While ICCT works towards building our permanent home on the South Side of Iowa City, we are storing our vital tech equipment, shop supplies and tools, costumes, props, and set materials. We are renting spaces for all of this, and we are hoping to find support from the community to ensure that we can maintain some of the most incredible pieces in our 60+ year collection safely and securely, keep loaning them out to other arts organizations, and rent space for occasional short-term needs like set building.
Every donation will help us to protect our collection, which includes legacy items known throughout the community like the famed chaise lounge, which appears annually in productions all over the CRANDIC area!
Learn more about this organization at www.iowacitycommunitytheatre.org
AAP is an initiative that lowers barriers to arts education, supplies, and spaces for adults in the Iowa City area. Funding for this program supports: • Free or sliding-scale registration arts workshops taught by talented local artists (over 30 annually) • Free Art Supplies, which gathers donations of and redistributes high-quality art supplies • the Art Equipment Lending Library, equipment that can be borrowed for creative projects, from sewing machines to a portable PA system • low-cost access to professional equipment through our community-access studios Access to art experiences, not just as audience, but as a creator, supports a healthy community by improving mental health and quality of life, providing a sense of belonging and space for critical conversations, supporting diverse cultural identities, and offering professional and personal development. The AAP serves over 1000 people annually – thank you for considering a gift to sustain and grow this important effort.
Learn more about this organization at publicspaceone.com
Each summer, Riverside Theatre's Free Shakespeare programming provides thousands of area families and arts lovers with high-quality professional productions free of charge. Constructed in 2000 in partnership with the City of Iowa City, the 472-seat Festival Stage in Lower City Park is a living tribute to Shakespeare's Globe. Each summer, Riverside's productions provide a fresh spin on one of the Bard's timeless plays, with an emphasis on the belief that "Shakespeare is for Everyone." Putting together a professional production outdoors is no small feat. In addition to a longstanding agreement with Actors' Equity Association for this programming, Riverside employs scores of professional theatre artists from Eastern Iowa and across the country, all of whom are compensated for their work. This ensures that Free Shakespeare is not only a world-class free experience for area audiences, but also an economic driver for arts in Johnson County — made possible through our community's support!
Learn more about this organization at riversidetheatre.org
The Iowa City Jazz Festival brings local, regional, national, and international musicians together to celebrate a uniquely American art form. Past performers have included Dr. Lonnie Smith, Kurt Elling, Jane Ira Bloom, Christian McBride, and Joshua Redman. On our Side Stage, we create performance opportunities for local, and Iowa-based jazz musicians, such as university faculty from Eastern Iowa and young performers beginning their professional careers. This fund will be used to support our performer budget, so that we can maintain a world-class lineup on our stages.
By supporting this fund, you also believe that everyone in our community should be able to enjoy this event. Summer of the Arts believes in arts access and the transformative power of music: everyone should be able to experience this, no matter what.
Learn more about this organization at summerofthearts.org
At The Englert, we believe in the power of the arts to inspire and activate positive community growth through the arts. Our lecture series brings together renowned experts, activists, artists, and scholars to foster critical conversations and community engagement. We'll explore various topics encompassing social, racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice. By examining the intersections of these issues, we aim to challenge conventional narratives and offer multifaceted perspectives that promote holistic understanding.
Your donations will cover speaker fees, event production, and promotional activities, ensuring these events remain free and accessible to the public. Investing in this project means supporting a future where diverse perspectives are celebrated and critical issues are addressed through the transformative power of the arts. Join us in making a lasting impact on our community.
Learn more about this organization at englert.org
Since being resuscitated after the pandemic, Floodwater Comedy Festival has brought to Iowa City some of the biggest names in comedy, from the legendary improv teams of Chicago’s iO Theatre — including Improvised Jane Austen, Devil’s Daughter, and Dumb John — to nationally renowned comedians, like Jamie Shriner, Sarah Perry, Heather Land, and Emmy-nominated writer Laurie Kilmartin. Floodwater also showcases up-and-coming comedic talent from Iowa and the rest of the Midwest. Willow Creek Theatre is passionate about providing world-class comedy to the Iowa City area; Floodwater Comedy Festival is poised for growth, and, as we grow, we have the potential to make a huge impact on Iowa City.
