QC River Connections Grant Program

QC River Connections Grant Program is sponsored by Quad Cities Community Foundation. Supports local organizations addressing environmental and community challenges along the Mississippi River, focusing on projects that involve communities in environmental solutions.

QC River Connections Grants / Quad Cities Community Foundation Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund Private Foundation Services How We Partner With Advisors Signature Investment Program Center for Nonprofit Excellence Community Foundation of Cedar County Community Foundation of Van Buren County Fulton Association for Community Enrichment Morrison Area Community Foundation Mount Carroll Community Foundation QC River Connections Grant final reports: August 31, 2027 maximum awarded per application: up to $20,000 total available: $100,000 The QC River Connections grant supports projects and organizations that address environmental issues facing the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities area.

With this grant program, we seek to support efforts that prioritize both inclusive and equitable community engagement practices and youth engagement to build and strengthen relationships among people, organizations, communities, and the river.

These efforts should align with the Clean River Advisory Council’s Mississippi River Equity Vision and be guided by communities of color or others disproportionately impacted by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but underrepresented in the environmental sector. Not sure what a nature-based solution is or how to prioritize them in your work?

Check out this conversation between the Community Foundation and our partners at the National Wildlife Federation, or review the slides from our recent Nature-Based Solutions Inspiration and Networking event here . Grant applications will be collected by the Quad Cities Community Foundation and reviewed and evaluated by members of the Clean River Advisory Council . Applications must be submitted online through the online grant system .

If access to a computer is a barrier, please contact us for assistance. Each organization may submit one application – if you’re seeking funding for multiple projects, include all of them in the application. We’re here to help you make your best case for your grant application!

QCCF staff and identified Clean River Advisory Council members are available to answer questions, discuss ideas, and even read draft applications throughout the process. Translation services for written documents and interpretation services for conversations with QCCF staff are available. Here are a few examples to get you thinking, but we know we haven’t thought of everything you might do.

Have an idea that’s not listed here? Great! We’d love to receive your application!

Have an idea but not sure if it’s a good fit? Give us a call and we would be happy to talk about your idea with you during the application process.

Projects might include – but are not limited to: Nature-based solutions like rain gardens or urban tree planting, geared toward educating youth Clean up, restoration, and conservation projects with youth groups – these could be located on the Mississippi or other rivers that flow into it, adjacent wetlands, or other places from which water flows into the river Education programs on environmental issues, green careers, or our community’s varied cultural experiences of the river Youth-driven, volunteer, or community engagement projects that relate to the river Projects that encourage and support youth to safely and inclusively access the Mississippi River for recreation, healing, tourism, and more Strengthening the ability of environmental organizations to do their work equitably, particularly related to youth engagement All of the following qualities are required in order for an application to be considered for funding.

Not sure if this means you? Please contact us, we’re happy to help you figure it out. Organizations or community groups that are providing a charitable community benefit in Scott County, IA or Rock Island County, IL.

This includes any and all of the following: organizations with 501(c)3 public charity status (typical nonprofit organizations), governments, public schools, universities, and organized community groups. Individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible for this grant. Organization or project must have an environmental benefit to the Mississippi River or the waters that flow into it.

Environmental benefit could mean a direct physical improvement and/or people having greater access, awareness, and care for the river.

Organization or project must directly engage youth in topics related to the Mississippi River, including, but not limited to, nature-based solutions to community challenges, sustainability, and equitable access to river resources and recreational opportunities Organization or project must align with at least one of the priority areas included in the Mississippi River Equity Vision .

Project can be new or existing – you don’t need to create something specifically for this grant! Organization or project must prioritize inclusive and equitable community engagement practices guided by communities of color and others disproportionately impacted by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but underrepresented in the environmental sector. Organizations must follow the QCCF Diversity and Non-Discrimination Policy.

This grant program is designed to support local and regional organizations, particularly those that are newer to receiving funding—either directly or indirectly—from the Walton Family Foundation. While the program is not primarily intended for larger or nationally focused organizations, we welcome you to reach out if you have questions about whether your organization might be a good fit.

These are the factors that the Clean River Advisory Council will use to determine, from all the applications we receive, which will be funded. Some applications will be stronger on some factors than others – that’s okay. Relevance: The organization/project demonstrates that it fits strongly within the purpose of the grant.

It is aligned with at least one of the Mississippi River Equity Vision priorities, benefits the Mississippi River and prioritizes youth engagement and inclusive and equitable community engagement practices guided by communities of color and others disproportionately impacted by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but underrepresented in the environmental sector.

Request: The grant will have a significant impact on the success of the funded project. Your application may score higher if it shows that receiving the grant helps bring in more resources, makes the funded project more likely to be successful, or will let it happen sooner than it otherwise would.

Organizations that do not already receive funding from the Walton Family Foundation, which supports this program, may be prioritized higher than those that do already receive funding. Impact: This project demonstrates that it will have a positive impact for the Mississippi River and the people, organizations, and communities involved, utilizing nature-based solutions to achieve the project’s goals when relevant.

Your application will score higher if it impacts one of the following prioritized neighborhoods: Floreciente – Moline, West End - Rock Island, Water Town - East Moline, Downtown Davenport, and West End – Davenport.

Inclusion and equity: The project makes our local environmental and conservation efforts more inclusive and equitable, is centered on youth engagement, and guided by communities of color or others disproportionately impacted by environmental issues facing the Mississippi River but underrepresented in the environmental sector. Your application will score higher if it shows leadership and planning involvement from these people and groups.

Connections and Collaboration: The project builds or strengthens relationships between organizations, community groups, or people to benefit the Mississippi River. Your application may score higher if it shows that the project will help form new or deepen existing, non-transactional relationships among groups who have not historically worked together. We’re here to help you to be as successful as you can with your grant application.

To discuss if your project is the right fit, contact: You can access a recording of our latest info session here . Presentation slides can be found here . Please complete a final report when you have finished your project, or by the following year's application due date, whichever is sooner.

Organizations who elect to receive their grants over two or three years will be asked to provide interim reports each year. Reports are completed in the same online system you submitted your application. Learn about the clean river advisory council