The Cedar Falls Community Foundation inspires and connects individuals, families, and organizations to enhance our community, support non-profits, elevate educational opportunities, and build legacies through philanthropy.
A defining feature of Cedar Falls Community Foundation is its steady support for local civic institutions and community infrastructure. Recent grants show large awards to Cedar Falls Library for support services, to the City of Cedar Falls for Cedar River recreational enhancement, and to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation for scholarships. Those grants sit alongside funding for arts, recreation, child care, and community projects, reflecting a mix of operating support, project support, and scholarship funding. The foundation’s grantmaking is local in scope and heavily centered in Cedar Falls and nearby Iowa communities. Across its recent awards, the foundation appears to back organizations that shape daily life in the community: libraries, the city government, a university foundation, arts institutions, and nonprofits serving children and families. It also supports named funds and annual competitive grants tied to donor-established endowments and discretionary resources. The result is a pattern of giving that connects education access, public amenities, and nonprofit capacity with community-defined priorities. The emphasis is not on a single issue alone, but on practical support for institutions and projects that are visible to local residents.
Education is a consistent thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $87,211 to University of Northern Iowa Foundation for scholarships and later provided another $49,729 for the same purpose, showing continued support for higher education access. Library and literacy work is also a major area: Cedar Falls Library received $74,132 for support services in 2023, and the same institution later received $122,822 for library support. Community development and recreation appear in grants to public and civic partners. The City of Cedar Falls received $184,366 for Cedar River recreational enhancement and $19,558 for capital projects and community event support. Arts and culture show up in support for James & Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts, which received $44,261 in 2023. Child care and family services are another focus area, including funding for Child Care Resource & Referral of Northeast Iowa and Exceptional Persons Inc for child care resource and referral work in northeast Iowa.
$235K
$10.2M
$1.1M
$589K
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$50K
SALLY TIMMER
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Typical grant size clusters around a median of $16,302, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $49,833. That spread points to a mix of modest awards and larger institutional grants. The recent record also shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Cedar Falls Library, the City of Cedar Falls, University of Northern Iowa Foundation, and Cedar Valley Cancer Committee. The foundation uses both competitive community grant programs and donor-directed named funds, including the Vision Fund and annual competitive nonprofit grants. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications through an online grant portal or competitive process.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Iowa. Ninety-seven percent of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state, and the top giving state is also IA. Most grants land in Cedar Falls, with additional awards in Waterloo and the University of Northern Iowa campus community. Outside the immediate area, the recent grants list includes one recipient in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but the overall distribution remains entirely within the United States.
The foundation supports local nonprofits, schools, libraries, the City of Cedar Falls, arts and history organizations, child care and family-service programs, and scholarship recipients. Its active programs also name education, arts and culture, recreation, community development, libraries, and urgent community needs as focus areas.
Recent grant sizes cluster around a p25 of $10,000, a median of $16,302, and a p75 of $49,833. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, such as $249,332 and $184,366, along with many grants at or near $10,000.
Yes. Several active grant programs say they accept unsolicited applications, including Community Grants / General Grantmaking, CFCF Children & Families Fund, and the foundation’s general/community grants and competitive grant programs. The application intake for Community Grants is handled through the Foundation’s online grant portal.
Its grantmaking is local, with 97% of grants going to recipients in Iowa. Cedar Falls is the main place where awards land, and the recent grants list also includes recipients in Waterloo and one recipient in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Yes. Cedar Falls Library, the City of Cedar Falls, University of Northern Iowa Foundation, Community Main Street Inc, and Cedar Valley Cancer Committee all appear more than once across the recent grants list, showing repeated support rather than one-time-only awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Cedar Falls Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: For schools, libraries, and other local causes in the Cedar Falls community; grant seekers are described as nonprofits seeking funding from CFCF.
Deadline: Applications are accepted each year; specific deadlines were not provided in the scraped content.
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations, schools, libraries and other community-based organizations serving Cedar Falls. Specific eligibility determined by individual fund/endowment guidelines.
Who can apply: Organizations or initiatives addressing urgent or emerging community needs in Cedar Falls, subject to Foundation board approval and fund policies.
Deadline: No fixed public application window; used to respond as needs arise.
