Giving Back to the Community
We Strengthen the Greater Grinnell Area through Strategic Funding, Place-Based Investments, and Collaboration.
The Foundation’s approach to community investment goes beyond traditional grantmaking. Through a combination of direct financial support, mission-aligned investments, long-standing partnerships, and in-kind services, our impact is felt across generations, from individual families to local initiatives that shape the future of the greater Grinnell area and beyond.
HOW WE GIVE BACK
Major Gifts
Strategic contributions that fund long-term capital projects and transformative community initiatives that create measurable outcomes in health, wellness, education, and recreation.
Donations & Sponsorships
Support for local nonprofit awareness campaigns and community events throughout the year.
Program Funds – Supporting Families & Individuals
Financial assistance delivered through dedicated funds to help local individuals and families during times of crisis or need. These funds are administered in partnership with trusted community service providers.
Mini-Grants
Flexible, small-scale funding to support grassroots initiatives, one-time projects, and innovative local ideas that strengthen community life.
- Grinnell Food Coalition Harvest Grant program addresses local food insecurity. In 2025, grants were provided to Malcom Food Pantry, MICA Food Pantry and Grinnell Farm to Table. The Grinnell Food Coalition Seed Grant program is now offering smaller grants on a rolling basis.
- Grinnell Area Mental Health Consortium Grant program is coming soon to help strengthen mental health initiatives.
Strand Theatre, LLC
As one of twenty local investors of the Strand Theatre, this vital entity exists to preserve and celebrate the historic legacy of downtown Grinnell while providing an exceptional, community-centered moviegoing experience for all ages. Through thoughtful stewardship of its iconic marquee, historic location, and three-screen cinema, the Strand enhances the cultural vitality and economic vibrancy of Main Street and the greater Grinnell community.
West Broad, LLC
Formed in 2010 through a unique partnership between the Mayflower Community, Grinnell College, the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, and local citizens, West Broad, LLC is committed to collaborative investment, strategic land use, and the creation of quality housing that enhances livability for older adults. The development of Watertower Square, a 26-unit apartment complex tailored to independent seniors, opened in 2015 as a vital addition to the Mayflower campus.
Grinnell Solar Partnership
The Grinnell Solar Park, located along Highway 6 on the city’s west side, is a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing clean, renewable energy for the benefit of Grinnell and future generations. Powered by a shared commitment from the Ahrens Park Foundation, Mayflower Community, Grinnell College, the City of Grinnell, and Alliant Energy, this project represents a bold step toward sustainability, energy resilience, and environmental stewardship.
In a milestone moment for both Foundations and the community of Grinnell, the Ahrens Park Foundation is in the process of gifting 40 acres of park land to the Grinnell-Newburg community school district this fall. This extraordinary contribution marks a new chapter in the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to fostering wellness, education, and community sustainability. The land will be used by the district to build a new K-4th grade elementary school, serving as a cornerstone for early childhood education in our community.
This historic gift was made possible through the support of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, which financed the transfer by assuming the debt of the note for which the land was originally held as collateral. By removing this financial burden from the school district, the Ahrens family legacy continues to ensure opportunities for future generations. Importantly, this gift will save the school district and local taxpayers millions of dollars that would have otherwise been required to purchase land and cover associated financing costs, making it not only a generous act but a fiscally responsible one as well.
By placing this land in the hands of the school district, we are ensuring its purposeful use and long-term stewardship. This partnership solidifies a vision where recreation and education are deeply interconnected. The Foundation is proud to support this investment in Grinnell’s future and looks forward to the continued growth and impact this gift will bring.
Our commitment extends beyond dollars. Through strategic collaboration, in-kind services, and operational and rent subsidies, we strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem, enhance the local community, and help drive economic development from within.
Collaboration with Nonprofit Partners
Through our Community Support Services (CSS) program, we provide administrative, accounting, donor management, human resources, and marketing and public relations services to local program funds and nonprofits, helping them operate more efficiently and sustainably. Current partners include:
- Ahrens Park Foundation
- Brooklyn Community Development
- Brooklyn Iowa Opera House
- Brownells Foundation
- Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation
- LINK
- Michael J. Manatt Community Center
- Special Operations for Wounded Warriors
Engagement in Community Initiatives
We actively engage in collaborative community initiatives that address local needs, promote equity, and strengthen long-term wellbeing. From education and housing to racial equity and civic planning, our partnerships drive meaningful, measurable impact. Here are a few examples:
- Build A Better Grinnell
- Empowerment Command Center and Affordable Housing Project
- Grinnell Education Partnership
- Racial Equity Grants Program
Volunteerism
Our team engages, promotes, and helps manage local volunteer efforts year-round — giving time as well as money to community needs. Examples include:
- Giving Gardens plantings and maintenance
- Imagine Grinnell Prairie Burn and weekly gravel rides
- Imagine Grinnell Tree Corps distribution & plantings
- P.O.W.E.R. Kids K-4th grade school activities
- S.H.E. Counts Math Club for 3rd and 4th grade girls
- Tiger Packs weekly packaging of nutritious snacks for preK-8th
grade
Support for Ahrens Park Leaseholders
For thirty plus years we have subsidized leaseholders at Ahrens Park with reduced rent, paid utilities, and capital improvement costs — helping them stay mission-focused and financially stable. Current leaseholders include:
- City of Grinnell, Recreation Department
- Grinnell Community Early Learning Center
- Grinnell-Newburg Community School District
- Mid-Iowa Futbol Club
- Tiger Baseball and Softball Club
Public Access to Ahrens Park
Ahrens Park’s athletic and recreational spaces are open to the public and host thousands of users annually — enhancing quality of life and wellness across generations, at little or no cost to users.
Dolly’s Dog Park is the newest addition to Ahrens Park, which provides a dedicated space for dogs and their owners to enjoy the outdoors. Named in honor of the late Dolly Ahrens, an avid dog lover, the park is a community-driven initiative that started as a Senior Capstone project by Grinnell High School students. With support from local businesses and individual donors, the dog park was created to fulfill the need for a safe, off-leash environment for pets. The park includes over 60,000 square feet of fenced space, divided into sections for dogs of different sizes and temperaments.
Since its opening, the Ahrens Park Foundation is working to improve the park by adding amenities such as agility equipment, shaded seating areas, and water access. The park has become a hub for dog owners in the area, hosting community events like “Yappy Hour” to encourage socializing among pets and their owners. Future plans aim to continue enhancing the park’s features, making it an even more enjoyable place for both dogs and visitors. Dolly’s Dog Park remains free to use, with visitors encouraged to help maintain its cleanliness by cleaning up after their pets.
Tourism & Economic Impact of Ahrens Park
Ahrens Park hosts regional tournaments, events, and activities that generate tourism and economic activity in Grinnell — bringing revenue to local businesses and enhancing the town’s visibility.
- Baseball and softball tournaments
- Cross Country middle school and high school meets
- Fireworks on July 4th
- Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
- Kites Over Grinnell
- Trunk or Treat
GRANT FUNDING GUIDELINES
In recent years, the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation has made changes to its charitable grant funding process. At this time, the foundation is no longer accepting grant funding requests or grant solicitations of any kind. The foundation has chosen to actively seek projects and organizations to which it chooses to fund.
The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation will continue to support and prioritize projects in the fields of parks & recreation, education, and health. The foundation has shifted its funding focus primarily to projects that impact the Grinnell, IA community.