Investing in arts & culture is investing in the community. Building relationships and encouraging collaboration.
Bravo Greater Des Moines Inc uses its grantmaking to support arts and culture across Greater Des Moines, with recurring emphasis on operating support, capital projects, public art, and youth arts access. The largest recent awards in the data include $510,000 to the Des Moines Art Center for operating and capital project support and $500,000 to Des Moines Performing Arts for operating support, showing a pattern of backing established cultural institutions at significant scale. Other large grants go to the Science Center of Iowa, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, each through combinations of general funding, operating grants, and capital support. The foundation’s program portfolio also includes Passport to Culture, the Local Arts & Culture Program Grant, the Capital Project Grant, the Bravo / ICON Public Art Grant, and the Public Art Grant, which together point to a grantmaker that funds both organizational infrastructure and public-facing cultural experiences. Across the recent grants list, recipients include museums, performing arts groups, gardens, theaters, and public art efforts located in the Des Moines area.
Arts organization support is a clear part of the foundation’s work. The Des Moines Symphony Association received $232,000 in 2025 for an operating grant, after earlier general funding and capital project support, and Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation received $205,500 in 2025 for operating support. Capital projects are another recurring use of funds. The Des Moines Art Center received $510,000 in 2025 for operating and capital project support, while Salisbury House Foundation received $159,750 in 2025 for operating and capital project support. Youth arts access appears through Passport to Culture, which funds student experiences in and out of the classroom. Community arts programming also appears in the Local Arts & Culture Program Grant, which supports arts and culture programming delivered by organizations across the Bravo service area.
The listed typical grant size is $13,675 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $95,300 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from modest program grants to seven-figure totals spread across multiple years, and several organizations recur in the recent-grants table, including the Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Performing Arts, Science Center of Iowa, Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation, and Blank Park Zoo Foundation Inc. The foundation makes grants rather than program-related investments and does not fund individuals. Active grant programs include operating, capital, public art, and youth-access grants, and at least several of those programs accept unsolicited requests.
$5.2M
$8M
$7.6M
$6.4M
Most grants fall between $14K and $95K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$95K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in IA.
SALLY DIX
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Grantmaking is entirely in Iowa, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the state. The recent grants list centers on Des Moines, with additional recipients in Indianola, West Des Moines, and Urbandale. Des Moines appears most often, including awards to the Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Performing Arts, the Science Center of Iowa, and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. The grant programs also specify Greater Des Moines as their geography, with some operating support extending to Polk County and surrounding communities.
The foundation supports arts and cultural organizations, public art projects and commissions, and cultural institutions seeking capital improvements. Its active programs also include operating support, community arts programming, youth arts access, and public art grantmaking.
The typical grant size is $13,675 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $95,300 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger operating and capital grants to major cultural institutions in Greater Des Moines.
Yes, several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including Passport to Culture, the Local Arts & Culture Program Grant, the Capital Project Grant, and Operating Grants.
Grantmaking is local and entirely in Iowa. The recent grants list shows recipients in Des Moines, Indianola, West Des Moines, and Urbandale, and the program geography is centered on Greater Des Moines.
The foundation’s listed focus areas are Arts & Culture, Public Art, Youth Arts Access, Cultural Organization Operating Support, and Community Arts Programming. The program list also adds capital projects and infrastructure for cultural organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDMUNDSON ART FOUNDATION INC DBA DES MOINES ART CENTER | DES MOINES, IA | $510,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT |
| DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS | DES MOINES, IA | $500,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA INC | INDIANOLA, IA | $341,500 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT |
| GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN | DES MOINES, IA | $280,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT |
| SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $240,750 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT |
| DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION | DES MOINES, IA | $232,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HOYT SHERMAN PLACE FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $205,500 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| SALISBURY HOUSE FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $159,750 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT |
| BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC | DES MOINES, IA | $150,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| MAINFRAME STUDIOS | DES MOINES, IA | $125,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL INC | DES MOINES, IA | $125,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| BALLET DES MOINES | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $125,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CAPITAL CITY PRIDE DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $125,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE | DES MOINES, IA | $120,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| GREATER DES MOINES MUSIC COALITION INC | DES MOINES, IA | $105,760 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DES MOINES FILM SOCIETY | DES MOINES, IA | $101,350 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| IOWA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $101,150 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CITY OF BONDURANT | BONDURANT, IA | $99,850 