GCRCF: Endowment Challenge Grant

The GCRCF Endowment Challenge Grant empowers nonprofit organizations in Linn County, Iowa, to strengthen their endowments through matching funds of up to $25,000. This initiative enhances the sustainability and operational capacity of eligible nonprofits, fostering a vibrant community. Organizations must be at least seven years old and meet specific criteria to qualify. The grant not only supports immediate needs but also ensures long-term financial stability for impactful community services.

Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation improves the quality of life in Linn County, Iowa by promoting charitable giving; connecting donors to the causes they care about; strengthening nonprofits through grants and support; and providing leadership on community issues that involve charitable giving. The Community Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization with over $194 million in assets and over 1,000 different charitable funds.
Priorities
The Community Foundation’s grantmaking program invests in innovation, sustainability and capacity building across the spectrum of the entire nonprofit sector including education, health and human services, arts and culture, environment and public benefit.
The Endowment Challenge Grant is a matching grant supporting nonprofit organizations in building endowments in Linn County, Iowa. The matching endowment fund is opened and held at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation after notification of funding. Nonprofit endowment funds are an investment in the mission and the future of the organization by providing general operating support, stability during cyclical income variances, and income for areas of high importance to the organization.
Grant award is $25,000. Organizations have five years in which to meet the match.

Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations in Linn County, Iowa, that are at least seven years old (based on the date of the IRS letter of determination) and hold 501(c)(3) status may apply if they meet two or more of the following criteria:The organization is based in Linn CountyThe organization serves residents of Linn CountyA received Endowment Challenge Grant will only serve residents of Linn CountyThe organization currently holds one or more agency endowed funds at the Community Foundation. The fund(s) must have been opened AND have a balance at or above the $10,000 fund minimum at least one year prior to the date of application.

Ineligibility

Organizations that do not meet two or more of the above criteriaOrganizations with a core religious mission are not eligible