Van Program Grant

Van Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Variety the Children's Charity of Iowa
Amount: Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Summary

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.

Overview

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. What We Do Variety provides funding to nonprofit children’s organizations for tangible items, such as building expansions and renovations, equipment, programming needs, and more. We also provide Variety Vans for children's nonprofits to transport the children in their care to doctors' appointments, therapy sessions, and special group outings. Our mobility program provides bikes, helmets, and locks to children who have never enjoyed their own bike and specialized bikes and other mobility equipment for children living with special needs. All children should have the opportunity to experience a playground, which is why Variety is working with Iowa communities to provide all-inclusive playgrounds for children with and without special needs to play and foster friendships. Variety partners with Iowa hospitals to help critically ill children and their families by providing comfort, care, and fulfilling immediate needs. The Fund is designed to help alleviate the stress and financial burden a family faces while their child is hospitalized. 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. Van Program 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

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 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.