Bank Midwest Community Fund – Community Betterment Grants

Grants Starting at $5,000 for Capital Projects in Iowa, Minnesota & South Dakota

The Bank Midwest Community Fund provides grants to local nonprofit organizations undertaking larger capital projects that create broad, long-term benefits in communities served by Bank Midwest. Funding priorities include arts, environment, recreation, youth, and general community betterment.

Community Fund grants start at $5,000, with requests evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The program is intended primarily for capital campaigns and major community projects, rather than general operating expenses or endowment support.

Applications are reviewed once annually in late May.

Organization: Bank Midwest
Program: Bank Midwest Community Fund
Support Type: Capital grants / community betterment grants
Minimum Grant: $5,000
Geographic Focus: Select communities in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota
Application Timeline: Annual review in late May

New to corporate grant fundraising?

Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

About the Funder

Bank Midwest is an employee-owned community bank that has served Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota for more than 140 years.

The bank describes community involvement as a core part of its culture and invests in locally led projects intended to keep the communities it serves vibrant, connected, and positioned for long-term success.

Through the Bank Midwest Community Fund, the company provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations making measurable differences in its local markets.

What This Program Supports

The Community Fund is designed for larger community projects that address an identified local need and provide lasting benefits.

Primary funding priorities include:

Arts

Projects that strengthen access to arts, culture, and community creative opportunities.

Environment

Initiatives supporting environmental stewardship, conservation, natural resources, and outdoor spaces.

Recreation

Projects that expand or improve recreational opportunities available to the broader community.

Examples could include:

• Parks
• Playgrounds
• Recreational facilities
• Community gathering spaces
• Outdoor recreation projects

Youth

Projects benefiting children and young people and expanding opportunities for youth participation, development, recreation, or community engagement.

Community Betterment

The Fund may also support broader projects designed to improve quality of life and create lasting benefits for local communities.

Projects should demonstrate widespread community value rather than benefiting only a small or narrowly defined group.

Capital Projects Are a Priority

An important distinction with this program is its emphasis on capital campaigns.

Bank Midwest states that Community Fund awards are intended to support capital projects that provide broad-based, long-term community betterment.

This could potentially include projects involving:

• Parks and playgrounds
• Recreation facilities
• Community spaces
• Environmental amenities
• Arts and cultural facilities
• Youth facilities
• Community infrastructure
• Other permanent improvements with substantial public benefit

The Fund is not intended primarily for operating support or endowment funding.

Geographic Focus

Applicants must serve communities within Bank Midwest’s designated market area.

Eligible communities currently include:

Iowa

• Armstrong
• Okoboji
• Spirit Lake
• Wall Lake

Minnesota

• Fairmont
• Jackson
• Sherburn
• Windom
• Westbrook
• New Ulm

South Dakota

• Sioux Falls

Applicants should demonstrate how their project responds to a need affecting one or more of these communities.

Eligible Organizations

Applicants must be:

• Local, community-based organizations
• Recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofits
• Conducting charitable work
• Serving an eligible Bank Midwest community
• Seeking support for a project with broad, long-term community benefit

The Foundation is particularly interested in larger community projects rather than small organizational operating needs.

Ineligible Requests

Bank Midwest does not make Community Fund contributions to:

• Individuals
• Government agencies
• Political organizations
• Religious organizations
• Political campaigns
• Political candidates
• Lobbying activities

The Fund is also not intended to support:

• General operating expenses
• Endowment funds

Organizations affiliated with governmental or religious entities should review the eligibility rules carefully before pursuing funding.

Funding Amounts

The minimum Bank Midwest Community Fund grant is $5,000.

There is no published maximum award amount.

Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Recent 2026 Community Fund grants ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, including awards supporting:

• Playground and park improvements
• A nature playscape
• Community park equipment
• A fair entertainment stage roof
• Park benches
• A YMCA camp treehouse
• A veterans memorial
• Safety and recreational equipment

Past award amounts do not guarantee the size of future grants but provide useful context for prospective applicants.

What Bank Midwest Considers

Grant decisions take several factors into account.

