leadership on important community issues…we’re simply better together.

Enhance Henry County Community Foundation

The mission of the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation is to foster private giving, strengthen service providers and improve the conditions of the county. To these ends, it will promote endowment building, community, grantmaking, organizational collaboration, and public leadership for the benefit of Henry County.

Enhance Henry County Community Foundation Grants

The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation will provide grants to improve life in Henry County, Iowa. We want to help develop all our communities into places where people want to live, as well as to benefit rural areas of the county. Areas of Foundation giving are: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.

Grants are available to 501(c)3 organizations and government entities serving Henry County. Grant selections are made in an effort to create a better quality of life for people in Henry County. The local governing committee reviews the applications from charitable organizations serving their community.

Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines improves quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about and providing leadership on important community issues…we’re simply better together. 

Foundation of Greater Plymouth County

The Foundation of Greater Plymouth County was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment projects in Plymouth County. The CFGPC is an affiliate of the Iowa Community Affiliate Network, a collaboration of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Iowa Area Development Group Community Foundation. Each year the Foundation makes grant awards to worthwhile projects located in the county that are identified through this community grant application process.

Foundation of Greater Plymouth County Grants

Grants are available to 501(c)3 organizations and government entities serving Plymouth County. Grant selections are made in an effort to create a better quality of life for people in Plymouth County. The local governing committee reviews the applications from charitable organizations serving their community. Our areas of emphasis include:

• Children, Youth, and Families
• Community Betterment-Neighborhoods and Community Development
• Health and Human Services
• Education
• Environment
• Arts and Culture

Keokuk Area Community Foundation

Established in 2004, the Keokuk Area Community Foundation receives charitable gifts and grants from individuals, families, business, and corporations to establish permanent endowments for the benefit of Southeast Iowa, Western Illinois, and Northeast Missouri.

The mission of the Keokuk Area Community Foundation is to build endowments to assist community needs, foster growth for leadership, and create flourishing nonprofit organizations, charities, schools, and churches. 

Kowzan / Sandrock Grant Fund

It’s been twenty years since the North Lee Community Foundation founders dreamed of what could happen if they pooled their resources and worked with others to resolve their community’s challenges and build on their strengths. The mission they embraced was to give back to Lee County, create leaders, and promote nonprofit organizations. The Sandrock Trust and Joe Kowzan were instrumental in spreading that mission. To honor both Joe Kowzan and Sandrock, the North Lee Community Foundation renamed its grant fund the Kowzan/Sandrock Grant Fund in 2025.

All projects should serve the charitable fields of arts and culture, community betterment, education, health care and human services.

Who is Stand Together?

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, a unique network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society.

Foreign Policy Grants

A government’s most important task is to secure the rights and liberties of its citizens—in part, by providing for the common defense. For this reason, the United States should maintain a strong military to keep America safe, prosperous, and free.

In recent decades, the United States has pursued an approach to foreign policy known as primacy or liberal hegemony. This foreign policy has required active and aggressive U.S. military engagement around the globe that has undermined our safety and imperiled our prosperity and liberties.

The Trust supports scholars and institutions interested in challenging the current approach, providing alternative visions for U.S. foreign policy, and engaging in research that can bridge the gap between ideas and policy. The Trust is especially interested in foreign policy research projects from political science, international relations, history, or economics. However, proposals from all fields will be considered on their merits.

Grant Info

We are especially interested in research that:

• Explores topics and issues related to a grand strategy of restraint.
• Examines the role of values and ethics in the formulation of U.S. foreign policy.
• Addresses the unintended consequences of U.S. military actions abroad and explores the costs and impact of engagements in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other places where significant counterterrorism efforts have been conducted.
• Considers the impact of U.S. military engagement abroad on American society—for instance, the effect of our foreign policy decisions on civil liberties or the health and welfare of veterans.
• Explores the concept of threat inflation and problematizes theories of credibility and reputation in relation to U.S. foreign policy.
• Analyzes executive–legislative relations in foreign policy, including the constitutional division of war powers.
• Examines the impact of domestic interest groups, businesses, think tanks, and the permanent national security bureaucracy on U.S. foreign policy.
• Explores the growth of the intelligence and national security establishments since 9/11.
• Surveys the costs, risks, and impacts of foreign aid and alliance commitments.
• Studies the costs and benefits of burden-sharing and burden-shifting with current allies.
• Scrutinizes Pentagon spending, force structure, and the strategic demands of U.S. defense policy—including structural incentives for military expenditures.
• Considers the consequences of an increasingly multipolar world, especially as concerns principal geostrategic regions (e.g., Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Western Pacific).
• Explores how changes in technology (such as A2/AD) that impact the offense-defense balance can be leveraged to support a sound approach to grand strategy.

Grant Criteria

Please submit a brief of no more than 3 pages that details the scope of the project. We are open to any type of project: papers, communications campaigns, conferences and convenings, school tours, and much more (we welcome creative ideas).

Funding

Funding levels are commensurate with the requirements of the research and the potential for the research to advance an understanding of critical issues. Accepted proposals may also receive support to disseminate the research findings.

Promoting Appanoose & Centerville Together (PACT) Iowa

Every thriving community has a strong foundation, and for Centerville and Appanoose County, that foundation got a huge boost in January 2021 with the formation of PACT. We’re proud to be the result of a thoughtful merger between three cornerstones of our community: the Centerville Chamber of Commerce, the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation, and Main Street Centerville. This powerful combination means we now have a streamlined, focused approach to uplift our unique Southern Iowa community, nestled invitingly near the tranquil waters of Lake Rathbun. 

Our core purpose is clear: to be a proactive, volunteer-driven organization. We work tirelessly to help businesses stay, grow, and settle here, creating new jobs across Appanoose County and revitalizing downtown Centerville. We’re also committed to preserving our local treasures and fostering an environment where every business can flourish.

PACT Iowa Marketing Materials Grant

The Marketing Materials Match Grant helps PACT member businesses and organizations create professional promotional materials that market their products, services, events, or experiences. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until available funds have been exhausted and are typically reviewed within seven days of submission. Applicants must submit a project quote or invoice and a copy or rendering of the proposed marketing material with their application.

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) aims to enhance maternal and child health, promote early childhood development, and support family well-being. By providing voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to pregnant women and families with young children, the program addresses critical needs in communities. Funded by the US HHS: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), MIECHV empowers families through tailored support and resources, fostering healthier outcomes for mothers and their children.