Who can apply: Applicants must demonstrate 501(c)(3) tax status, apply to an available grant fund whose purpose fits the project, submit one complete project application on time, demonstrate the ability to implement and complete the proposal, and submit a final report and project photographs if awarded. Projects must benefit Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Deadline: Application due by 11:59 p.m. on June 16 annually; portal generally open April through June.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF CEDAR FALLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $144,500 | 2026 | LIBRARY SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $51,250 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CITY OF CEDAR FALLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $25,080 | 2026 | CEDAR RIVER RECREATIONAL ENHANCEMENT |
| COMMUNITY MAIN STREET INC | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $8,358 | 2026 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| HELEN HANSEN ELEMENTARY PTA | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $6,000 | 2026 | HANSEN ELEMENTARY PTA |
| CITY OF CEDAR FALLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $184,366 | 2025 | CEDAR RIVER RECREATIONAL ENHANCEMENT |
| CITY OF CEDAR FALLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $122,822 | 2025 | LIBRARY SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $49,729 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| COMMUNITY MAIN STREET INC | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $28,410 | 2025 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| EXCEPTIONAL PERSONS INC | WATERLOO, IA | $21,200 | 2025 | CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL OF NORTHEAST IOWA |
| CITY OF CEDAR FALLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $19,558 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY EVENT |
| CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | BEYOND PINK TEAM |
| ROTARY CLUB OF CEDAR FALLS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $10,000 | 2025 | MEMORIAL PLAZA |
| CEDAR FALLS LIBRARY | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $249,332 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR FALLS LIBRARY | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $249,332 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $49,868 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $49,868 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CITY OF CEDAR FALLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $43,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CITY OF CEDAR FALLS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $43,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| JAMES & MERYL HEARST CENTER FOR THE ARTS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $13,045 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| JAMES & MERYL HEARST CENTER FOR THE ARTS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $13,045 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR FALLS PICKLEBALL CLUB | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $12,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR FALLS PICKLEBALL CLUB | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $12,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL OF NORTHEAST IOWA | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL OF NORTHEAST IOWA | WATERLOO, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE | WATERLOO, IA | $8,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE | WATERLOO, IA | $8,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR FALLS COMMUNITY THEATRE | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $6,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR FALLS COMMUNITY THEATRE | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $6,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA FOUNDATION | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $87,211 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CEDAR FALLS LIBRARY | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $74,132 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| COMMUNITY MAIN STREET INC | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $73,889 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| JAMES & MERYL HEARST CENTER FOR THE ARTS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $44,261 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION | PIGEON FORGE, TN | $23,456 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| SOUTHDALE IMPACT | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $9,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR VALLEY ASSOCIATION FOR SOFT TRAILS | CEDAR FALLS, IA | $8,329 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE | WATERLOO, IA | $7,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT SERVICES |
| WATERLOO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | WATERLOO, IA | $6,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
CITY OF CEDAR FALLS
$144,500LIBRARY SUPPORT
CITY OF CEDAR FALLS
$25,080CEDAR RIVER RECREATIONAL ENHANCEMENT
COMMUNITY MAIN STREET INC
$8,358SUPPORT SERVICES
HELEN HANSEN ELEMENTARY PTA
$6,000HANSEN ELEMENTARY PTA
CITY OF CEDAR FALLS
$184,366CEDAR RIVER RECREATIONAL ENHANCEMENT
CITY OF CEDAR FALLS
$122,822LIBRARY SUPPORT
COMMUNITY MAIN STREET INC
$28,410SUPPORT SERVICES
CITY OF CEDAR FALLS
$19,558CAPITAL PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY EVENT
CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE
$10,000BEYOND PINK TEAM
ROTARY CLUB OF CEDAR FALLS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$10,000MEMORIAL PLAZA
CEDAR FALLS LIBRARY
$249,332SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR FALLS LIBRARY
$249,332SUPPORT SERVICES
CITY OF CEDAR FALLS
$43,000SUPPORT SERVICES
CITY OF CEDAR FALLS
$43,000SUPPORT SERVICES
JAMES & MERYL HEARST CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$13,045SUPPORT SERVICES
JAMES & MERYL HEARST CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$13,045SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR FALLS PICKLEBALL CLUB
$12,500SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR FALLS PICKLEBALL CLUB
$12,500SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE
$8,000SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE
$8,000SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR FALLS COMMUNITY THEATRE
$6,000SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR FALLS COMMUNITY THEATRE
$6,000SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR FALLS LIBRARY
$74,132SUPPORT SERVICES
COMMUNITY MAIN STREET INC
$73,889SUPPORT SERVICES
JAMES & MERYL HEARST CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$44,261SUPPORT SERVICES
SOUTHDALE IMPACT
$10,000SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR FALLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$9,000SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR VALLEY ASSOCIATION FOR SOFT TRAILS
$8,329SUPPORT SERVICES
CEDAR VALLEY CANCER COMMITTEE
$7,000SUPPORT SERVICES
WATERLOO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