Your donations will enable us to continue to bring top-notch improv talent and nationally recognized comedians to Iowa City. In addition, we will use the funding to support marketing efforts in order to grow Floodwater into the festival we know it can be. Thank you for supporting the arts!
Learn more about this organization at willowcreektheatre.org
FilmScene’s Community Collaborations series exists to generate conversation and action inspired by film.
To ensure a meaningful event, we engage with community partners, including nonprofits, advocacy groups, and passionate individuals, to show films that speak to contemporary life and the issues shaping us both locally and globally. These partners help curate films on relevant topics, ranging from caregiving to prison abolition to the climate crisis and more, as well as spread the word about screenings to the communities they serve.
We believe in equitable access to world-class cinema, and the power of film to encourage positive community change. To maximize participation, these screenings are pay-what-you-can, meaning no one is turned away from a Community Collaborations event because of an inability to pay.
Donor support covers screening fees, marketing and outreach efforts, and staff time to run these screenings as well as make it possible to offer pay-what-you-can-pay-tickets.
Learn more about this organization at www.filmscene.org
Each year, we fundraise to ensure all K-8 ICCSD students have access to unique, high-profile fine arts experiences. We work closely with our incredible Any Given Child community partners to make this possible.
With your help in 24-25:
Every Kindergartener will visit the Iowa Children's Museum.
Every First Grader will attend an acting workshop and musical production at the Englert.
Every Second Grader will experience ballet at the James Theatre.
Every Third Grader will explore the Stanley Museum of Art.
Every Fourth Grader will take in the UI Symphony Orchestra at the Voxman and attend a FilmScene Animation Workshop.
Every Fifth Grader will have an Art in Nature lesson during their week at School of the Wild.
Each Sixth Grader will take part in a Theater and Improvisation workshop with the Coralville Center for Performing Arts.
Our Seventh Graders will learn about filmmaking through a visit to FilmScene.
And every Eighth Grader will take in a performance at Hancher.
Learn more about this organization at iccsdfoundation.org
Girl Scouts also offers a staff-led leadership program to girls at their school or partner site through multiple 6-week series. This program was developed specifically to provide skill building opportunities to girls facing participation barriers such as financial strain, lack of transportation, and few adult volunteers. We cover the cost of the GSUSA membership fees, and at no cost to the girls our qualified Girl Scout staff step in to provide positive mentorship and serve as troop leaders, helping them gain life skills and learn how they can make a meaningful impact on the community. And they get to be a Girl Scout – an opportunity that many participants would not have without this outreach program.
Girl Scouts will provide staff-led leadership programming to 250 girls in Johnson County in the next year. Funding received will underwrite costs associated with program delivery & supplies, and financial assistance for the $25 GSUSA membership fee.
Learn more about this organization at www.girlscoutstoday.org
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates places a deep focus on investing in individuals through career education and workforce development. By working together with partner agencies and individuals, we can leverage our strengths and resources to support Iowa students to enhance their personal and professional skills, and transition successfully to financially viable career pathways. This investment extends beyond the personal implications for students as the collective impact of our partnership will change the economic landscape of communities for generations to come. Together, we will build a future where all individuals have the skills, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Learn more about this organization at ijag.org
As part of our mission to help Iowans better understand international issues and foster global engagement, we work to make internship opportunities available each academic year for university students who are passionate about international affairs and committed to promoting understanding and cooperation through high-quality educational programs, community outreach, and engagement.
