Funding Amount

Unspecified amount in in-kind support

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

  • Variety – the Children’s Charity provides Variety Vans to nonprofit organizations that deliver care, treatment, activities, and shelter to children who are at-risk, underprivileged, critically ill, and living with special needs.
  • This would include trips to doctors’ appointments, therapy sessions, special outings, or activities that relate to the nonprofit organization’s programming efforts.

Other requirements

  • Variety Vans must be used to transport children.

Overview

The Van Program by Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa offers vital transportation services to at-risk and underprivileged children. Over 40 years, the program has provided over 400 vans to nonprofits, ensuring children can attend medical appointments, therapy sessions, and recreational activities. This initiative supports families facing financial strain while fostering community connections and inclusivity. With a mission to enhance the lives of children with special needs, Variety is committed to making a positive impact across Iowa.

About Variety Iowa
Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa is dedicated to improving the lives of children who are underprivileged, at risk, critically ill, and living with special needs throughout the state. Since the inception of the Telethon in 1975, Variety has raised more than $140 million to support the children of Iowa.
Variety is making a better future for our community by connecting people who care to programs that enable children to reach their full potential. Variety helps create opportunities for children to fully share in the experiences of life.
Variety provides funding to nonprofit children’s organizations for tangible items, such as building expansions and renovations, equipment, programming needs, and more.
Our Variety Mission
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa is a multifaceted organization with one simple mission: to help improve the lives of children who are at risk, underprivileged, critically ill, or living with special needs throughout Iowa.
Variety Iowa is part of Variety - the Children’s Charity International, a partnership of more than 44 Variety chapters, each helping local children and families in 13 countries around the world. Together the Variety chapters positively impact more than 100,000 individual children through direct programs and many more through grants to children’s organizations each year.
On behalf of the children and families in all of Iowa’s 99 counties whose lives have been touched by Variety, our heartfelt thank you to our donors, sponsors, and volunteers.
Over the last 40 years, Variety has provided more than 400 Variety Vans to children’s organizations in Iowa. These vans transport children to doctors' appointments, therapy sessions, and special outings or activities.

Eligibility

Variety – the Children’s Charity provides Variety Vans to nonprofit organizations that deliver care, treatment, activities, and shelter to children who are at-risk, underprivileged, critically ill, and living with special needs. Variety Vans must be used to transport children. This would include trips to doctors’ appointments, therapy sessions, special outings, or activities that relate to the nonprofit organization’s programming efforts.

What Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025
90
Total given
$1.76M
Median grant
$13K
Range
$5,350–$93K
  • By dollars: Iowa >99%, Georgia <1%. Top recipient cities: Des Moines, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Dubuque, IA.
  • 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 40% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Childserve Foundation · Johnston, IA

    New center construction

    $93K

  • Crittenton Center · Sioux City, IA

    Renovations to the transitional therapeutic home building

    $75K

  • Mercyone Des Moines Foundation · Des Moines, IA

    Panda warmer cabinets

    $64K

  • Blank Children's Hospital · Des Moines, IA

    Compassion fund

    $61K

  • Oakridge Neighborhood Services · Des Moines, IA

    15-passenger van

    $57K

IRS Form 990, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Disabled
  • Youth programs
  • Child welfare
  • Transportation

Categories

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