Grantmaking Priorities

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines supports catalytic community impact through strategic Leadership Grants, made possible by the Better Together Fund. The Grantmaking Committee annually reviews comprehensive community plans/visions as part of the process to determine the Grantmaking Priorities. Specific details on the targeted strategies within each focus area can be found here. 

  1. Arts & Culture
  2. Community Betterment
  3. Education
  4. Health
  5. Social Capital
  6. Strengthening Individuals & Families in our Community
  7. Workforce Development

Community Plans and Visions

The following community plans were part of the Grantmaking Committee’s review process; we invite you to learn more about the goals and strategies of these plans and how you can contribute to catalytic community solutions by clicking on the links below.   

  1. AARP Age Friendly City Priorities 
  2. Capital Crossroads: Central Iowa's Roadmap to Opportunity and Prosperity for All
  3. Central Iowa Children’s Mental Health Crisis Services Planning Initiative
  4. Central Iowa Regional Cultural Assessment
  5. Challenges and Opportunities for Mental Health and Substance Use Service Delivery in Central Iowa 
  6. Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) 2021
  7. DART 2035
  8. Des Moines Vision 2031
  9. Downtown DSM: Future Forward
  10. Ending Youth Homelessness Plan
  11. Food Insecurity Plan
  12. Here We Grow: Des Moines Regional Workforce Housing Strategy
  13. Homelessness System Assessment - Gap Analysis 
  14. Homeless Response System Community Plan - The Path Forward
  15. Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance for Community Development
  16. Nuestro Iowa Report
  17. One Economy Report (2017) & The Blueprint for Action (2020) 
  18. OpportUNITY: Creating Prosperity for All
  19. Refugee Community Plan
  20. The Tomorrow Plan
  21. United Way of Central Iowa - Five Elements of a Thriving Community
  22. Unsheltered Des Moines Study