Aid to Agencies provides nonprofit public service agencies with flexible operational funding to help serve low-income Iowa City residents based on priorities set in the City’s Consolidated Plan. 

Legacy Aid to Agencies provides ongoing operational funding for a core group of service providers and is intended to be a stable source of funding.

Minimum award is $15,000. 

Qualifications

The organization must serve Iowa City low income residents and be identified as a Legacy Agency in the City’s Consolidated Plan (currently City Steps 2025) at the time of application. 

Resources

• The City's Consolidated Plan and other resources are available online.

Contact

Neighborhood and Development Services
319-356-5230
neighborhoods@iowa-city.org

Aid to Agencies provides nonprofit public service agencies with flexible operational funding to help serve low-income Iowa City residents based on priorities set in the City’s Consolidated Plan. 

The purpose of Non-Legacy Aid to Agencies funding is to provide operational funding intended to help nonprofit organizations develop. 

Minimum award is $5,000.  Maximum award is $15,000.

Qualifications

The organization must serve Iowa City low income residents. Any nonprofit agency that is not receiving Legacy Aid to Agencies funding in a given fiscal year is eligible to apply. Applicants must be a 501c3 organization in good standing.

Applications are typically available in December and due in mid-January.

Resources

The City's Consolidated Plan and other resources are available online. 

• Historic Aid to Agencies Funding 
• FY24 Emerging Aid to Agencies Submissions

Contact

Neighborhood and Development Services
319-356-5230
neighborhoods@iowa-city.org

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development.

Qualifications

Non-profit organizations, housing providers and businesses who serve primarily low-moderate income persons are eligible to apply. Applications are typically available in December and due in mid-January.

Learn More 

The City's Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plans, income limits, and other resources are available online.

Contact

Neighborhood and Development Services
319-356-5230
neighborhoods@iowa-city.org

The purpose of this funding is to inspire and promote public involvement in the implementation of the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Community input and involvement are crucial to reduce local greenhouse emissions in order to reach community-wide carbon reduction goals.

This yearly grant program aims to enhance local climate action through work performed by community-based organizations. The grant will fund projects that specifically promote or implement one or more of the 35 actions within the Plan.

Maximum allocation is $10,000. Mini-grants of $500 are available for projects led by students in grades K-12. For more information, visit the Climate Action Grants page. 

Contact

Climate Action and Outreach
319-887-6162

About: The City may consider requests for emergency funding from local non-profits outside of existing funding processes. 

Qualifications: The organization must be located in Iowa City and serve Iowa City low income residents.  The proposed activity must be designed to alleviate existing conditions which:

• Pose a serious and immediate threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the community;
• Are the result of unforeseeable or unavoidable circumstances or events;
• Are of recent origin or recently became urgent (within six months);
• Have no know alternatives or actions that are more feasible than the proposed project;
• Other private or public funds (including local, state or federal funds and existing City programs) are insufficient due to either availability or accessibility within the time frame necessary to address the problem. 

To Apply:  Use our online form to apply. 

Contact: Neighborhood and Development Services, 319-356-5230

This program funds housing activities that benefit low-to-moderate income households. Eligible activities include acquisition, rehabilitation, down payment assistance and tenant based rent assistance.

Qualifications

For-profit and non-profit housing providers are eligible to apply. Applications are typically available in December and due in mid-January.

Learn More

• The City's Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plans, income limits, and other resources are available online.
• Affordable Housing - Financial Incentives

Contact

Neighborhood and Development Services
319-356-5230
neighborhoods@iowa-city.org

The program is available to neighborhood associations to fund improvements in their neighborhood, support community building programs and events, as well as other projects that align with the City's Strategic Plan.

Learn More and Apply

• Neighborhood Associations

Quesions? Email EngageIC@iowa-city.org. 

The Matching Grant Project will consider visual, audio, or performance-based art such as sculpture, murals, performances, readings, interactive exhibits, video projections, soundscapes, spoken word, and other mediums. Matching funds are available up to $2,000. Deadlines for applications change from year to year. Check the website for most current dates.

Qualifications

Proposals must be for projects that will be publicly accessible and viewable within Iowa City’s corporate limits. Art may be displayed or performed on private property with owner permission.

Learn More and Apply

Public Art Program

Contact

Rachel Kilburg - Assistant City Manager
319-356-5014
rkilburg@iowa-city.org

The Social Justice Racial Equity Grant is available to encourage, empower and engage social justice and racial equity initiatives in six service areas: education, building community, housing, criminal justice, health and employment.

Qualifications

To apply, you must be a for-profit or non-profit organization principally and physically located in Iowa City.

Learn More and Apply

Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiatives

Contact

Equity and Human Rights
319-356-5022
stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org