Your support will help us fund three internship opportunities for the 2023-24 academic school year, allowing students to connect with leaders in their field while developing professional experience supporting weekly programs, outreach and communications efforts, and making an impact through community engagement and advancement of our international topics and speakers.
For 40 years, ICFRC has brought expert speakers to members of the Iowa City community to explore topics and issues affecting our local and global community while engaging with each other during weekly programs throughout the school year.
Learn more about this organization at icfrc.org
This annual free event held the last weekend of February celebrates writing for and by students. It offers the chance for hundreds of children and their families to hear from published authors about their work and engage in fun activities that promote literacy and storytelling. More important is the opportunity to champion writing by the children of our community. Your support will help to defray the costs of bringing authors to Iowa City to present at the festival, the costs of renting spaces to host our events, and the costs associated with presenting and awarding the writing of dozens of area students. These efforts help to identify and encourage talented young writers, providing a platform for creative self-expression. Encouraged by this recognition, students apply themselves more to their reading and writing in school and beyond. Iowa City takes writing seriously, but for our youngest readers and writers, One Book Two Book offers a fun weekend for exploration and growth.
Learn more about this organization at www.iowacityofliterature.org
At Junior Achievement, we believe that life skills can transform futures. Imagine if every student could unlock their full potential, viewing failure as a stepping stone and understanding that truth, though painful, fosters growth. A better future begins with early access to educational resources and support systems that guide students in planning and thinking about their futures now.
Through partnerships with the education and business communities, JA equips 5,437 K-8 students in the Iowa City, Regina, and Solon school districts with essential skills like communication, problem-solving, and financial literacy. Our hands-on activities and discussions prepare students to navigate adulthood with confidence.
With your support, we can provide Johnson County students with the tools to believe in themselves and persevere. Funding will cover program materials, volunteer recruitment, training, and operational expenses to ensure high-quality education and compliance with state standards.
Learn more about this organization at jaeasterniowa.org
The outcome of a custody case affects the child more than anyone else, so children deserve an advocate. Kids First provides free and low-cost legal representation to Johnson County children whose parents are engaged in high-conflict divorce and custody cases. Kids First's goals in each case are to (1) lessen the conflict kids are exposed to, (2) strengthen family relationships, (3) connect families to needed resources and (4) make children's voices heard. No agency in Eastern Iowa offers similar services.
Kids First can provide each child client with legal representation at a cost to the agency of just $42/hour including overhead. To provide equivalent in-depth services, a private attorney would charge at least $250/hour. The grant's value to the community is greater when these legal services stabilize families and save the community the expense of police and judicial intervention. Without Kids First, low-income children of fighting parents are unseen, unheard, and unsupported.
Learn more about this organization at www.kidsfirstiowa.org
The ICM has collaborated with the Iowa City Community School District’s afterschool program for years to provide STEM-based active learning opportunities for K-3 students. However, the loss of crucial funding threatens to end this well-loved program. According to the Iowa Afterschool Alliance, afterschool programs “provide extra support to students who are struggling or have special needs” and “more time for deeper learning, creative spaces for hands-on projects, and opportunities for students of all ages to explore careers.” With $10,000 in funding, The ICM will schedule ten visits during the 24-25 school year at three ICCSD elementaries where the majority of students qualify as low-income and/or belong to a minority group. ICM educators will lead each 90-minute session, which will include hands-on STEM activities. The ICM aims to help close learning and achievement gaps for underserved students, thereby promoting future income equality and diversity within STEM-related job fields.
Learn more about this organization at theicm.org
The Corriell Nature Preserve is a special place that has an oxbow, sand prairie, sedge meadow, and extensive beaver dam. The land is located on the Mississippi Flyway, an essential corridor for over 300 species of migratory birds as they make their way from breeding grounds in Canada to their wintering grounds in Central and South America. Birds like the great blue heron and sandhill crane rest and feed at Corriell Nature Preserve.
