Grant Recipients

…Women’s foundations work … to help guarantee that (women and girls) can achieve economic (and social) balance."

— Stephanie Clohesy, Founder & Donor

The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) is proud to partner with over 100 state-based organizations. Since 1994, over $2 million has been awarded to nearly 400 programs, benefitting thousands of women and girls in all 99 Iowa counties.

To learn more about the projects we have funded for over 25 years, you can search below or download our Grants at a Glance.

Stanton Child Care Resource Center Expansion – BCCCSF Grant

Stanton Child Care Resource Center

The Stanton Child Resource Center has been at capacity with a waiting list for over 4 years. It's now working to more than double capacity through an addition and renovation of the current facility.

Stronger Together: Supporting Families with High-Quality, Accessible Child Care – BCCCSF Grant

YWCA Clinton

The Stronger Together after school child care program eliminates the need for parents to leave work or secure help picking up students from school and transporting them to child care, and it also maximizes the time the students spend on active, engaging, and safe activities

Davis County Daycare and Preschool’s Educational Experience Upgrade

Davis County

Davis County is a “Child Care Desert”. There are at least 3 children for every child care spot available. The Davis County Daycare and Preschool is a nonprofit center that has been providing care in Davis County for over 40 years

Heart of Iowa Childcare Services Expansion

Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC)

The Heart of Iowa (HOI) program is designed for women with substance use disorder who maintain custody of their children while receiving residential treatment services.

Ready, Set, GROW child care center expansion to Methodist Manor Retirement Community

Ready, Set, GROW

Ready, Set, GROW (RSG) is partnering with Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake, Iowa to open a child care center in a community without a center for child care. Anticipated opening is Spring of 2019.

Refugee Child Care Business Development Program

Lutheran Services in Iowa

LSI helps refugee women to increase their families’ financial stability by becoming registered in-home child care providers through the Iowa DHS.

Social Emotional Learning: Breaking Down Barriers to Success

St. Mark Youth Enrichment

St. Mark Youth Enrichment offers programs before/after school and in the summer for at-risk students pre-K through 5th grade.

Refugee Child Care Training and Expansion

Lutheran Services in Iowa, Des Moines

LSI helps refugee women to increase their families’ financial stability by becoming registered in-home child care providers through the Iowa DHS.

Removing Childcare As A Barrier to Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Through Gap Scholarships

Grin and Grow Ltd., Waterloo

This program works to remove the barrier of accessing affordable, quality child care to obtain/maintain work or training and decrease the work force gap while increasing women’s economic security for female-head of households based on poverty guidelines under 200%.

Teaching, Mentoring and Equipping St. Mark Families for Success

St. Mark Youth Enrichment, Dubuque

The overall goal of this project is to teach single mothers and girls social emotional skills, surround them with trusting mentors to practice and hone those skills, and equip them with tools needed to effectively implement what they learn.