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| LIVING HISTORY FARMS FOUNDATION | URBANDALE, IA | $93,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $92,700 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CULTUREALL INC | URBANDALE, IA | $90,350 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DOWNTOWN EVENTS GROUP INC | DES MOINES, IA | $88,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| GIRLS ROCK DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $82,650 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| IOWA ARTS IN EDUCATION | DES MOINES, IA | $71,100 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| IOWA ASIAN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $58,500 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ARTS FOR THE CITY INC | DES MOINES, IA | $51,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ITALIAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER OF IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $50,375 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT |
| THE FORT DES MOINES MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT |
| CITY OF WAUKEE | WAUKEE, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| CITY OF WEST DES MOINES | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| IOWA STAGE THEATRE COMPANY | DES MOINES, IA | $49,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| GREATER DES MOINES PUBLIC ART FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $48,300 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| IOWA NATIONAL GUARD MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION | JOHNSTON, IA | $41,500 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CITY OF DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $40,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| DES MOINES GAY MEN'S CHORUS | DES MOINES, IA | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| IOWA EUROPEAN CULTURAL CONNECTION | PLEASANT HILL, IA | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| IOWA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WAUKEE, IA | $28,400 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DES MOINES CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $26,550 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CITY OF INDIANOLA | INDIANOLA, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| CITY OF PLEASANT HILL | PLEASANT HILL, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| HEARTLAND YOUTH CHOIR | DES MOINES, IA | $24,075 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| I'LL MAKE ME A WORLD IN IOWA INC | DES MOINES, IA | $23,425 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| LATINO RESOURCES INC | DES MOINES, IA | $22,875 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| ANKENY FRIENDS OF THE ARTS | ANKENY, IA | $22,800 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| WEST DES MOINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $22,025 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| CITY OF ANKENY | ANKENY, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| CITY OF WINDSOR HEIGHTS | WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA | $18,750 | 2025 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| TALLGRASS THEATRE COMPANY | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $17,800 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| HIP-HOPE INC | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $16,100 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| DES MOINES YOUNG ARTISTS THEATRE INC | DES MOINES, IA | $14,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
EDMUNDSON ART FOUNDATION INC DBA DES MOINES ART CENTER
$510,000OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT
DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS
$500,000OPERATING GRANT
DES MOINES METRO OPERA INC
$341,500OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT
GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN
$280,000OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT
SCIENCE CENTER OF IOWA
$240,750OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT
DES MOINES SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION
$232,000OPERATING GRANT
HOYT SHERMAN PLACE FOUNDATION
$205,500OPERATING GRANT
SALISBURY HOUSE FOUNDATION
$159,750OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT
BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION INC
$150,000OPERATING GRANT
MAINFRAME STUDIOS
$125,000OPERATING GRANT
DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL INC
$125,000OPERATING GRANT
BALLET DES MOINES
$125,000OPERATING GRANT
CAPITAL CITY PRIDE DES MOINES
$125,000OPERATING GRANT
DES MOINES COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE
$120,000OPERATING GRANT
GREATER DES MOINES MUSIC COALITION INC
$105,760OPERATING GRANT
DES MOINES FILM SOCIETY
$101,350OPERATING GRANT
IOWA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
$101,150OPERATING GRANT
CITY OF BONDURANT
$99,850PUBLIC ART GRANT
LIVING HISTORY FARMS FOUNDATION
$93,000OPERATING GRANT
CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF DES MOINES
$92,700OPERATING GRANT
CULTUREALL INC
$90,350OPERATING GRANT
DOWNTOWN EVENTS GROUP INC
$88,000OPERATING GRANT
GIRLS ROCK DES MOINES
$82,650OPERATING GRANT
IOWA ARTS IN EDUCATION
$71,100OPERATING GRANT
IOWA ASIAN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
$58,500OPERATING GRANT
ARTS FOR THE CITY INC
$51,000OPERATING GRANT
ITALIAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER OF IOWA
$50,375OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT
THE FORT DES MOINES MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER
$50,000OPERATING GRANT, CAPITAL PROJECT GRANT
CITY OF WAUKEE
$50,000PUBLIC ART GRANT
CITY OF WEST DES MOINES
$50,000PUBLIC ART GRANT
IOWA STAGE THEATRE COMPANY
$49,000OPERATING GRANT
GREATER DES MOINES PUBLIC ART FOUNDATION
$48,300OPERATING GRANT
IOWA NATIONAL GUARD MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
$41,500OPERATING GRANT
CITY OF DES MOINES
$40,000PUBLIC ART GRANT
DES MOINES GAY MEN'S CHORUS
$30,000OPERATING GRANT
IOWA EUROPEAN CULTURAL CONNECTION
$30,000OPERATING GRANT
IOWA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$28,400OPERATING GRANT
DES MOINES CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$26,550OPERATING GRANT
CITY OF INDIANOLA
$25,000PUBLIC ART GRANT
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
$25,000PUBLIC ART GRANT
HEARTLAND YOUTH CHOIR
$24,075OPERATING GRANT
I'LL MAKE ME A WORLD IN IOWA INC
$23,425OPERATING GRANT
LATINO RESOURCES INC
$22,875OPERATING GRANT
ANKENY FRIENDS OF THE ARTS
$22,800OPERATING GRANT
WEST DES MOINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$22,025OPERATING GRANT
CITY OF ANKENY
$20,000PUBLIC ART GRANT
CITY OF WINDSOR HEIGHTS
$18,750PUBLIC ART GRANT
TALLGRASS THEATRE COMPANY
$17,800OPERATING GRANT
HIP-HOPE INC
$16,100OPERATING GRANT
DES MOINES YOUNG ARTISTS THEATRE INC
$14,000OPERATING GRANT