Funded Projects

A crowd and vendors congregate at the Ankeny Market & Pavilion

How the Ankeny Community Foundation’s Programs Are Supporting Local Nonprofits

For more than 10 years, the Ankeny Community Foundation has helped connect nonprofit organizations around the city with thousands of dollars in grant funding.

Our organization is able to serve local groups by awarding grants and serving as a fiscal sponsor to help them secure other forms of outside funding.

The impact has ranged from beautiful, impactful public spaces like the Ankeny Market & Pavilion and Ankeny Miracle Park, to initiatives that support high school band programs and encourage literacy among young Ankeny readers. Here are some of the ways our organization is making a difference.

Grant Award Recipients

2024 Grant Cycle

Total Funding Awarded: $4,000

Little White Schoolhouse Foundation - $1000
Ankeny Friends of the Art Center - $1000
Ankeny Service Center - $1000
Northview Middle School Crochet Club - $500
Foster SQUAD - $500

2023 Grant Cycle

Total Funding Awarded: $3,500

Friends of Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library: $500
Ankeny Instrumental Music Foundation: $500
New Horizons Adult Day Center: $1,500

$1,000 through the “Enhance Ankeny” grant
$500 through Elaine M. Moore Memorial Grant

Ankeny Service Center: $1,000

2020-21 Grant Cycle

Total Funding Awarded: $3,000

Ankeny Service Center: $1,000
The Ankeny Klothing Exchange (TAKE): $1,000
New Horizons Adult Day Center: $1,000

2019 Grant Cycle

Total Funding Awarded: $2,250

Friends of Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library: $1,000
Children & Families of Iowa - Ankeny: $750
Courage League Sports - Ankeny: $500

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Projects & Nonprofits With Whom We’ve Partnered

Ankeny Community Band

Ankeny Community Foundation serves as the 501(c)(3) fiscal agent for the Ankeny Community Band, an all-volunteer community member organization that has received grant funding from Bravo Greater Des Moines as a result of this partnership. With the Foundation providing accounting and holding of funds, the band focuses its time and talents on rehearsing and performing concerts for the community. Concerts include their Summer Concert Series, provided free of charge at the Ankeny Bandshell each Wednesday evening in June.

Ankeny Leadership Institute

Ankeny Community Foundation’s fiscal agent support for the Ankeny Leadership Institute’s Class of 2022 project helped them raise $28,000 to donate to Ankeny Parks & Recreation. The donation created a scholarship fund that Ankeny Parks & Recreation uses to offset program registration fees for program participants who have difficulty affording them. Though the city and department seek to keep program costs very low, there has been an increase recently in the number of requests received for assistance or waiving registration fees. This $28,000 fund ensures participants do not miss out on programs that improve quality of life and health due to an inability to pay!

Ankeny Market & Pavilion

Ankeny Market and Pavilion is a 3.1-acre park that includes two pavilions, a restroom building, bicycle trailheads, and plenty of open space. It’s a trailhead for the popular High Trestle Trail, home of the Ankeny Uptown Farmer's Market, and host to a variety of unique and exciting community activities. The project is the result of a public-private partnership involving the City of Ankeny, the Rotary Club of Ankeny, a steering committee of community members, and the Ankeny Community Foundation, which serves as fiscal agent. The Foundation managed the more than $1.7 million raised for the project.

Ankeny Miracle League/Miracle Park

Ankeny Miracle Park is the result of a public-private partnership involving the City of Ankeny, Ankeny Kiwanis Club, a steering committee of community members, and the Ankeny Community Foundation as fiscal agent. The Foundation managed the more than $1.3 million that was raised for the project. The park includes the All-Inclusive Playground, Ankeny Miracle League Ballfield, and a concession stand located near the center of the community adjacent to Hawkeye Park. Ankeny Miracle Park Playground is Ankeny’s largest playground with more than 14,000 square feet of fun with accessible and inclusive play amenities. Miracle Field’s obstacle-free surface enables youth and adults with special needs including mobility challenges to play organized baseball through youth and adult leagues held in summer and fall. Miracle League serves approximately 150 participants and their families per season. Community volunteers and parks and recreation staff facilitate the games. The park is truly all-inclusive, bringing community members together regardless of abilities or challenges.

Art for Ankeny

Ankeny Community Foundation serves as the fiscal agent for Art for Ankeny, a volunteer-run initiative that to date has raised over $20,000 that will fund local public art.

100 Women Who Care Ankeny

Prior to working with Ankeny Community Foundation, 100 Women Who Care Ankeny collected donation checks from each of its approximately 100 participants four times per year, then donated those numerous checks to the four nonprofits selected to receive the funds by its participants. It was a lot of work for the volunteer steering committee to gather and donate every check! A two-year partnership with Ankeny Community Foundation helped streamline the process. Through the Foundation, participants wrote just one check for $400 to the Foundation, and the Foundation issued one grant check to each recipient chosen by 100 Women. The easier collection/distribution process contributed to 100 Women’s participation jumping to well over 100. That enabled the group to collect and donate a guaranteed minimum of $10,000 each quarter to local-serving nonprofits!

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Have Questions About Our Grants or How to Give? Contact the Ankeny Community Foundation.

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