Our Partnerships
Iowa City Foreign Relations Council
Iowa City, IA
$5,000
The Iowa City Foreign Relations Council (ICFRC) is an independent, nonpartisan organization that fosters global awareness and civic dialogue through free, public programming. Hosting 20–25 programs annually, ICFRC brings scholars, journalists, artists, and community leaders together to explore pressing international and local issues through a thematic speaker series. Recent and upcoming programs address topics such as media literacy, global authoritarianism, journalism’s role in democracy, and cross-cultural community building, creating accessible spaces for informed discussion and lifelong learning about the global issues that shape our world.
The Tolerance Alliance
Sioux City, IA
$5,000
The Tolerance Alliance is dedicated to education and remembrance through public programs that confront the history and legacy of the Holocaust while promoting empathy, understanding, and tolerance. The organization has brought Holocaust survivors to Sioux City to speak with middle school students and has presented films, live symphony performances, and theatrical productions at the Sioux City Orpheum for students, families, and the broader community. All events are free and open to the public. Current initiatives include Violins of Hope, presented in partnership with the Jewish Federations of the Quad Cities and Des Moines, featuring student and evening concerts at the Orpheum as well as a string quartet performance at the Holocaust Rails exhibit.
Azubuike African American Council for the Arts
Davenport, IA
$5,000
Azubuike African American Council for the Arts is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth, preserving African American history, and fostering community dialogue through the arts. A recent signature project, Mami & the Old Man, is a documentary tracing the Mississippi River from its source to the Gulf, illuminating untold Black stories of resilience, cultural expression, and environmental stewardship along its banks. In addition to filmmaking, Azubuike offers free programs including youth film education, community art classes, public film screenings with discussions, and cultural preservation projects that strengthen cultural pride and connection throughout the Quad Cities region.
Poetry &
Des Moines, IA
$5,000
Poetry Palooza! is scheduled for April 30-May 1, 2027, in Des Moines, Iowa. The mission is to celebrate poetry and poets and to the important work of building community through this art form. Young and emerging poets, esteemed educators, and established Iowa writers will complement a cadre of regional talent by offering their own readings and performance, including a poetry slam competition.
Iowa Museum Association
Marion, IA
$5,000
STEPS-IMA provides a learning cohort structure to enable small and mid-sized history organizations to grow in best practices. The program uses the AASLH STEPS curriculum in a hybrid live/online format that delivers resources, including pre-recorded and live presentations, facilitated by an instructor and robust mentor program. The IMA currently delivers the program to a cohort of 12 individuals representing six different museums and supported by six mentors, over a 24-month period.
Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group
Des Moines, IA
$5,000
Sankofa Saturdays is an immersive summer literacy program operated by Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group, designed to support students in grades 3-8 by strengthening reading skills and helping prevent summer learning loss. Through weekly, hands-on activities and supportive instruction, it creates an engaging environment where emerging and developing readers can build confidence, grow academically, and develop a lasting love of reading.
Iowa Arts Council
Des Moines, IA
$5,000
The Iowa Poet Laureate is an honorary, unpaid two-year renewable appointment by the Governor of Iowa that recognizes the importance of poetry in the everyday lives of Iowans. Managed by Humanities Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council, the Poet Laureate is selected by the Governor from nominees submitted by a volunteer committee and participates in readings, workshops, and other events during their tenure as Poet Laureate.
University of Iowa Office of Community Engagement
Iowa City, IA
$5,000
The Iowa Student Poet Ambassador (ISPA) program, coordinated by the University of Iowa Office of Community Engagement in partnership with statewide arts and literary organizations, recognizes an outstanding young writer as the highest honor for student poets in Iowa. Through readings, workshops, and statewide outreach, the ISPA inspires young people to explore poetry and amplifies youth voices across the state.