Bur Oak is requesting funds to build a bird blind near the wettest part of the land at Corriell, the beaver dam. Currently, when people walk up to the beaver dam they can scare away the birds that are there. A bird blind will allow people to observe, watch, and photograph birds with minimal disturbance to the birds themselves, thus mitigating some degree of human impact on the wildlife. Bur Oak will use the bird blind for educational purposes as more people explore the space through tours, school visits, and community youth program visits.
Learn more about this organization at buroaklandtrust.org
The RARE Group, an all volunteer, non-profit raptor rehabilitation and education organization located in Iowa City, is requesting support to purchase a refurbished autoclave. The autoclave will be used to sterilize on-site medical instruments, including surgical packs, used in the treatment of (wild) raptors. Currently, we collaborate with a veterinarian practice. About once a month, volunteers transport equipment needing to be sterilized to this veterinarian practice. When sterilized, we pick up the equipment. This local vet generously donates this service; but understandably, our needs are secondary to their equipment sterilization needs. The turn-around time varies but is approximately two weeks. The delivery, transport, and occasional delay is a significant burden to RARE's mission. This is particularly true with respect to surgical packs since RARE has a limited number of these expensive instruments and it is not possible to know how many might be needed in any given day.
Learn more about this organization at theraregroup.org
ChildServe’s mission is to partner with families to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life. Due to long wait lists, we are expanding. Philanthropic funds will provide therapy resources, sensory supplies, and equipment necessary to expand services and increase access to care for hundreds of Johnson County families.
ChildServe is one of a kind in Iowa, offering clinical, home and community-based services to children with special healthcare needs. Children served have developmental delays, disabilities, chronic medical conditions, mental health needs, injuries and other special healthcare needs. Services provided include physical, speech, occupational and mental health therapies, autism services, including specialized weekday care, as well as respite, psychology, concussion clinic, developmental clinic, and more.
By making a gift to ChildServe, you are helping improve access to life-changing care for children with special healthcare needs in our community.
Learn more about this organization at childserve.org
We are looking for support for our diabetes education program. $10,000.00 will provide 6 months of comprehensive education and behavioral support including Spanish language one-on-one health education and general support for changes which improve patient well-being and ability to self-manage their diabetes. The Diabetes Educator supplements the routine care and medications and supplies for approximately 400 patients each year.
Having a diabetes educator/education program is a key support for patients as they learn to self-monitor make changes in diet, expand exercise habits, monitor glucose levels, adjust medication dosages and intervals, monitor foot health and blood pressure, and cope with the overall stress of living. Thank you for supporting this invaluable program!
Learn more about this organization at freemedicalclinic.org
During the pandemic, NAMIJC began offering Remote Peer Support services. This allowed our clients to talk one-on-one to a trained Peer Support Specialist, someone with lived experience with mental illness, over the phone or Zoom. Our staff help clients develop coping skills, get connected to resources, and just overall provide emotional support. These services have been particularly important for homebound individuals and people with social anxiety who don't feel comfortable visiting our center in-person. We are also able to offer Remote Peer Support to individuals living in rural areas with limited access to other services. Many of our clients have called these services "life changing" and are grateful for the social interaction that brightens their day. We are seeking support to continue this vital service to individuals in our community who struggle with mental illness.
Learn more about this organization at namijc.org
Since 1993, The Agape Cafe at Old Brick, has been a treasured resource in our community. The Agape Café’s weekly breakfast provides, along with a healthy and delicious meal, the equally fundamental atmosphere of respect.
Guests experience a restaurant-like atmosphere where they can order from our menu, including specials. We serve 80-100 meals each Wednesday morning. We source donated food through our partners at Table to Table, HACAP, Bruegger’s bagels and more. We also offer a groceries-to-go table and health information services in partnership with the University of Iowa College of Nursing.