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:

Connection to Bank Midwest Communities

How closely is the organization or project connected to the bank’s:

• Customers
• Employees
• Communities
• Other stakeholders?

Number of People Reached

Bank Midwest considers how many people the proposed project will reach, either directly or indirectly.

Projects serving a substantial portion of the community may be especially competitive.

Geographic Reach

Applicants should explain whether the project will benefit:

• A neighborhood
• A community
• A county
• A broader region

Employee Involvement

The bank also considers whether there may be opportunities for Bank Midwest employee involvement.

Applicants are specifically asked to identify any Bank Midwest employees already involved with their organization and describe their roles.

Community Impact

The application places significant emphasis on widespread community benefit.

Applicants are asked to explain:

• How the project will impact the community
• Whether benefits extend to the county or broader region
• The percentage or portion of the population likely to benefit
• How the project promotes widespread community use

Organizations should provide concrete information whenever possible rather than simply stating that a project will benefit the community.

Funding Examples

Bank Midwest’s 2026 awards illustrate the type and scale of projects the Fund supports.

Examples included:

• $5,000 for crisis nursery safety and recreational equipment
• $20,000 for a nature playscape
• $5,000 for community park swing sets
• $25,000 for an entertainment stage roof
• $5,000 for city park benches
• $20,000 for a YMCA camp treehouse
• $15,000 for a community park project
• $15,000 for a veterans memorial

These awards reinforce the Fund’s focus on tangible projects with lasting community value.

Application Timeline

📅 Application Review: Annually in late May
📅 Frequency: Once per year

Bank Midwest does not currently publish a specific date for the next application review.

Because applications are reviewed annually in late May, organizations interested in the next funding cycle should begin preparing their materials well in advance and confirm the current deadline with Bank Midwest before submitting.

Application Requirements

The application requests information including:

• Organization name
• Project name
• Federal Tax ID
• Organization address
• Website
• Primary applicant and organizational contact
• Organization mission
• Total project cost
• Amount requested
• Capital campaign stage
• Project timeline
• Anticipated completion date
• Relevant funding priority
• Detailed project description
• Community, county, and regional impact
• Expected level of community use
• Potential publicity for Bank Midwest
• Bank Midwest employees involved with the organization

Applicants may also submit one additional 8.5″ x 11″ page of supporting information.

Bank Midwest encourages organizations to use the application to clearly communicate why their project deserves funding. Marketing materials specifically developed for the capital campaign may also be included when they help illustrate the project.

Application / Request Process

Completed applications should be submitted to:

Bank Midwest Community Fund
Attn: Amy Radcliffe
1102 Sanborn Ave
P.O. Box 979
Okoboji, IA 51355

Applications may also be faxed to:

712-332-7049

Questions: communitygiving@bankmidwest.com

Apply / Learn More

➡️ Bank Midwest Community Fund Application & Guidelines

➡️ Learn More About Bank Midwest and the Community Fund

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is particularly well suited for organizations that:

• Are established 501(c)(3) nonprofits
• Serve an eligible Bank Midwest community
• Are undertaking a capital campaign or major community improvement project
• Need at least $5,000 in support
• Work in arts, environment, recreation, youth, or general community betterment
• Can demonstrate broad public use and long-term impact
• Have a project that benefits a significant portion of the local population
• Can show strong ties to the community
• May offer opportunities for Bank Midwest employee engagement

This is not the strongest fit for organizations seeking routine operating support. The Fund is much more compelling for nonprofits raising money for a tangible, lasting project such as a park, playground, recreational amenity, community facility, environmental project, or other capital improvement.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Application Timing: Reviewed annually in late May
Minimum Grant: $5,000
Published Maximum: None
Recent Awards: $5,000–$25,000
Geographic Reach: Select communities in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota
Eligible Applicants: Local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Focus Areas: Arts, environment, recreation, youth, community betterment
Primary Support Type: Capital campaigns and larger community projects
Best Suited For: Community-based nonprofits pursuing tangible capital projects with broad, long-term public benefit