Iowa West Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $16.6 million (136 grants annually)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 3 months from full application
Grant Range: $5,000 - $360,000 (average $108,935)
Geographic Focus: Southwest Iowa (primary: Pottawattamie County; secondary: Iowa counties of Cass, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Shelby and Nebraska counties of Douglas, Sarpy, Washington)
Assets: $492.6 million

Contact Details

Website: https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/

Email: grantinfo@iowawestfoundation.org

Phone: 712-309-3003

Address: 4201 River's Edge Parkway Suite 400, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Grant Inquiries: The Foundation encourages new applicants and past grantees to reach out to the grants team with questions about policies and procedures

Overview

Established in 1992 and beginning grant operations in 1994, Iowa West Foundation is a major community foundation serving southwest Iowa. With assets of $492.6 million, the foundation distributes approximately $16.6 million annually through 136 grants. The foundation is funded by the nonprofit Iowa West Racing Association, a licensed sponsor for two casino operators. Under the leadership of President & CEO Brenda Mainwaring (appointed September 2020), the foundation focuses on creating vibrant communities where residents love to live, employees can learn as they earn, and places to play are plentiful. Following extensive community listening sessions called "Imagine Hour," the foundation identified three priority areas: housing for all, education with purpose, and recreation for wellbeing. The foundation is governed by a 16-member volunteer board of directors from Pottawattamie County, with nominations made by the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, City Council, school districts, County Board of Supervisors, and current board members.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation awards four types of grants through three annual cycles:

Program Grants: Support defined projects or activities tied to specific outcomes aligned with foundation priorities. Amounts vary widely based on project scope (recent examples: $34,000-$360,000)
Operating Grants: Unrestricted support for overall organizational activities, including administrative functions. Only available to organizations that own or lease commercial office space in Pottawattamie County
Capital Grants: Restricted grants supporting infrastructure needs through acquisition, construction, or installation of facilities or equipment (recent examples: $100,000-$300,000)
Capacity/Start-up Grants: For new organizations or programs

All grants are awarded through an online application process via the GivingData portal on a rolling basis with three annual deadlines.

Priority Areas

Based on community input from "Imagine Hour" listening sessions, the foundation prioritizes:

Housing for All

Supportive housing for families at risk of homelessness
Homeownership and home repair programs
Homeless services and shelter support
Housing creation and rehabilitation

Education with Purpose

Workforce education initiatives
STEM enrichment programs
Internship programs
Dropout prevention in local schools
Preschool programs

Recreation for Wellbeing

Community amenities and beautification
Arts and sports entertainment events
Parks and recreational facilities
Infrastructure improvements in rural southwest Iowa

Other Areas

Economic development support
Fire department equipment and public safety
Conservation efforts
Poverty alleviation initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Organizational Types

Individuals
Private businesses
501(c)(3) private foundations
Pass-through or regranting programs

Medical/Healthcare

Medical facilities (hospitals, assisted living, nursing homes, independent care, extended care)
Medical research
Medical equipment
Medical education
Hospital charity care assistance

Other Exclusions

Endowment campaigns
Benefits or fundraising events (galas, golf tournaments, school dinners)
Publications, films, books, seminars, symposia, conferences
Activities involving inappropriate discrimination
Same program within 12 months of previous application

Geographic Restrictions

Projects outside their primary service area (Pottawattamie County) and secondary/tertiary service areas (specified Iowa and Nebraska counties)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Brenda Mainwaring, President & CEO - Appointed September 2020, previously served as Vice President of Public Affairs for Union Pacific Railroad, involved in economic development, community engagement, and government relations. Appointed to Iowa Economic Development Authority Board with term through April 2029.

Matthew Henkes, Vice President of Grants and Initiatives - Oversees both grants management and programmatic work of the foundation

Nicole Lindquist, Director of Communications

Michelle Wodtke Franks, Program Officer

The foundation employs nine staff members in total.

Board Leadership

Board Chair: Tara Slevin

Board Vice Chair: Tammy Pavich

The foundation has a 16-member volunteer board of directors comprised of community leaders from throughout Pottawattamie County, plus two ex-officio members (representatives from City Council and Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors), and 11 volunteer Advisory Committee members who review grant applications.

Recent Board Appointments: Laura Heisterkamp and Sarah Yrkoski (Pottawattamie County residents) began four-year terms in 2025.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Iowa West Foundation uses a two-step application process entirely online through the GivingData portal:

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Create an account in GivingData grants management system (required as of December 1, 2023)
Submit LOI through online portal at https://iwf.givingdata.com/portal/login
LOIs accepted year-round on a rolling basis
Used to confirm eligibility and screen applications incompatible with foundation policies
Response typically provided via email within 5 business days

Step 2: Full Application

Invited applicants receive a link to complete the full grant application
Foundation staff will reach out to schedule a meeting with every applicant following submission
All application materials submitted through online portal

Grant Cycles and Deadlines (2025-2026)

Three annual cycles with the following deadlines (all at 11:59 PM):

Cycle 1: January 2 (LOI) / January 15 (Full Application)
Cycle 2: May 1 (LOI) / May 15 (Full Application)
Cycle 3: September 2 (LOI) / September 15 (Full Application)

Important: The Foundation adheres strictly to 11:59 PM deadlines. LOIs or applications submitted after deadline will not be considered for that cycle but will roll to the next cycle.

