How to Apply

What are Community Grants?

Community Grants are grants of up to $2,500 made to grassroots and government entities doing innovative and meaningful work that fits within the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation's (PCCF) mission to improve the lives of all residents of Pottawattamie County.

The Community Grants Program is highly competitive because a limited amount of funding is available each year. As with any competitive process, the grants are awarded to the applicants whose project best fits our mission. PCCF regrets that funds are not available to recognize the meaningful work of all who apply.

When are the deadlines?

Application deadlines are March 15 and September 15 of each year. Grant announcements and funding are mailed by PCCF approximately 30 days following the application deadline. In the event the deadline falls on a weekend, applications will not be due until the following Monday.

Who is eligible?

Any tax-exempt, nonprofit organization or government entity using the funds for charitable purposes and proposing a project meeting PCCF's mission to improve the lives of all residents of Pottawattamie County is eligible to apply. Specifically, applications should meet the criteria shown below.

What are the criteria?

Projects must meet PCCF's mission to improve the lives of all residents of Pottawattamie County. In addition, the organization must be:

  • Classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, or a governmental entity

  • Located within the county

  • Not a previous recipient of a Community Grant within the calendar year

Projects are selected based on:

  • Focus on a specific issue (i.e. to what degree does it prevent high-risk health behaviors?)

  • Meeting a clear, identifiable need

  • Creativity

  • Operational strength of the applicant organization, including project leadership

  • Ranking when compared with other applications received during the funding cycle.

Funding Limitations

  • Clinical or medical research

  • Contributions to capital campaigns

  • Organizations that practice discrimination by race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender, age or national origin

  • Operating deficits or retirement of debt

  • Endowment programs are typically not funded

  • Construction projects or real estate acquisitions

  • Political projects of any kind

  • Vehicles, such as vans or buses, or emergency medical services equipment

Deadlines/Guidelines

  • The Pottawattamie County Community Foundation (PCCF) does not provide funding to private foundations.

  • Your organization will be verified through the IRS online database and the Secretary of State's Business Entity Search. Prior to submitting your application, you may check your organization's status with the Secretary of State at www.sos.state.ia.us. We will not accept applications from organizations with a delinquent status.

  • Grants are for amounts up to $2,500. The Foundation wants to support as many programs across the county as possible; therefore, smaller requests are encouraged.

  • Application deadlines are March 15 and September 15. All materials must be submitted to the Foundation by 5 p.m. on the due date.

  • Please do not send more information than is requested. Pictures, videos, pamphlets, etc., will not be reviewed.

  • If your organization is submitting multiple applications, please include only one application (along with 8 copies) per mailing envelope. Only one copy of the IRS determination letter need be submitted.

  • PCCF strictly adheres to all deadlines.

  • Incomplete, incorrect, and/or unsigned applications will be returned.

  • No faxed or e-mailed applications will be accepted.

  • Grant recipients are selected by an independent panel of reviewers from across the county.

  • Due to the high volume of applications received, PCCF will not provide an oral or written explanation for denied applications.

How does your organization apply?

Click on the Document link below, Complete the application form, attach the required documents and mail or hand deliver to:

Pottawattamie County Community Foundation
Community Grants
536 E. Broadway
Council Bluffs, IA 51503

If you have questions, please call PCCF at (712) 256-7007.

Community Grant Application Form
Print, Complete and Mail to Address Above
Click to Print a Copy of the Full Description on Above Page
© Copyright 2010 Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, All rights reserved.