Ankeny Community Foundation General Grant Program

2025 Grant Application Instructions

Application Period: Opens August 15 annually

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. local/Central Time on October 1st (of each year)

Submission Method

All applications must be submitted and received via email to info@ankenycommunityfoundation.org

Portions not uploadable or otherwise included via the online application should also be submitted to info@ankenycommunityfoundation.org

Required Application Components

Please ensure each of the following areas have been included in your application and completed:

1. Cover page information
- Organization/Project name
- Federal tax identification number (EIN) of applicant or fiscal sponsor
- Contact information

2. Organization Description
- Brief description of organization
- Organization's mission and background

3. Project Summary
- Brief description of the project/initiative

4. Project Information
- Description of local need or problem addressed by the project
- Explanation of how the project will address the need
- What will be the project's impact? (Explain how the project will benefit citizens of Ankeny)
- What will be the project's legacy?
- Explanation of organization's ability to complete the project and ensure success

5. Project Timeline
- Describe the timeline of the project
- Project must be completable within 12 months of grant award date

6. Project Budget
- Total cost of project
- Amount requested ($1-$1,000)
- Project budget numbers and detailed description of how grant funds would be used
- Numbers & details can be added to application or provided separately via email

7. Type of Request (Select one)
- Program-based: Operational, activity, general programmatic support
- Capital-based: Building/construction or physical improvement

8. Project Focus Area (Select one)
- Educate Ankeny
- Enhance Ankeny
- Serve Ankeny

9. Supporting Documentation
- Copy of your 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter (via email to info@ankenycommunityfoundation.org)
- Fiscal sponsorship agreement with sponsor contact information (if fiscal sponsor is used)
- Additional supporting materials (optional)

Key Definitions

Fiscal Sponsor: A fiscal sponsor is an organization that is receiving the awarded funds on behalf of the grant applicant. The sponsor is responsible for disbursing the funds for the project as well as maintaining appropriate documentation. An entity must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or a 170(c)(1) unit of government to serve as a fiscal sponsor, and a fiscal sponsorship agreement must accompany the grant application if a fiscal sponsor is used.

Local Ankeny Entity: An organization located within the geographic city limits of the city of Ankeny.

Local Need: The need that the applicant organization/initiative/project is striving to meet must be located within the city of Ankeny. Grant funds must be spent to serve the community of Ankeny or to meet/address a need in Ankeny.

Review and Award Process

• Members of the Ankeny Community Foundation Board of Directors review and score all applications that meet the eligibility requirements
• The board's award decisions are final
• Applications are scored based on local need, planning, impact, fund use, additional investments, evidence of support, and organizational capacity