Nineteen area nonprofits will receive up to $7,500 each in spring grants this year from the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend (CFGRB). The Foundation, which builds assets for the community through gifts from its donors, awards grants from its Community Impact Fund in the spring and fall. The total amount of spring grants is $100,000. The photo at left shows some of the Grants Committee members discussing grant applications in early June.

“Nonprofits in our community help a great many people and deal with community needs every day,” said Susan Skora, President & CEO of CFGRB. “Because the Community Impact Fund is not restricted to a specific cause or organization, we’re able to direct grants from the fund to the most pressing needs of the people of our region.”

Nonprofit organizations around the QCA apply for the grants -- the applications are reviewed by a committee of volunteers and decisions are made on the basis of community needs. A wide range of needs are addressed each year, from hunger and homelessness to the environment and support for the arts – all issues that enhance the lives of people and the vitality of the community.

The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend manages assets of $72.8 million (as of Dec. 31, 2010) and more than 650 charitable funds, including funds by individuals, families, organizations and corporations. Last year, CFGRB and its affiliates awarded six million dollars in grants throughout the 17 county service area that includes much of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. CFGRB is the third largest community foundation in Iowa and the second largest in Illinois.

The following is a list of spring grant recipients:

American Red Cross – Western Illinois Chapter -- $3,665 to improve technology

American Red Cross of the QCA -- $3,300 for disaster relief for local fire victims

Augustana College -- $7,415 for an audiometer for the Center for Speech, Language and Hearing

Backwater Gamblers -- $4,000 for a safety boat

Christian Care -- $3,800 for a Women’s Empowerment Program

City of Moline -- $7,000 for Prospect Park fitness trails

Colonel Davenport Historic Foundation -- $5,000 for East Wing reconstruction

Figge Art Museum -- $5,000 for museum information technology improvement

Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois – $7,500 for an e-learning system for volunteers

Life and Family Educational Trust -- $5,000 for Sonography Now Limited Obstetric Ultrasound Training

Quad City Arts -- $7,500 for Visiting Artist Series 2011-12 outreach program

River Action, Inc. -- $7,500 for Nahant Field Station

Rock Island Girls Softball League – $4,245 for concession stand and restrooms

Rock Island School District 41 -- $7,000 for H.M.E.L.C. Playground

Safer Foundation -- $4,900 for Evidence-based Practices Training for staff and community

Schuetzen Gilde -- $2,000 for historic trolley car pavilion restoration

Seton Catholic School -- $4,675 for Leveled Literacy Intervention System

St. Ambrose University -- $3,000 for Celebrating a Tradition of Peace & Justice in the QCA

WVIK – Augustana Public Radio -- $7,500 for WVIK Capital Project – conversion to digital broadcasting

The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend is a nonprofit organization that connects people who care with causes that matter. CFGRB meets the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations. CFGRB’s website is www.cfgrb.org.  

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