Community Impact Grants

Community Impact Grants is sponsored by United Way of Story County. These grants support unanticipated, emerging, or other distinct under-funded needs that further the mission of United Way of Story County, with priority given to programs that reach underserved populations and/or are focused on their 2025-2030 Community Impact Goals in health, e…

Grant Administration | United Way Story County We specialize in helping our community through the administration of many different types of grants. We provide grants to local nonprofits that are dedicated to serving Story County in our focus areas of health, education, and financial security.

These grants aim to empower organizations that are making a difference in our community, helping them to enhance their programs and reach more individuals in need. 2026 Financial Empowerment Major Grant United Way of Story County is proud to announce Friendship Ark and Mustard Seed Community Farm as our 2026 Financial Empowerment Major Grant Awardees!

Selected by our Allocations Committee for their innovative approaches to tackling the root causes of financial instability, these two outstanding organizations are building sustainable pathways to long-term security for our neighbors. Representative Pay Program Equipment Community Kitchen & Micro-Enterprise Incubator These grants support unanticipated, emerging, or other distinct under-funded needs that further the mission of UWSC.

Priority will be given to those programs that reach underserved populations and/or are focused on United Way of Story County 2025-2030 Community Impact Goals . Any non-profit organization with a 501(c)3 designation serving Story County is eligible to apply. The Community Impact grant cycle is currently closed.

For questions, please contact our office at (515) 268-5142. The ASSET (Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team) process has existed in Story County since 1985. It brings together four major funders of human services programs in a collaborative, volunteer-led effort to coordinate local planning, assess needs, evaluate the capabilities of agencies to provide programs, and recommend funding for programs.

The bulk of United Way of Story County’s annual funding for health and human service programs is distributed through the ASSET process, with applications due at the end of September for the following fiscal year.

ASSET Funding information Investing in local solutions By funding targeted solutions in our core impact areas—Bright Futures, Financial Empowerment, and Collective Well-Being—these investments provide local families with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Browse the list below to learn more about our partner agencies and the vital projects funded over the last few years.

Blast Back to School – $2,500 This investment is helping Blast Back to School provide essential supplies to students across our community. This funding ensures local students head into the classroom with the tools they need to feel confident, prepared, and ready to thrive from day one.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County – $2,500 We are thrilled to invest in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Story County to help launch their brand-new Garden Club. This program will give local youth the chance to get their hands in the dirt, learn about healthy food, and watch their hard work bloom into something amazing. HIRTA funding for their Health Connector Program, ensuring that transportation is never a barrier to well-being.

This funding provides a reliable link for our neighbors to reach vital healthcare appointments, making a healthier Story County possible for everyone. The Nevada Community Cupboard – $7,500 This investment is helping the Nevada Community Cupboard provide reliable nutrition to families through the Filling the Gaps initiative.

This funding ensures that local families have a dependable source of nutritious food, turning empty cupboards into consistent plates and a stronger community safety net. Raising Readers in Story County – $3,890 This grant is bringing the Parenting In Flow Labs to families across Story County.

This program helps caregivers lead with calm and connection, ensuring Story County children have the steady foundation they need to succeed in school and life. Reiman Gardens received a grant to scale up its Grow & Give initiative. This expansion means more garden-fresh produce reaching the tables of Story County families who need it most.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Ames Chapter – $2,250 This investment is helping Sleep in Heavenly Peace ensure no kid sleeps on the floor in our community. This funding fuels their mission to build and deliver 200 beds this year, providing the rest and stability every child needs to thrive. Story Time Childcare Center – $4,550 Play is the foundation of learning!

This grant is helping Story Time Childcare Center level up their outdoor play space. By investing in quality playground equipment, we’re supporting the physical development and well-being of our youngest neighbors. This investment is helping Vision to Learn bring critical eye care directly to our students.

By removing barriers to vision screenings and glasses, we are ensuring that every child in Story County has the “clear view” required to reach their full potential. Bethany Lutheran Daycare – $300 Creating a native pollinator garden Team Neutrino (4-H) FLL Blastoff!

Summer Camp – $650 Support to provide scholarships for underserved students in grades 4-8 to attend their summer STEM camp, which offers hands-on experiences in programming, robot design, and teamwork through FIRST LEGO League challenges. Ames Public Library Friends Foundation – $1,200 Spanish language books for the Books for Babies to expand services to Spanish speaking households.

