Community Foundation Of Greater Des Moines
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines (desmoinesfoundation.org) is the official foundation serving the Des Moines area, promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes, and providing community leadership. The site describes donor services, fund management, grantmaking priorities, and local impact programs.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Nonprofits or community projects with demonstrable impact in Greater Des Moines or elsewhere in Iowa (and occasionally beyond) seeking operating support, capital funds, or project grants that align with community development, education, arts, housing, or human services.
Good Fit
- • Work serves Des Moines metro area or broader Iowa communities.
- • Request aligns with community-centered priorities (education, arts, housing, basic needs, parks, public art, capital campaigns).
- • Projects sized appropriately for either modest grants ($5K–$50K) or multi-hundred-thousand-dollar capital commitments.
- • Willingness to discuss project goals with the Community Impact team prior to formal request.
Geography
Giving is heavily concentrated in the foundation's state — about 88% of dollars in the latest year — though recipients appear across roughly 34 states, so the observed footprint is primarily statewide with occasional out-of-state awards.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded hundreds of distinct organizations in each observed year (666 distinct recipients in the latest year and 861 two years prior), covering a wide mix of charities, schools, arts groups, local governments and community projects; dollar concentration toward a few large awards exists but does not dominate the overall recipient diversity.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of entry exists: 365 new recipients appeared in the latest year (about a 55% new-recipient rate for that year) and the foundation lists staff contacts and a public contact form, so unfamiliar organizations clearly have been able to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
