Variety Grant Program

The Variety Grant Program, run by Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa, offers funding to nonprofits dedicated to supporting at-risk and underprivileged children. Annually, various agencies can apply for grants that aid in critical care, camp activities, and transportation for children facing health challenges or poverty. The program emphasizes tangible projects that directly benefit children, ensuring that applicants demonstrate financial stability and organizational impact.

Variety – the Children’s Charity is a nonprofit organization that provides funding to agencies that provide care, treatment, activities, and shelter to children who are at-risk, underprivileged, critically ill, or living with special needs.  Each year, children’s nonprofits from across the state of Iowa have the opportunity to apply for grants to support program funding related to Variety’s mission of caring for children.
Grant applicants are reviewed for financial stability and each organization is interviewed by a member of Variety’s Board. This ensures a great understanding of the specific request and potential impact of investments into applicant programs.
Grant categories include:
Acute: Agencies, primarily hospitals, that provide neonatal, pediatric and youth critical care.Camperships: Sponsors camps and social activities for children who are disadvantaged or critically ill and children suffering from an ongoing health condition or traumatic event in their lives.Convalescent: Agencies that provide residential or other services to children who suffer from severe physical, mental or emotional afflictions.Variety at Work: Special projects or recreational activities for special needs, critically ill, disadvantaged or at-risk children.Preventative: Agencies that direct children to make positive choices regarding behavior and lifestyle or that seek to raise community awareness regarding the well-being of children.Disadvantaged: Agencies that serve children who may lack social or educational opportunities due to poverty, environment and/or other factors.Transportation: Variety vans.Youth at Risk: Agencies that serve children who have special needs due to physical or chemical abuse, behavioral problems, or are in need of emergency shelter.

Eligibility

Variety focuses on funding fund brick and mortar projects, equipment, programming, and other tangible items that directly impact children.You must be a 501(c)(3) organization to apply for funds from Variety.

Ineligibility

Administrative needs (i.e., staffing, salaries, office space, etc.) and other intangibles will not be considered for funding.