Partnership Grants

The Iowa Arts Council board awards a limited number of Partnership Grants each year, to support significant arts-related projects that will enhance the lives of Iowans throughout the state and encourage and support visionary thinking of Iowans.

Grant Amount

There is no minimum or maximum grant amount for Partnership Grants, but your request should be consistent with the needs of your project.

• Multi-year funding may be requested but support for a project is limited to a maximum of three years.
• Annual funding of approved multi-year projects is contingent upon availability of funds and successful fulfillment of annual goals.

Eligible Applicants

• Nonprofit organizations incorporated in Iowa that have
  federal tax-exempt status
• Schools
• Area education agencies
• Local, county, state and federal governmental agencies
• Tribal councils

Organizations in communities bordering Iowa may be eligible if the project substantially benefits Iowans. Refer to Border State Policy.

Fiscal Agents: If your nonprofit organization does not have federal tax exempt status, you may apply through an eligible nonprofit and federal tax-exempt organization, which agrees to be the legal Applicant/Fiscal Agent for the grant activity. Refer to Fiscal Agents Policy.

Not Eligible to Apply:

• Students
• Applicants who have an outstanding late Final Report for a previously funded application. (The Iowa Arts Council's fiscal year is July 1 through June 30 of the following year.)

Partnership Grants do not count toward the number of grants an organization can receive from the Iowa Arts Council per fiscal year.

Required Elements

The applicant must meet all of the following threshold requirements in order for the organization to submit a proposal:

• The proposal must address one or more Imagine Iowa goals
• The proposal must have statewide impact
• There must be demonstrated statewide support for the proposal
• The applicant organization must have a paid director or administrator, staff support, advisory bodies, and other resources in place at the time of submitting the proposal
• The applicant must have experience in successfully planning and conducting significant, high quality projects and programs
• When appropriate, the proposal is likely to sustain itself, be institutionalized, or have impact after the funding period ends

Partnership grant recipients are required to submit quarterly progress reports and an annual report each year.

Review Process

Letters of Intent will be accepted throughout the year and reviewed by IAC staff and the executive director. Letters of Intent should include the following information:

• A general description of the proposed project
• Identification of the specific Imagine Iowa goal(s) to be addressed
• Description of the project’s statewide impact
• Description of the statewide support that exists for the project
• Indication of the amount requested, together with a general itemization of expenses and sources of income

Applicants whose Letters of Intent are approved for further consideration will be asked to submit a grant application form with detailed budget information.

Address Letters of Intent to:
Partnership Grant Inquiry
Mary Sundet Jones
Iowa Arts Council
600 E Locust
Des Moines IA 50319-0290