Carleen and Eugene Grandon Charitable Foundation Grant

The Carleen and Eugene Grandon Charitable Foundation, established in 2004, focuses on funding programs that enhance cultural arts, education, and health services within the Greater Cedar Rapids area. Grants support nonprofit organizations that align with the Foundation's commitment to community improvement, promoting direct benefits to individuals in need. The Foundation prioritizes organizations based in Linn County, ensuring that funding goes to initiatives that foster a vibrant, educated, and healthy community.

The Carleen and Eugene Grandon Charitable Foundation was established in 2004 by Carleen M. Grandon. However, its genesis began years before with many philanthropic gifts to various organizations during the 1980’s and 1990’s. These gifts primarily focused on cultural, healthcare and educational endeavors by organizations located in the Greater Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. During this time, Carleen Grandon was active on various boards of charitable organizations and developed a deep sense of improving the community through charitable giving. Since its inception, the Foundation has focused its giving to programmatic endeavors as opposed to building programs. While building projects have a place, the Foundation believes funding of programs provides more direct benefit to the individuals being served by the funded organizations.
The Carleen and Eugene Grandon Charitable Foundation provides grants to support qualified nonprofit organizations that align with the Foundation's funding interests in the following area:

• Cultural Arts

Mrs. Grandon possessed an enthusiasm for the cultural arts; she found joy in music and theatre, in particular through opera, singing and the piano. The Foundation continues to honor Mrs. Grandon's passion by providing grants to charitable organizations for programs that seek to promote such endeavors within the Greater Cedar Rapids Community.
Education
The Grandons were lifelong learners and teachers who had a profound understanding of the importance of education for individuals, families and the larger community to thrive. The Foundation continues these efforts through grants to charitable organizations with programs that seek to provide educational support to individuals within the Greater Cedar Rapids Community so they may reach their full potential.
Health and Wellness
As a physician and a nurse, Dr. and Mrs. Grandon devoted much of their time and talents in careers that serve others by improving the health and wellness of individuals within the Community. The Foundation similarly provides grants to charitable organizations in the Community for programs that continue this tradition of service to improve the health and wellness of individuals in need within the Greater Cedar Rapids Community.
The Foundation provides grants that support programs, rather than building projects. This limitation is based on Dr. and Mrs. Grandon's firm belief that funding programs provide the greatest and most direct benefit to individuals served by the non-profit organizations.

Eligibility

The Foundation will consider all qualified applications received from non-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) that request grants to be used for charitable purposes.Grants must be for support of programs for charitable purposes and for the benefit of those in need within the Greater Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Current Grantee Organizations must also submit an interim or final report along with any new application to be considered for further funding.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not support organizations that are classified as private foundations under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation also does not award grants to building campaigns, endowments or individuals.