The 2027 grants will support childcare, housing, employment, mentorship and education programs across Iowa, including organizations in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Waterloo.
By Hola Iowa
Updated Oct. 23, 2026.
The Iowa Women’s Foundation awarded $400,000 in grants to 15 organizations supporting women and girls across the state. The funding covers childcare, housing, employment, mentorship, and education and training programs.
The grants were announced October 20 during the foundation’s 32nd Annual Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center. Recipients include organizations in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Waterloo and other Iowa communities.
Claudia Schabel, the foundation’s president and CEO, said the grants support organizations addressing immediate barriers to women’s economic opportunities while the foundation continues its work toward broader changes.
Davenport and eastern Iowa organizations awarded grants
Her Voice Media in Davenport was awarded $35,100 in the mentorship category. The nonprofit supports women and girls through storytelling, media training and leadership development.
Its programs include Love Girls Magazine and the Her Voice Media Fellowship. The magazine features journalism, photography and personal storytelling by women and girls, while the fellowship provides mentorship, professional development and hands-on experience in journalism, podcasting, photography and other media fields.
In Cedar Rapids, the Catherine McAuley Center was awarded $19,400 in the housing category, while the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois received a $10,000 grant for mentorship.
The Dubuque Area Labor Management Council was awarded $15,000 for education and training.
Six Des Moines-area organizations awarded $193,000
Five organizations in Des Moines and one in Urbandale received grants totaling $193,000 for childcare, housing, employment, mentorship, and education and training.
Lutheran Services in Iowa was awarded $50,000 for childcare. The Beacon received $50,000 in the housing category, and Jewels Academy was awarded $20,000 for employment-related programs.
Dress for Success Des Moines, based in Urbandale, received $28,000 for mentorship. The Science Center of Iowa was awarded $10,000 for education and training.
Young Women’s Resource Center in Des Moines was awarded $35,000 in the education and training category.
All 15 Iowa organizations awarded 2027 grants
The Iowa Women’s Foundation awarded the following grants to 15 organizations across the state:
| Organization | City | Focus | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Home Finding Child Care Center | Ottumwa | Childcare | $8,500 |
| Carroll Children’s Museum | Carroll | Childcare | $8,000 |
| Catherine McAuley Center | Cedar Rapids | Housing | $19,400 |
| Dress for Success Des Moines | Urbandale | Mentorship | $28,000 |
| Dubuque Area Labor Management Council | Dubuque | Education and training | $15,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois | Cedar Rapids | Mentorship | $10,000 |
| Her Voice Media | Davenport | Mentorship | $35,100 |
| Jewels Academy | Des Moines | Employment | $20,000 |
| Linking Families and Communities | Fort Dodge | Childcare | $50,000 |
| Lutheran Services in Iowa | Des Moines | Childcare | $50,000 |
| Micah House | Council Bluffs | Housing | $40,000 |
| Science Center of Iowa | Des Moines | Education and training | $10,000 |
| The Beacon | Des Moines | Housing | $50,000 |
| Try Pie Bakery | Waterloo | Employment | $21,000 |
| Young Women’s Resource Center | Des Moines | Education and training | $35,000 |
Childcare and housing account for more than half of the funding
The Iowa Women’s Foundation focuses on six barriers to women’s economic self-sufficiency: childcare, housing, transportation, employment, mentorship, and education and training.
The 2027 grants cover five of those six areas. Childcare programs received $116,500, followed by $109,400 for housing, $73,100 for mentorship, $60,000 for education and training, and $41,000 for employment. No transportation grants were included in this round.
The foundation’s Core Grants program supports qualifying nonprofit organizations and licensed childcare providers serving women and girls in Iowa. Applicants may request up to $50,000.
The foundation reported that it has awarded $2.7 million to 249 organizations across Iowa to date.
The October 20 luncheon also featured journalist and author Josie Cox, whose book Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality examines women’s fight for financial independence. Cox discussed the history of women’s economic rights and barriers to equality during a conversation with Liz Mathis.
Under the foundation’s grantmaking guidelines, funds from this grant cycle are designated for use between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027.
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