Iowa City may be best known for its vibrant arts scene and college town charm, but it’s also home to a thriving nonprofit sector, full of volunteers working tirelessly to uplift the local residents. Whether you’re looking to make the move to Iowa City or are a home-grown denizen, supporting nonprofits is a great way to get involved and give back to the community. In this post, we’ll highlight five Iowa City nonprofits and share some simple, effective ways to support their missions. Regardless of whether you’re interested in volunteering, donating, or spreading the word, you too can make a difference!
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Catherine McAuley Center
Since 1989, the Catherine McAuley Center has provided education and support to women and vulnerable communities of immigrants and refugees. They provide group classes for adult learners studying English as a second language, preparing for citizenship exams and high school equivalency tests, as well as tutoring on other fundamental subjects like math and reading. In addition to these services, they offer a safe haven to women escaping homelessness or trauma, including transitional housing and support.
While not technically based in Iowa City, this nonprofit is local to the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridor and is the nonprofit partner of the UniMovers Cedar Rapids and UniMovers Iowa City locations.
How You Can Show Support
An organization that offers such a wide variety of services also has a variety of ways to support them. Of course, you can donate money, either one-time or monthly, but there’s so much more you can do. The CMC also accepts donations in the form of supplies, including food for their pantry, hygiene items, and furniture. You can even donate used vehicles of any condition. They accept stocks or contributions through your IRA. If you want to go further, you’re welcome to partner with them as a sponsor or host your own supply drive.
If you’d rather volunteer your time, the CMC has many volunteer positions available, from manning the front desks to working IT. You can see the full range of volunteer positions available on their page and decide what best suits your skill set.
Additionally, the CMC encourages support in the form of advocacy—speaking out on the issues central to their organization that impact women experiencing homelessness, refugees, and immigrants.
“Right now, unity and resilience have never been more essential. The last few months have tested all of us—nonprofits, service providers, individuals and families, and the vulnerable populations we serve—yet through it all, one truth remains clear: We are stronger together. At CMC, we continue to believe that when we face adversity as a community, we emerge not only resilient but united in our commitment to each other.”
Anne Dugger, Executive Director
Family Folk Machine
The Family Folk Machine is a non-auditioning choir that welcomes people of all ages to sing together! There are few better ways to build community than singing folk songs with your friends and neighbors. You gain valuable skills as a performer, hone your musical talent, and explore American history and culture through the music of generations past and present.
How You Can Show Your Support
You can donate to the Family Folk Machine, either as an individual or a sponsor. If you operate your own company or business, you can submit your logo or a custom advertisement for them to include in their concert programs in exchange for a sponsorship.
Of course, you can also register to join their choir if you want to flex your musical chops onstage for a good cause! If you’d rather show support in the audience, follow their news page to learn when and where they’ll be hosting their next concerts.
Iowa City Free Lunch Program
Iowa City’s Free Lunch Program (or FLP) provides a free lunch from noon to 1 pm six days a week (Monday-Saturday). No questions asked, no identification required, no paperwork, no one turned away. It’s been in operation since 1983 and has fed thousands of hungry Iowans in that time.
How You Can Show Support
The FLP accepts monetary donations through PayPal, either one-time or monthly, but if you don’t have PayPal or prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, they also accept physical, written checks sent to their address.
If you’d rather donate materials than cash, the FLP Amazon wishlist is a convenient option—just purchase any item(s) on the list, and Amazon will send them directly to their suite. To volunteer your time or send in food directly, you’re encouraged to reach out to their director to learn their specific needs at the time, which are always changing to meet demand!
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Mayor’s Youth Empowerment Program
The Mayor’s Youth Empowerment Program (MYEP) dedicates itself to helping people with disabilities find inclusion in the community, ensuring they lead personally fulfilling lives. Since everyone is different, so too is the manner of support provided. MYEP’s services range from offering job-training and mentorship programs to empowering those with disabilities to practice agency in their own lives.
How You Can Show Support
If you’d like to donate money to the MYEP, they accept donations through PayPal or physical checks.
Currently, they are looking for full-time employees. These positions often require skilled care—the ability to directly support individuals with physical disabilities and behavioral issues—but as challenging as the work may be, it is also rewarding. You can apply here to work for MYEP if interested.
Bite Size Vegan
If you’re new to veganism, it can be overwhelming. Not only do you have to completely restructure your diet, but there’s a host of stereotypes associated with vegans, paired with loads of misinformation and disinformation all over the internet. Bite Size Vegan serves as an entry point for new vegans looking for resources to learn about veganism, social justice, and animal advocacy. It’s also a great way to find community with other new vegans making this journey alongside you.
How You Can Show Support
If you’d like to donate to Bite Size Vegan, they offer many separate donation tiers. Regardless of your donation amount, the money goes directly into bolstering their education and outreach programs to enlist and empower new vegans everywhere.
In addition, Bite Size Vegan encourages the public to inform themselves on veganism and the social issues surrounding it. To learn about advocacy, you can review Bite Size Vegan’s guides and browse the content library, interacting and sharing to bolster engagement.
Conclusion
From empowering immigrants to free lunch programs to making veganism more accessible for everyone, these nonprofits reflect the heart and soul of Iowa City! Through music, education, and resources, each of these organizations is making a difference in the lives of those who need them, and you can too. Nonprofits rely on community support to keep running—and that means people like you! Whether you volunteer, donate, or help spread the word, your involvement helps build a more inclusive and compassionate Iowa City.
FAQs
A good way to support nonprofits is by word of mouth! Tell your friends when and where you’re volunteering, and encourage them to volunteer too. Offer nonprofit resources to anyone in your life who may benefit from them. Alternatively, you can reach out to members of the organization and ask if there are any other particular resources or services they may need.
Consider which causes matter most to you, whether it’s education, food security, or the arts. Each nonprofit in this blog post has a unique mission, so choose whichever best aligns with yours.
Most registered nonprofits are 501(c)(3) organizations, meaning your donation may be tax-deductible. You can ask for a donation receipt and consult a tax advisor to confirm your eligibility.
J. Dailey has an English degree with a focus in technical writing. When not busy blogging, find J. Dailey hiking, playing tabletop games, or spending time with cats.
