Community Grant Program

Discover Ames has announced the recipients of its 2023 Community Grant Program.

More than $104,000 was awarded to 29 organizations for events and activities occurring in calendar year 2023. This is the 17th year of the Community Grant Program. In total, Discover Ames (the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau) has awarded $1,149,805 in grants.

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

Grant 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.

2023 Discover Ames Community Grant recipients

• Ames History Museum Jack Trice Exhibits
• 515 Week, sponsored by Ames Main Street
• Opening Night Appetizers for shows presented by Ames Community Theater (ACTORS)
• Run for the Roses, sponsored by Alpha Omicron Pi and Ames Area Running Club
• Ames Main Street Farmers Market
• Ames Pridefest 2023
• Ames TUBACHRISTMAS
• Dancenter Dancer Showcase
• Studio Sessions on Douglas, presented by KHOI fm Community Radio
• Miss South Sudan USA, sponsored by South Sudanese Women Outreach
• Midwest Children’s Choir Festival, sponsored by Ames Children’s Choirs
• Friendship Ark’s 5K on the 4^th
• Avenue Q, presented by Ames Community Theater
• ICA Mela: a Cultural Celebration of India’s Diversity, sponsored by India Cultural Association of Central Iowa
• Iowa Games Athlete Tailgate, organized by Iowa Sports Foundation
• Campus Service Day, sponsored by ISU Campus Service Council
• Roosevelt Summer Sunday Concert Series, presented by Friends of Roosevelt Park
• Ames Pickleball Courts
• Octagon Art Festival
• Reiman Gardens’ Spirits in the Gardens
• Senior Variety Show
• Special Olympics Iowa Summer Games
• Goldfinch on the Lawn, presented by Stephens Auditorium
• Zearing Days Celebration
• Spring musical, “High School Musical, JR,” presented by Story Theatre Company
• Pizza Pie Looza, sponsored by the Nevada Foundation
• Ames Fly-in 2023, presented by Boys & Girls Club, Ames Police Dept., and Central Iowa Air Service
• Iowa State University WinterFest
• Independence Day Fireworks, presented by Discover Ames

Apply for 2024 grants

Organizations are encouraged to apply for 2024 grants. The application period will open this spring, and applications are due Oct. 13, 2023.

Applications are accepted from public and private organizations who demonstrate the ability to complete the proposed event or activity. Events can be cultural, educational, recreational, or artistic. The grant program is designed to encourage wide participation and innovative proposals.

To apply, organizations must complete the grant application form. The Community Grant Committee will review applications and make recommendations to the Discover Ames Board of Directors for final approval.

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

• Ability to create a positive perception of Ames and improve the quality of life for community members
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment for the success of the event or activity
• Ability to attract visitors or enhance their stay
• Diversity and uniqueness of the event or activity
• Appeal of the event or activity to a broad-based audience 

• Event/activity must be open to the public.
• Potential Grant recipients are required to complete a Grant Application and submit by application deadline.
• All marketing materials promoting the event or activity must include the Discover Ames logo, telephone number, website and the verbiage “Supported by the Discover Ames Community Grant Program” as appropriate.
• First-time grant recipients will receive complimentary Discover Ames membership, becoming a supporter-level Discover Ames member for the year grant is awarded ($150 value). Repeating grant recipients must retain Discover Ames membership, paying for the yearly membership fee. Supporter-level membership benefits include business listing on DiscoverAmes.com and in the Ames and Iowa State University Visitors Guide. An upgrade to partner-level membership adds print and online featured listings, social media promotion, promotional item distribution, and more.
• Applicants may request up to 50 percent of the total award in advance of the event/activity.
• A 2023 Final-Report Form must be completed within 60 days after the completion of the event/activity 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. 

Event: Something that occurs in a certain place during a particular time and holds significance to the Ames area.
Activity: An organized, supervised, extracurricular and recreational occasion that is beneficial to the Ames area and its residents

• 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) 

• “The Bells of Iowa State” Gala Anniversary Concert (2019)
• A Bevy: Studio Curiosities Exhibit (2019)
• Ames Fireworks
• Iowa Able Run
• Lincoln Highway Days