Adventures Preschool- $2,260 Purchase equipment and supplies for a resource room to advance in the Iowa Quality for Kids quality rating system. Prairie Flower Children’s Center- $2,280 Expansion of their nature playscape. Camp Fire Heart of Iowa – $2,500 Expand impact of after-school enrichment experiences through field trips, guest speakers, and hands-on learning activities.

Ames Education Foundation – $2,750 Transportation for field trips, site visits and job-exposure opportunities for preschool through high school. Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County – $2,790 Climbing For Success, a unique recreational program nurtures physical, emotional and social development in their members.

Functional furniture that creates a safe and supportive classroom setting and enhance participants’ experiences for their Autism Day Program. Raising Readers in Story County – $3,000 Little Literacy Lounge community space.

Iowa State University & United Way of Story County -$850 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) training Language Translation Device Huxley Public Library – $2,500 Prairie Flower Children’s Center – $2,970 The Salvation Army of Ames & Story County – $7,500 Unhoused Community Members Initiative – Basic Needs & Employment Support Team Neutrino (4-H) FLL Blastoff!

Summer Camp – $650 Ames Public Library Friends Foundation – $1,000 After-School Deposit Collection Blast Back to School – $1,500 Support to Cover School Supplies and Backpacks for area youth The Salvation Army Angel Tree – $3,000 Nevada Community Cupboard – $3,000 Holiday food distribution Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County – $3,000 Meals for out-of-school programs Inclusive and adaptive equipment Raising Readers in Story County – $5,000 Child and adult food program Primary Health Care – $3,000 Colo Community Food Pantry – $500 Kitchen Equipment/Meal Prep Nevada Community School District -$2,500 It Takes a Village: 2024-25 Nevada Community Series Colo Public Library – $2,800 Campfire Heart of Iowa – $2,000 Story County Extension & Outreach – $2,000 Maxwell Area Renewal Committee – $2,000 Mainstream Living – $2,000 School Food Pantries – $3,000 Threshold Learning Center – $1,800 Nevada Community Cupboard – $3,000 Holiday Food Distribution Martha’s House of Hope – $1,500 Campfire Heart of Iowa – $2,000 Blast Back to School – $1,000 Grant Application resources These grants allow UWSC to support programs and initiatives that are not currently funded by UWSC or through the Story County ASSET process – giving flexibility to invest in new, innovative, or expanded services for children and youth in Story County.

Current ASSET agencies are eligible, but cannot apply for additional funding for ASSET services.

Detailed instructions and Information Frequently Asked Questions Nonprofit human service organizations/agencies in Story County Organizations/agencies must have non-profit status (or have a fiscal agent who has non-profit status) and be able to provides its federal employer ID/EIN and an IRD determination letter How Will I Know if I'm Eligible?

Please complete the eligibility form and a member from the UWSC team will reach out to you on or before January 30, 2026 (Community Impact Grant) or on or before October 10 (Golf Fore Kids grant) to let you know if you are approved to move to the application phase. What Makes a Strong Application?

Alignment with the UWSC Financial Empowerment and Collective Well-Being goals Service to low- to moderate-income populations Matching funds or community resources – demonstrates commitment and multiplies impact New or expanded programs not currently funded through UWSC or ASSET What Kinds of Things Aren't Eligible for Funding?

Capital expenditures (equipment, technology, infrastructure) Programs already funded by UWSC or through ASSET process Year-over-year operational funding or ongoing staff salaries Non-essential program expenses (t-shirts, prizes, etc.) Fundraising events or organizational parties Political campaigns, events, or lobbying activities Standalone travel or conference costs Programs with inherently religious activities (worship, prayer, proselytizing, religious instruction) After a quarter-century of swinging for a cause, the Golf Fore Kids tournament was officially retired in 2026.

The event reached its peak in 2025 by celebrating its milestone 25th anniversary. For 25 years, the 18-hole, four-person best-shot tournament served as a powerful gathering point for local businesses and community leaders dedicated to supporting the next generation.

The true legacy of Golf Fore Kids lies in its community impact: over its brilliant history, the tournament raised vital funds that sustained dozens of local human service programs and transformed the lives of thousands of Story County children and families. Thank you to every golfer, sponsor, and volunteer who helped drive this event’s success for twenty-five wonderful years.

Story County agencies received funding invested in youth programming over 25 years