Community Garden Mini-Grants | United Way of Central Iowa

Getting healthy food into the hands of people who live in neighborhoods with limited or no access is essential for helping central Iowa improve our overall health and well-being.

Community gardens play a critical role in supporting high-poverty or food desert neighborhoods. If you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a school, or a government entity and have a community garden, want to start a community garden, or own an area of land managed and maintained by a group of individuals to grow and harvest food crops for non-retail, personal or group use, consumption or donation, apply for a mini-grant!

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Apply for a Community Garden Mini-Grant on or before December 19, 2025.

This mini-grant opportunity is provided by United Way of Central Iowa. United Way of Central Iowa funds the grants and serves as administrator.

Applicants for new and existing community gardens must be located in Polk, Dallas, or Warren County. Community gardens may be common areas and/or be divided into separate plots for cultivation by one or more individuals, or may be farmed collectively by members of a group. For purposes of this funding, the garden cannot be used for retail or job training programs.

Priority is placed on gardens serving communities with limited access to healthy foods, such as high-poverty or food desert neighborhoods. If awarded, the awardee will be required to report food production either on a monthly or end-of-season basis by pounds or count.

Garden at Des Moines University

Community Garden Mini-Grant Information

Must be a community garden located in Polk, Dallas, or Warren County.
Funding may be used for a new or existing garden.
Funding will be allocated according to garden size, the demonstrated need in the budget, and availability based on funding. Historically, the maximum funding amount has varied between $500 - $1,500, depending on several criteria.
Awarded funding does not guarantee ongoing funding.
Must serve the community as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, school, or government entity.
Allowable expenses include equipment, irrigation supplies, water meter fees, seeds, planting, landscaping, scales, signage, or other necessary items to create, update, or enhance a garden space. Please see the Proposal Application Form for a comprehensive list of allowable expenses.
Awardees will be required to report food production or estimations either on a monthly or end-of-season basis by pounds or count.
Eligible funding will be released to awardees upon receipt of a signed contract no later than March 20.

Please Note:

United Way of Central Iowa may request additional information regarding your proposal before making a final decision on funding.