The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA) has awarded $522,500 to 31 nonprofits serving Black Hawk County, supporting essential services and programs that help people meet basic needs, access opportunities and build stronger communities.

Awarded through CFNEIA’s second competitive grant cycle of 2026, the grants support work ranging from health care and employment services to early childhood programming, the arts and youth development.

“Our nonprofits do critical work every day, helping people through difficult circumstances, creating opportunities and strengthening the places we call home,” said Kaye Englin, president and CEO of CFNEIA. “These grants support that work because generous people have invested in their community through the Foundation throughout our 70-year history. Their generosity continues to make a difference today and creates lasting support for generations to come.”

Many of the grants provide general operating support, giving nonprofits flexibility to sustain essential services and respond to the needs of the people they serve.

Funding decisions were made by CFNEIA’s Black Hawk County grant distribution committee.

The following grants were awarded across CFNEIA’s four impact priority areas:

Black Hawk County 2026 Second Cycle Grant Recipients

Health and Safety

• Allen College, Programming and Materials for DeBonis Free Medical Clinic, $20,000
• Americans for Independent Living, General Operating Support, $15,000
• Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center, General Operating Support, $25,000
• Iowa Food Bank Association, SNAP Outreach, Wages, Benefits and Transport, $10,000
• Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, General Operating Support, $15,000
• Riverview Center, General Operating Support, $20,000
• St. Vincent de Paul, General Operating Support, $5,000
• SuccessLink, General Operating Support for Success Street, $25,000
• University of Northern Iowa Foundation, General Operating Support, $15,000
• Waypoint Services, Domestic Violence Program Support, $5,000

Opportunity and Access

• Cedar Valley Angels, General Operating Support, $12,000
• Cedar Valley Makers, General Operating Support, $15,000
• House of Hope, General Operating Support, $30,000
• Exceptional Persons, Inc , Supported Employment Services, $15,000
• Iowa Legal Aid, Waterloo Community Schools Project, $25,000
• Jesse Cosby Center, General Operating Support, $25,000
• Love INC of the Cedar Valley, Begin Now Program Participant Earned Incentives, $5,500
• Lutheran Services in Iowa, Program Support for Early Childhood Programming, $15,000
• The Center of Attention, General Operating Support, $15,000

Vibrant Communities

• Bel Canto Cedar Valley, General Operating Support, $5,000
• Cedar Falls Community Theatre, General Operating Support, $10,000
• Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Programming, Materials, and Feasibility Study, $10,000
• Dunkerton Community Hall, Handicap Accessible Restroom Remodel, $5,000
• Friends of the Hearst Center, Art Is Essential Capital Expansion and Renovation, $25,000
• Grout Museum District, General Operating Support, $25,000

Youth Empowerment

• Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley, General Operating Support, $25,000
• Growing Minds Learning Center, General Operating Support, $25,000
• Leader Valley Foundation, General Operating Support, $10,000
• RIYO, General Operating Support, $25,000
• The Job Foundation, General Operating Support, $15,000
• YWCA of Black Hawk County, General Operating Support, $30,000

Black Hawk County First Cycle Grants are awarded through CFNEIA’s competitive grant process, determined by the Black Hawk County grant distribution committee. Members are: Nadene Davidson, Kaye Englin (president and CEO), Andrew Finnegan, Sarah Helleso, Mary Janssen, Ashlyn Jungwirth, Chawne Paige (committee chair), Shantavia Parker, Mike Robinson, Hector Salamanca–Arroyo, Lisa Sesterhenn and Rod Thorson.

The 2026 Black Hawk County First Cycle Grants application opens November 15, 2026. Grants are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities serving Black Hawk County. Grant guidelines and applications will be available at www.cfneia.org/grants. For questions or to discuss a project’s eligibility, contact Sherita Jenkins, director of community impact, at 319-243-1355 or sjenkins@cfneia.org.