Grant Workshops: The foundation offers workshops to help organizations learn about the application process, understand priorities, and ask staff questions to aid in submitting strong proposals.

Decision Timeline

Approximately 3 months after full application submission, the Foundation notifies all grant applicants of funding decisions
LOI responses typically within 5 business days
Notification via email

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific success rate statistics. However, the foundation awards approximately 136 grants annually totaling $16.6 million, indicating substantial grant-making activity across three annual cycles.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that submitted an application within the past 12 months may not reapply for the same program during that period
No specific waiting period mentioned for unsuccessful applicants applying for different programs
Applicants encouraged to contact grants team with questions about reapplication eligibility

Application Success Factors

Matching Funds Strategy

Critical: The Iowa West Foundation will not fund more than 50% of eligible project costs. Projects requiring a smaller percentage of Iowa West funding are viewed more favorably by the Grants Review Committee.

In-kind contributions can count for up to 15% of the total eligible budget as match
Demonstrate diverse funding sources and organizational sustainability

Alignment with Community Priorities

Applications must demonstrate results in the foundation's four target outcomes identified through community listening sessions:

Vibrant communities where residents love to live
Employees can learn as they earn
Places to play are plentiful
Support for housing, education, and recreation priorities

Budget Integrity

Significant changes to budget or information provided in the LOI may turn an eligible request into ineligible
Discuss any major changes with the grants team before submission
Ensure accuracy and consistency throughout application process

Pre-Application Engagement

Foundation encourages new applicants and past grantees to reach out to grants team with questions
Attend grant workshops offered by the foundation
Staff meets with every applicant after application submission - use this as an opportunity to strengthen your case

Geographic Focus

Strongest preference for projects in Pottawattamie County (primary service area)
Secondary consideration for projects in specified Iowa counties (Cass, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Shelby) and Nebraska counties (Douglas, Sarpy, Washington)
Clearly demonstrate community impact in designated service areas

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Understanding what the foundation has recently funded provides insight into priorities:

Anawim Housing ($360,000) - Supportive housing for families at risk of homelessness
Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs ($300,000) - Homeownership and home repair program
Advance Southwest Iowa ($225,000) - Economic development support
New Vision Homeless Services ($125,000) - Operating funding
City of Corning ($100,000) - Davis Avenue Streetscape
Iowa Legal Aid ($75,000) - Eviction prevention
AEA ($1.3 million) - Preschool programs
IWCC Arts Center ($34,000) - 2024-2025 season support

These examples show the foundation's commitment to housing, education, community infrastructure, and supporting vulnerable populations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Match funding requirement is critical: Projects requiring less than 50% Iowa West funding are viewed more favorably - diversify your funding sources and demonstrate financial sustainability
Engage early and often: Contact the grants team before applying, attend workshops, and use the required staff meeting after submission strategically
Align tightly with community-identified priorities: Reference the foundation's four target outcomes and three priority areas (housing, education, recreation) directly in your application
Geographic specificity matters: Strongest consideration for Pottawattamie County projects; clearly demonstrate impact in designated service areas
Operating grants have strict requirements: Only available to organizations with commercial office space in Pottawattamie County - capital and program grants have broader eligibility
Budget consistency is essential: Any significant changes between LOI and full application may affect eligibility - communicate with staff about modifications
Three-year cycle for same program: Cannot reapply for the same program within 12 months, so ensure applications are well-prepared and comprehensive

References

Iowa West Foundation Official Website - Home: https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - Application Process: https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/grantmaking/application-process/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - Types of Grants We Award: https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/grantmaking/types-of-grants-we-award/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - What We Don't Fund: https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/grantmaking/what-we-dont-fund/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - Who We Are (Foundation Staff): https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - Grant Archive: https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/grant-archive/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
"Iowa West Foundation Awards $3.9 Million In Grants & Initiatives" (April 2025): https://www.iowawestfoundation.org/news/iowa-west-foundation-awards-3-9-million-in-grants-initiatives/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
"Iowa West Foundation announces $2 million in grant, initiative funding" - KMA Land: https://www.kmaland.com/news/iowa-west-foundation-announces-2-million-in-grant-initiative-funding/article_a980a96d-95ec-42cd-822e-385d4c15ed8e.html (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center, University of Iowa: https://inrc.law.uiowa.edu/grants/iowa-west-foundation (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/42-1391990 (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Iowa West Foundation - Cause IQ: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/iowa-west-foundation,421391990/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)
"Iowa West Foundation welcomes 2 new board members" - Nonpareil Online: https://nonpareilonline.com/news/local/iowa-west-foundation-board-directors-racing-association/article_bb4ae184-d842-11ef-b677-633be0c467be.html (Accessed December 27, 2025)
Brenda Mainwaring LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendamainwaring/ (Accessed December 27, 2025)