And we buy food – lots of it! We spend an average of $122 a week buying groceries. The Cafe is funded primarily by people just like you. We welcome your contribution and know that every dollar counts. We invite you to stop by for breakfast some Wednesday morning from 7:30-9:30 and witness for yourself the love and dignity that is known as the Agape Cafe. Thank you!!
Learn more about this organization at agapecafe.org
Investing in Marketing is a must in order to compete in an overstimulated world. Non-profits are at a disadvantage competing for the attention of the consumer market, due to lack of marketing dollars. Non- profits are struggling to meet the rising demand, we MUST grab the attention of our community, tell our story and express our needs. Investing in growing the capacity of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County (BBBSJC) will allow us to serve more young people in need of, and who desire a mentor. Not only can marketing help us recruit desperately needed volunteers, but also help leverage the generosity of the community to support us in other ways, financially, partnership development and direct support to our youth and families. By leveraging Over-The-Top (OTT) and Connected TV (CTV) marketing strategies, we can tap into powerful technologies to reach our target audience in engaging and impactful ways.
Learn more about this organization at www.bbbsjc.org
Cakes From The Heart partners with community organizations to help those with financial barriers celebrate their special occasions with unique, homemade, and personalized cakes or cupcakes. These funds will help offset volunteers' out of pocket expenses, pay insurance, build up marketing, and social media platform. The volunteer bakers already purchase their own cake ingredients, pans, cupcake papers, decorations, etc. In Johnson County, we are growing and will serve almost 200 people in this fiscal year. Thank you for considering us!
Learn more about this organization at facebook.com/cakesfromtheheartiowa
Your generous support will help us get closer to completing our Regional Hub’s renovations, including a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen dedicated to empowering food entrepreneurs. This collaborative space will offer essential resources, services, and programming designed to inspire and support the next generation of culinary entrepreneurs.
Underrepresented food entrepreneurs face unique challenges, such as high rent costs, limited access to professional kitchens, and a lack of supportive networks. By providing a fully equipped commercial kitchen and comprehensive support, we aim to level the playing field and close the wealth and opportunity gaps in our communities.
Your contributions will significantly advance our renovation efforts and support entrepreneurial programming. These efforts will address critical barriers outlined in our Inclusive Economic Development Plan, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous community.
Join us in making this transformative project a reality.
Learn more about this organization at dreamcityia.org
Houses into Homes provides gently-used beds, furniture, and other items for families and individuals in Johnson County, who are exiting homelessness, domestic violence, and other crisis situations. After our delivery, residents can enjoy a good night’s sleep, a meal with family and friends, and comfortable time together doing homework or relaxing. Additionally, people who have received items from Houses into Homes feel valued and cared for by their community. Funds will support intake, storage, and delivery of items.
In an interview, one respondent said, “[It’s] not just another roof over our heads. This doesn't feel like another place to live for my son, he considers this home. This is the first time that he's been able to do that in nine years. They helped us so much.”
One recipient told us, “The furniture is just wonderful but what was even more wonderful was the relationships that I had in the process of getting everything I needed, just great furniture but even better people.”
Learn more about this organization at housesintohomes.org
Iowa City Free Lunch Program is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization that serves free midday meals, six days a week, between noon and 1pm. Our mission statement is “an open door, a full plate, no questions asked.” Our "no questions asked" policy means that anyone who comes into our dining room can access food without barriers All of our meals are nutritious, containing at least two servings of fruit and vegetables. In 2023 we served 38,014 meals and that number is rising, with over 20,000 meals already served in the first six months of 2024. Our neighbors are struggling and FLP is an important source of nutrition for them. A donation to FLP helps cover the cost of food, our rented kithchen and dining room, dining supplies, kitchen equiptment, and administrative needs. It also helps cover the cost of our staff–two part-time directors and one weekend and holiday custodian–who keep FLP's doors open and make sure our volunteers and guests have everything they need.
