Funding search · workforce development · Iowa
Who funds workforce development work in Iowa
15 funders have a record of paying for workforce development work by Iowa recipients: 32 grants totaling $2.7M, most recently in 2025 — mostly grantmaking charities, which often run real application cycles. The largest by matched giving are United Way of Central Iowa ($1.4M), Home Builders Association of Iowa ($150,000) and Iowa West Foundation ($217,496).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to Iowa recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
United Way of Central IowaDes Moines, IACharity · may take applications
10 matching grants · $1.4M · through 2023Largest: $553,062 to CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF IOWA — afterschool programming for academic success (k-12), middle school programming, and middle school success through workforce development
Home Builders Association of IowaDes Moines, IACharity · may take applications
3 matching grants · $150,000 · through 2025Largest: $50,000 to IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT — supplement wages
Iowa West FoundationCouncil Bluffs, IA
3 matching grants · $217,496 · through 2024Largest: $130,000 to POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — council bluffs area chamber of commerce workforce development program
Largest: $13,800 to HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE — scholarships of $925 to $1725 each to 10 individuals for job training
Prairie Meadows Race Track and CasinoAltoona, IACharity · may take applications
2 matching grants · $220,000 · through 2024Largest: $210,000 to YOUTH & SHELTER SERVICES INC — ember recovery campus maintenance shop for workforce development
Largest: $32,500 to SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT — youth community co-designer pre-apprenticeship program
Southeast Iowa Regional MedicalWest Burlington, IACharity · may take applications
2 matching grants · $20,000 · through 2021Largest: $10,000 to FORT MADISON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — support community enhancement and workforce development
Greater Cedar Rapids CommunityCedar Rapids, IACharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $82,289 · through 2024Largest: $82,289 to TREES FOREVER — growing futures teen workforce development program, general support
Largest: $100,000 to CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES INC — toward costs to improve water and sanitation infrastructure and emergency programming to provide job training to support understaffed hospitals in yemen.
Largest: $50,000 to IJAG — iowa jobs for america's graduates (ijag) benefits junior high and high school students from across iowa that have struggled to be successful in a traditional secondary school envir…
Nebraska Community FoundationLincoln, NECharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $30,000 · through 2023Largest: $30,000 to IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE — workforce development support
Quad Cities Community FoundationBettendorf, IACharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $22,000 · through 2023Largest: $22,000 to ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY - ADVANCEMENT OFFICE — general support, workforce development, stadium
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Start with one paperBroader: workforce development funders nationally · all Iowa-based grantmakers