(Council Bluffs, IA) – The Iowa West Foundation board of directors recently approved $2 million in grant and initiative funding to 24 nonprofits and cities throughout southwest Iowa, with a focus on the most basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter. Brenda Mainwaring, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation, said in a news release, “Many in our community face significant financial challenges, which leads to struggles with rent and basic needs, including putting food on the table. These grants allow our partners to help community members move toward financial stability.”

Significant investments include $300,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs for homeownership and home repair programs as well as $50,000 awarded to the Corporation for Supportive Housing for the Southwest Iowa Supportive Housing Incubator. Both are aimed at addressing the availability of affordable housing, an ongoing need in Council Bluffs and throughout the country. Elly Schofield with Corporation for Supportive Housing, said “The Iowa West Foundation’s support will allow for our organization to equip housing and service providers across southwest Iowa with the knowledge, skills, and connections to create and preserve affordable housing. Specifically, this funding will directly impact up to 50 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in our area and will help close critical gaps in available affordable housing. Together, we are building stronger, healthier communities where every neighbor has the chance to thrive.”

Several grants were awarded to organizations that are working to ensure community members are thriving — not just surviving. These include nonprofits such as Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue, which received $20,000 to expand food recovery efforts in Pottawattamie County. Food recovery is the process of rescuing a surplus of food that would otherwise go to waste in a landfill and redistributing it to individuals and families facing food insecurity. The addition of a specialized food recovery organization in Council Bluffs will also allow other community partners to focus more on the services they do best, while ensuring that fresh food continues to reach individuals and families in need.

A list of Cycle 3 Grants and Initiatives recipients is shown below:

• Advance Southwest Iowa:; Economic Development Support – $225,000
• Anawim Housing: Supportive housing for families at risk of homelessness – $360,000
• City of Corning: Davis Avenue streetscape – $100,000
• City of Council Bluffs: Community events – $40,000
• City of Emerson: Evans Park project – $18,267
• City of Lenox: Toddler Pool renovations – $26,420
• Corporation for Supportive Housing: Southwest Iowa Supportive Housing Incubator -$50,000
• Corning Public Library: Electrical re-wiring and LED upgrade – $22,500
• Dreamweaver Foundation: Merrymakers program for southwest Iowa senior citizens -$7,500
• Food Bank for the Heartland: Mobile pantry program – $17,500
• Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs: Homeownership and home repair program – $300,000
• Macedonia Firemen’s Association: Equipment – $7,932
• Neola Volunteer Fire Department: Equipment – $10,000
• New Vision Homeless Services: Operating funding – $125,000
• Omaha Performing Arts Society: Southwest Iowa music & arts education programs – $16,000
• Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue: Nourishing People, Nourishing the Planet – $20,000
• Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub: Collaborative furniture project – $30,000
• The CommUnity Project: Leadership Development Program for Women of Color in Southwest Iowa – $25,000
• Timothy Lutheran: Timothy Swaddling Clothes – $5,000
• Union Pacific Museum Association: Railroad Days – Celebrating America’s 250th – $25,000
• United Way of the Midlands: United Housing Network – $50,000
• University of Nebraska Foundation: Samuel Bak Museum Field Trips – $16,431
• Unleash Council Bluffs: Sporting event attraction & retention – $50,000
• Walnut Volunteer Fire Department: Equipment – $8,100

This is the third and final grants cycle for the Iowa West Foundation in 2025. Letters of Inquiry are due by Jan. 2nd to be considered for the first funding cycle in 2026. A free virtual grants workshop is scheduled for Wednesday Dec. 3rd. For more information, visit www.iowawestfoundation.org.