CWG, in partnership with the W. R. Berkley Corporation Charitable Foundation*, actively supports local 501(c)(3) charitable organizations within the communities in the regions where CWG’s offices are located (Central Iowa, Southwest Minnesota, and Eastern Nebraska).

A grant request review committee reviews requests for grant funding twice per calendar year, in the spring and fall. There is no restriction to the size of each request, but only one grant per organization will be considered in a calendar year.


Eligibility Criteria:

Funding decisions are based on an organization’s demonstrated efficiency, history, and demonstrated success of programming and populations served.

Causes:

  • Community Betterment
  • Education
  • Food Insecurity
  • Health & Human Services
  • Youth Development

Locations:

Central Iowa
  • Adair County
  • Boone County
  • Clarke County
  • Dallas County
  • Fremont County
  • Greene County
  • Guthrie County
  • Hardin County
  • Jasper County
  • Lyon County
  • Madison County
  • Mahaska County
  • Marion County
  • Marshall County
  • Mills County
  • Monroe County
  • Polk County
  • Pottawattamie County
  • Poweshiek County
  • Sioux County
  • Story County
  • Tama County
  • Union County
  • Warren County
Southwest Minnesota
  • Cottonwood County
  • Jackson County
  • Lyon County
  • Murray County
  • Nobles County
  • Pipestone County
  • Rock County
  • Minnehaha County (South Dakota)
  • Lincoln County (South Dakota)
Eastern Nebraska
  • Butler County
  • Cass County
  • Dodge County
  • Fillmore County
  • Gage County
  • Hamilton County
  • Jefferson County
  • Johnson County
  • Nemaha County
  • Otoe County
  • Polk County
  • Richardson County
  • Saunders County
  • Thayer County
  • Washington County
  • York County

Charities should have a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Please visit www.charitynavigator.org to learn more and view your organization’s star rating.


Applications:

Please complete and submit the following application and required attachments.

  • A copy of the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status letter
  • Audited financial documentation for the most recently completed fiscal year
  • Documentation of your 4-star rating from the Charity Navigator website
  • A list of all officers and board of directors for the organization (local only)

Submit application and additional documentation by mail or email to:

Grant Program Coordinator
Continental Western Group
11201 Douglas Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322

grant.requests@cwgins.com

Application Cycles:

  • Spring Cycle: Apply by April 15 to be considered for a grant award in May/June
  • Fall Cycle: Apply by September 15 to be considered for a grant award in October/November

Grant requests will not be considered for:

  • Organizations that are not tax-exempt under paragraph 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
  • Political or fraternal organizations
  • School sports leagues or events and other non-educational activities such as band, choir, or debate
  • Individuals for any purpose
  • Religious activities for a particular denomination, except when these groups provide needed services to the community at large
  • Staffing, salaries, administrative or general office management
  • Building upkeep or improvements
  • General community or social events
  • 3rd-party funding organizations

* Grants provided by the W. R. Berkley Corporation Charitable Foundation are made at the request of CWG.

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