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Discover Ames

Community Grant Program

2026 Community Grant Application

What is the Discover Ames Community Grant Program?

The Discover Ames Community Grant Program was established to support a wide range of events and activities that are open to the general public. Grants are awarded annually on the basis of merit as determined by the Discover Ames Grant Committee and administered by Discover Ames. 

Statement of purpose

Funds are available to develop events and activities that improve the quality of life for Ames residents and have the potential to attract visitors to the Ames area or enhance a visitor’s experience. Potential grants can be cultural, educational, recreational or artistic. 

Who may apply?

Applications are accepted from public and private organizations who demonstrate the ability to complete the proposed event or activity. The grant program is designed to encourage wide participation and innovative proposals. 

Application

Potential grant recipients are required to complete a grant application form. The Discover Ames Community Grant Committee will meet during the fourth quarter of each year to review applications for the upcoming year. The committee will review the submitted application forms and make their recommendation to the Discover Ames Board of Directors for final approval. Applicants may be asked to provide additional information during the screening process.

The deadline for 2026 grants is Oct. 10, 2025. 

Special request grant

In addition, a limited number of special request community grants are available each year. These grants are intended for new or one-time special events that occur within the application year. These requests for funding must be made outside the traditional community grant application cycle. 

Special request grant application 

Special request grant guidelines

Additional information

Discover Ames has announced the recipients of its 2026 Community Grant Program.

More than $119,000 was awarded to 37 organizations for events and activities occurring in calendar year 2025. This is the 19th year of the Community Grant Program. In total, Discover Ames has awarded $1,324,805 in grants.

2026 Discover Ames Community Grant recipients

  • AAPI Heritage Month Celebration — Central Iowa Chinese Faculty and Staff Association
  • Ames Community Art Council 50th Birthday Party — Ames Community Arts Council
  • Ames Documentary Film Festival — Ames Regional Economic Alliance
  • Ames Fly-In 2026 — Boys and Girls Club of Story County & Ames Police Benefit Association
  • Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market — Ames Regional Economic Alliance
  • Ames Midnight Madness 5K/10K — Ames Midnight Madness
  • Ames Pridefest 2026— Ames Pride
  • Ames Renaissance Faire — Ballard Family Enterprise LLC
  • Ames TUBACHRISTMAS — Ames TUBACHRISTMAS
  • Ames Turkey Trot — Fitness Sports
  • Ames Wrestling Camps — Ames Wrestling Club
  • Anime Ames — Anime Ames LLC
  • Bethany Life Charity Golf Classic — Bethany Life
  • Bill Bergan 5K on the 4th — Friendship Ark, Inc.
  • Campus Service Day — Campus Service Council at Iowa State University
  • CASA Holiday Art Sale — Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames
  • CASA Spring Open House — Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames
  • Celebrating the Reed-Niland Corner — Prairie Rivers of Iowa RC&D
  • Dancenter Dancer Showcase — Dancenter Dancer Company Foundation
  • Disney’s Newsies Jr. — Story Theater Company
  • Eco-Theatre Festival — The EcoTheatreLab
  • Friendship Ark Tropical Sangria Escape — Friendship Ark, Inc.
  • Goldfinch Room at Reiman Gardens — Stephens Auditorium
  • KHOI Fundraising Concert – KHOI Community Radio
  • Lincoln Highway Days 2026 — Lincoln Highway Days Committee
  • Nevada Community Rodeo — Nevada Community Rodeo
  • Nevada Truck and Tractor Pull — Nevada Truck and Tractor Pull Association
  • Nevada Winter Beach Bash — Nevada Productions
  • Octagon Art Festival — Octagon Center for the Arts
  • Opening Night Hors D’oeuvres — ACTORS, Inc.
  • Pizza Pie Looza — Nevada Foundation
  • Scandinavian Days — Story City Greater Chamber Connection
  • Semiquincentennial Celebration — Ames History Museum
  • Senior Variety Show: 30 Years in the Spotlight — Senior Variety Show
  • Snow Magic Kick Off Event — Ames Main Street
  • Special Olympics Iowa Summer Games — Special Olympics Iowa
  • Spirits in the Gardens — Reiman Gardens
  • Step Into Story Books — Raising Readers in Story County
  • Story County Fair Concert — Story County Fair Board
  • Taste of Campustown — Ames Regional Economic Alliance
  • The Howling — The Howling
  • Twelfth Night, Early Music Ensemble — Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association
  • WinterFest — WinterFest
  • Zearing Days Celebration — Zearing Days Celebration Committee

Apply for 2027 grants

Organizations are encouraged to apply for 2027 grants. The application period is open and the application deadline will be in October.

To be considered for funding, events must meet the minimum grant requirements. The review committee will rate applications based on criteria.

  • Event/activity must be open to the public.
  • Potential Grant recipients are required to submit the Grant Application by application deadline.
  • All marketing materials promoting the event or activity must include the Discover Ames logo.
  • Applicants may request up to 50 percent of the total award in advance of the event.
  • A 2025 Final Report Form must be completed within 60 days after the completion of the event to receive distribution of funds.
  • Copies of original receipts are required with the final report.
  • Failure to comply with the obligations will prohibit the organization from receiving a grant in the future. 
  • Ongoing operating expenditures
  • Permanent infrastructure
  • Capital building projects
  • Professional services including legal, medical, engineering, accounting or auditing
  • General fundraising or donations
  • Salaries, wages or administrative fees
  • Debt retirement or associated fees
  • Anything contrary to federal, state or local law or ordinance
  • Private events (not open to the public) 
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I’m ready to help!

MELISSA MUSCHICK

Director of Partner and Community Engagement

 

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Volleyball
  • Collaboration with ISU Athletics
  • Engaging at student-focused events like EIS (Experience Iowa State) and Orientation
  • Partnering with key ISU departments to connect with students and families
  • Providing resources to incoming freshman through an annual mailing

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Ames Nationwide

  • National coverage; RV There Yet and ISU Guide to the Game
  • 1.5M+ social media impressions across multiple platforms
  • Creating and distributing 25K+ Visitor Guides and 30K+ Ames Insiders
  • Working with local and national influencers to promote Ames

Investing
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  • Awarding $100K+ in Community Grants each year to support local events
  • Outreach to youth through career fairs and presentations
  • Educating local businesses and leaders on how we can help and what we do
  • Coordinating and leading Hotel & Attraction Council to keep them informed and up to date

Growing
Events & Opportunities

  • Bringing major events that draw tens of thousands of people to our community including Boys State Basketball and Campustown Showdown
  • Attending national trade shows and conferences to find new opportunities of events to bring to Ames
  • Providing top-tier service before, during and after each event

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  • Funding feasibility studies for local projects
  • Helping advance tourism developments like CyTown and The LINC
  • Advocating for tourism with elected officials- Local & State
  • Driving converstations on a new Fieldhouse in Ames
  • Collaborating with Ames Alliance, iTIP, City of Ames, ISU & Visit Boone County

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