The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation and United Way of Central Iowa recently awarded more than $27,500 in mini-grants to seven Central Iowa nonprofits. The organizations will use the funds to implement advocacy plans that build cross-sector collaboration around complex human services issues.

“These grants will give several organizations an opportunity to engage our community around some of Central Iowa’s biggest challenges,” said Renée Miller, chief community impact officer at United Way of Central Iowa.

The grants were awarded after a training session in May conducted by the three organizations called “Creating a System of Advocacy: Collaborating Across the Sector for Change,” in which nonprofits worked on advocacy plans and could apply for funding to advance those plans.

Kristi Knous, president of the Community Foundation, said the workshop was “just the first step in helping nonprofits have the tools and resources to work more broadly and collaboratively on community issues.” 

Suzanne Mineck, president of Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, added: “We will clearly be interested in how this particular approach works and definitely be open to future opportunities to replicate it if it proves to deliver true impact.”

The organizations and projects receiving grants are:

• Child and Family Policy Center – Developing a trauma-informed child welfare system for a resilient Iowa.
• Community Support Advocates – Your voice. Your vote.
• Eat Greater Des Moines – Food rescue pilot project evaluation and communications campaign.
• Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children – Farm to ECE tools for active advocacy.
• Iowa Caregivers – “Help Needed” campaign.
• Latinas Latinos Al Exito Inc. – Latinx Mental Health Campaign.
• Young Women’s Resource Center – Creating a foundation for advocacy.