The Uplift Grants, administered by the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA), provide competitive, one-year discretionary funding to support nonprofit and governmental organizations in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The 2025 Uplift Grants specifically fund projects in three targeted areas: Trees for Waterloo, Chamber Music, and Opera Music. Each of these funding streams is supported by designated field of interest funds, with clearly defined goals tied to community enrichment and cultural engagement.

Applications for the 2025 cycle open on February 15, 2025, and are due by 5:00 PM on April 1, 2025. All applications must be submitted through CFNEIA’s online grant management system, accessible via the foundation’s website. Late, incomplete, or hard-copy applications will not be considered. Incomplete applications include those left in draft mode at the time of the deadline. Awards will be announced in mid-April 2025, and successful grantees must submit a final report by July 31, 2026.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities that benefit the residents of Black Hawk County. Other tax-exempt organizations may also apply, provided their proposed project is charitable in nature and pre-approved by the foundation. Organizations not meeting the eligibility requirements may apply through a fiscal sponsor, which must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or a government entity. Only one application per organization is permitted, though applicants may submit one additional proposal as a fiscal sponsor. Organizations affiliated with a supporting entity, such as a “friends of” group, may apply through either the organization or the supporting entity, but not both.

Funding is limited and tailored to the three specific focus areas. Grant amounts must be at least $5,000. The maximum allowable request varies by category: $18,236 for Trees for Waterloo, $7,390 for Chamber Music, and $7,963 for Opera Music. Applicants are encouraged to request the full amount for their category due to low anticipated application volume. Funded requests may support a wide range of activities, including operations, programming, materials, equipment, and capital projects. However, CFNEIA will not fund requests involving re-granting, inherently religious or partisan activities, or operational requests from other foundations.

Each category has detailed funding priorities. The Trees for Waterloo category supports urban beautification through street tree planting in downtown and residential areas. Chamber Music grants fund classical music performances by small ensembles, with preference for strings but including a wide range of ensemble types. Opera Music grants support professional classical opera performances in Waterloo and Cedar Falls, with a strong emphasis on recognized professional vocalists and ensembles. These funding streams are supported by the Dick H. and Immy Young Family Fund, the Young-Magrid Fund, and the Howard V. Jones Chamber and Opera Music Funds.

Applicants needing guidance are encouraged to contact Angie Widner at 319-243-1355 or awidner@cfneia.org, particularly if applying for the first time or after a long gap. Technical assistance will be available through 5:00 PM on the application deadline.