"Women’s foundations work … helps 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 more than 350 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.
Improving Self-Sufficiency for Disadvantaged Local Women
The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life
Latina Leadership Initiative of Greater Des Moines
LLI is a one-year intensive leadership training and mentorship program that builds the pipeline of socially conscious Iowa Latina leaders who will create change through service on boards and commissions, in public office, and in private, non-profit, and educational sectors.
LOVE Girls Magazine Recognition and Internship Program
The dynamic Love Girls Magazine recruits local middle and high school students in Scott County into their journalism writing and photography internship program.
Refugee Child Care Training and Parent Education Program
LSI’s Child Care Provider Business Development program assists refugee women in increasing their financial stability by becoming registered in-home child care providers and expanding the number of safe and culturally appropriate places to provide child care for working parents.
Survivors’ Economic Self-Sufficiency
The Survivors’ Economic Self-Sufficiency Project will assist survivors of trauma with the skills and resources necessary to regain economic self-sufficiency.
Wheels for Work
Wheels for Work provides donated vehicles to single mothers with children to use for transportation to work.
Women Empowering Women
Women Empowering Women will pair professional women with women preparing to rejoin the community following involvement in local or state correctional systems.
Writing for Change
In fall 2014, the Iowa Youth Writing Project successfully launched Writing for Change, a literacy project to mentor and empower at-risk girls now in the John McDonald Residential Treatment Center in Monticello.
Enrichment for Women after Trauma
The mission of Crossroads of Iowa is to reduce relapse/recidivism among a unique group of women emerging from the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women, i.e., those imprisoned for drug crimes and treated for drug addiction while in prison.
Housing Stability and Financial Empowerment
The mission of Cedar Valley Friends of the Family is to provide immediate safety and long-term stability for women and children affected by domestic violence in 14 northeast Iowa counties.