1855 Greyhound Park Road · Dubuque, IA 52001 · dradubuque.com TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
2022 Mission Grant Application
Mission Grant Overview
- Requests for $50,000 - $500,000
- Focus on People Attraction: Population growth, retention, and tourism
- Multi-year requests considered
- Payment structure reviewed on a per application basis
o Follow-up reporting required prior to application for additional funds
- Two-phase application process
o Phase 1: Simple Application – Tell us about your project/program and how it
meets a community need.
o Phase 2 (invitation only): More in-depth application
o Presentation (finalists): Presentation with Q&A to DRA Mission Grant
Committee
- Collaboration opportunities with the DRA and community partners throughout the
grant cycle
Key Dates
Application Available: Monday, June 27, 2022
Application Deadline: Friday, July 15, 2022
Phase 2 Application Available (invitation only): Monday, August 1, 2022
Phase 2 Application Deadline: Friday, August 12, 2022
Grant Award Announcement: Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Focus for Grant Applications
All requests for funding in 2022 should tie to the mission of People Attraction: Population
Growth, Retention and Tourism. This aligns with the DRA’s mission of providing social,
economic and community betterment and lessening the burden of Dubuque city and area
government, as well as our vision of being a dynamic community resource, acting as a
catalyst to enhance the quality of life and financial well-being of the tri-state community.
Capacity Building vs Material Purchases
Historically, the DRA has funded mostly material items, in 2022 funding preference will be
given to applications with capacity building alongside of material purchases.
CONTACT
Kathy Buhr
Director of Strategic
Philanthropy & Schmitt
Island Development
info@dradubuque.com
1855 Greyhound Park Road · Dubuque, IA 52001 · dradubuque.com TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
What is Capacity Building?
Capacity building is the process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts,
processes and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt and
thrive in a fast-changing world.
Examples of capacity building activities and potential projects:
- Planning Activities: Organizational assessments, strategic planning, creating a
development plan/strategy.
- Donor Development: Marketing/communications, online donor portals, improvements
to the donor experience.
- Strategic Relationships: Strengthening relationships with professional advisors and/or
nonprofit partners.
- Internal Operations: Improvements to donor database/financial management
system, volunteer management, organization website.
- Professional Development: Staff, contractor, or affiliate volunteer(s) attendance at
regional/national conferences, local or online trainings.
- Financial Audits: First time audits which can open additional funding opportunities for
the organization.
- Organization Marketing: Website creation/design, marketing materials, materials to
help promote the organization externally.
Types of Organizations that Can Apply
Nonprofit organizations that meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to submit a grant
application. The DRA considers each unique application on a case-by-case basis, with the
overall goal of people attraction: population growth, retention, and tourism.
Applications will be considered from organizations in all sectors including:
- Arts & Culture
- Civic & Community Development
- Education
- Emergency Services
- Health & Human Services
- Recreation
- Veterans
Coverage Area
The DRA’s geographic focus is the tri-state area. The primary focus being Dubuque and
contiguous counties, including Grant, Lafayette and Iowa counites in Wisconsin and Jo
Daviess county in Illinois.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that has received 501(c)(3),
501(c)(4), 501(c)5, 501(c)6, 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) designation from the
Internal Revenue Service or must be a unit of political subdivision (i.e., Conservation
Districts).
- Organizations are not allowed to share or borrow a 501(c) status with another
organization. The name on the application must match the name on the IRS-issued
letter.
- Only one application per 501(c) or equivalent tax-exempt organization will be
accepted.
1855 Greyhound Park Road · Dubuque, IA 52001 · dradubuque.com TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
- Individual schools, churches, and volunteer fire departments will not need a 501(c)
letter. They are either exempt by law or fall under a blanket exemption because of
their ties to a municipality.
- Cities/villages/towns/counties are allowed one application. A statement of support
from the city/county administrator endorsing the project must be included with the
application.
Schools
- School applications must be submitted through the district office. If there is no district
office, submission must be approved by the school principal or administrator.
- One district application should be submitted to encompass all schools within the
district.
- School Districts including Dubuque Community Schools, Western Dubuque
Community Schools, Holy Family Schools, Maquoketa Community School District and
Monticello Community School District: one application should be submitted on behalf
of the entire school district. While individual projects at each school will be
considered, we encourage an application that can benefit the entire district.
- If an affiliated organization is applying on behalf of the school, the affiliated
organization must hold a 501(c) in its own name and a letter from the
principal/administration must be included with the application. The letter must state
that the school/district does not intend to submit an application and the
organization is applying on their behalf.
Limitations
The DRA will not fund the following though the mission grants:
- Endowment funds
- Political causes, candidates and lobbying efforts
- Individuals, including scholarships and personal benefits
- Debt incurred or purchases made prior to calendar year 2022
Scoring
Applications will be scored on the following:
- Alignment with the DRA Mission: People Attraction (population growth, retention,
tourism)
- Alignment with their organizations Mission
- Is there a clear plan on how to incorporate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into their
work
- Nature of Need: Is the program/project unique or are other organizations doing the
same thing
- Partnerships: Other organizations/groups you work with to accomplish the overall
goal of the program/project
- Overall Impact: What is the impact for the community and is there sustainability
beyond initial award of fund
1855 Greyhound Park Road · Dubuque, IA 52001 · dradubuque.com TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
Recognition of Funding
The DRA has created guidelines to assist organizations with properly recognizing the DRA for
funding this includes, but is not limited to:
- Press Release
- Social Media Post
- Logo Lock-up
- Signage
All questions related to Mission Grants should be directed to info@dradubuque.com.