Learn more about this organization at iowacityfreelunch.org
The North Liberty Community Pantry (NCLP) engages our community in feeding, clothing, and connecting our neighbors to resources and services. NLCP serves North Liberty and rural Johnson County residents living with low incomes and experiencing food insecurity. Over the last few years, the level of distribution and service has more than doubled for food and gone up nearly five times for clothing. Donations will be used to continue to offer a variety of options for our neighbors to choose how they meet their needs. Donations are needed to keep up with the growing demand for food and clothing in North Liberty and rural Johnson County. One neighbor shared, "I love how you have your pantry setup like a grocery store, it lets me shop with dignity." Another family had experienced a fire and lost all their clothing. They shared, "We had to start over and there's no way we could've made it without the clothing closet." Your donation makes a difference.
Learn more about this organization at nlcpantry.org
Shelter House's Fresh Starts program provides supported employment for tenants in our Permanent Supportive Housing Programs. With contracts throughout the county, the Fresh Starts crew provides cleaning services for local businesses, nonprofits, and government entities. Our supported employment model offers opportunity for individuals who cannot maintain traditional employment due to serious and persistent mental illness diagnoses. Tenants who elect employment with Fresh Starts work as part of a team, earn income, and are provided a routine and sense of accountability that can support mental health recovery.
The Fresh Starts Case manager supervises employees, providing vocational direction while ensuring employees receive the trauma-informed care required to allow them to maintain employment.
As the Fresh Starts 12-passenger van inches toward its 20th birthday, it is time to for replacement. Help Shelter House secure a newer, reliable van to support our Fresh Starts employees.
Learn more about this organization at shelterhouseiowa.org
UAY has been supporting youth experiencing homelessness for decades. These young people often “hide in plain sight”. They are difficult to locate and, often times, hesitant to engage. Our housing program can help but is limited by the number of units we have available, and can’t provide immediate help to a young person in crisis. However, UAY’s new federally funded Street Outreach program will increase our ability to interact with and locate youth you are experiencing homelessness but are afraid or ashamed to reach out. Providing these youth with Safety and Care Kits allows us to build rapport and help ensure that some basic needs are met. These kits include personal care items, first aid kits, flashlights, snacks, resource information, and seasonally appropriate clothing items. It is a small step that can mean the difference between life and death for youth who are experiencing housing insecurity. UAY expects to hand out 200 of these kits in the next year.
Learn more about this organization at unitedactionforyouth.org
Access to reliable transportation is a vital aspect of mobility justice and transportation equity. To support our community members who are most in need, we partner with the Shelter House and DVIP to provide bicycles to at-risk individuals. This program offers $50 voucher bikes to those who require immediate, reliable transportation—often a necessity for maintaining employment, reaching essential services, and moving efficiently within our community.
We provide a helmet and lock with every bike, bringing the cost to $100 per person. We offer our bike repair and refurbishment services pro bono, ensuring that the bikes are in good working condition and ready for use.
Every donation makes a difference. A contribution of $50 provides a bike; $100 equips a person with a bike, helmet, and lock; and $2,000 will fund transportation resources for 20 at-risk community members. Thank you for your consideration.
Learn more about this organization at www.icbikelibrary.org
In partnership with United Action for Youth, CommUnity Crisis Services will begin offering youth crisis stabilization services in 2024. The 12-bed property will fill a critical gap in our community by providing 3-10 day stays for crisis stabilization, and 21-day stays for homeless, trafficked, or runaway youth. While in residence, youth aged 11-17 will have access to onsite counseling, case management, therapeutic groups, and other programming. The farm currently includes a horse, a llama, pigs, goats, chickens, and other winged friends. We are seeking to add more animals to provide increased therapeutic benefits for youth utilizing the crisis stabilization services. For people living with mental illness, animal-assisted therapy offers an opportunity to make a transformative impact. Your support of this project can provide changes in their personality, behavior, and physical health, as well as affect their social interactions and cognitive, psychological, and emotional state.
Learn more about this organization at builtbycommunity.org
