A Change in Leadership
What's Next?
We are grateful for the vision and action Pete Tulipana brought to the Iowa West Foundation this past decade. His efforts have leveraged millions in Foundation funding to bring large scale amenities to reality. His ethics have prioritized transparency in all Foundation communications. His enthusiasm for transformation has resulted in visible change throughout our community. His expertise has improved the capacity of the nonprofits we serve and in turn, the individuals and families they serve. Soon, his tenure with the Foundation will come to a close and a new leader will emerge. We are prepared and positioned for our new President and CEO, Brenda Mainwaring, to continue to build on the progress and momentum. Our ability to strengthen the community and improve the lived experiences of those who call it home is what motivates our work. Full speed ahead.
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If you just look around the Council Bluffs community, the impact of the Foundation and its partners is everywhere. Alongside our partners and supporters, we simply marvel at how far the City of Council Bluffs, the towns within Pottawattamie County, and communities throughout southwest Iowa have come in the past two-plus decades.
Pete Tulipana
Outgoing President and CEO
Pete and the entire Iowa West Foundation team have built an organization that provides a model for the greater philanthropic community. The work completed under his leadership has touched the lives of every resident of the region, whether you are an athlete, an arts aficionado, a parent of a school-age child, or all of the above. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to continue the work of the staff, board and community members as we all focus on improving lives and strengthening our communities.
Brenda Mainwaring
Incoming President and CEO
Read the Executive Summary
The feedback we receive from community input sessions helps to shape our strategic plan and determine priorities within our focus areas that guide our work. In order for our investments to have significant, lasting impact, we seek to understand how it will transform the community long-term. Therefore, it’s critical the community have a voice and that we listen.
Executive Summary
Watch This
If you are considering applying to the Iowa West Foundation for funding, this short, animated video can help you determine if your organization is eligible; learn what types of funds we award, when and where; understand what makes a program or project a good fit; know how our letter of inquiry and application process works; and get helpful tips on our policies and procedures.
Grant Application Information
Organizations with an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and classification as a public charity — under IRS sections 509 (a)(1) and 509 (a)(2) — as well as governmental units and agencies, are eligible to apply for a grant.
The Foundation’s geographic focus is southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska, with a primary focus on Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County.
Take Our Eligibility Quiz
Attend a Grants Workshop
The purpose of Iowa West Foundation’s grant workshops is to help nonprofit organizations and government entities learn about our grant application process, understand Foundation priorities and ask staff questions to aid in the submission of strong proposals. Ideally, attendees come to the workshop with a specific program, capital project or use for operating funds in mind. There, they will have an opportunity to ask candid questions, view sample budgets, discuss due diligence and learn how to measure impact.
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