Cedar Rapids is a beautiful city known for its strong manufacturing and agricultural industries, and it’s also home to a thriving nonprofit sector that truly brings the city to life! This article highlights some of the incredible work being done by nonprofit organizations in Cedar Rapids, IA right now and how you can get involved. If you’re considering making the move to Cedar Rapids, this is a great way to give back to the community and make a real difference, one step at a time.
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa Nonprofit Organizations List
Whether you’re an animal lover, a patron of the arts, or a champion for justice within your community, this list of nonprofit organizations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has something you can be passionate about.
Deafinitely Dogs
Deafinitely Dogs is an organization dedicated to providing trained service dogs attuned to the specific needs of the community. This includes PTSD dogs, hearing dogs, and facility dogs with working roles. Volunteers can help train puppies that will become valuable members of the community, donate directly to Deafinitely Dogs, or buy wishlist items to keep operations running smoothly.
Supporting this nonprofit is great for dog lovers! Not only does it offer a chance to engage with adorable pups—it also means being part of life-changing partnerships that increase independence, emotional support, and quality of life for individuals across Iowa.
Riders Club of America
Riders Club of America is a nonprofit that provides reliable, low-cost rides to disabled seniors. This allows older members of the community to maintain independence for longer and live more fulfilling, happier lives. Community members are encouraged to either contribute financially by donating money to the Riders Club or volunteer their time by becoming a driver.
Even just a few dollars or a couple of hours behind the wheel can make a big difference. You’d be helping Iowan seniors go to doctor’s appointments, get groceries, or simply stay connected with friends and family.
Eastern Iowa Arts Academy
The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy provides arts education for community members of all ages and backgrounds! This includes children and adults with learning disabilities and those requiring financial assistance. They offer education for various artistic disciplines, ranging from painting to dance to their very own rock bands. To show your support, you can buy merchandise from their website, volunteer, or attend concerts and events!
Art enriches all our lives daily! If you’re passionate about the arts, this is a great way to make art more equitable and accessible across Cedar Rapids.
“Every day, I walk these halls and hear the heartbeat of this place. It comes in the form of guitar riffs, paint brush strokes, dance steps, and quiet moments of connection painting a locker or soldering glass. It is in the kids who sneak a snack from the Community Room, in the parents who linger just a little longer because it feels good to be here, and in the artists who walk in saying they never felt they had a place until now. It is in the LGBT teen who never had a place they fit in, and the knitting gal who never had a place to knit and chat. We are all of those things to all of those people. This is a special place.”
Heather Dewey Wagner, Executive Director
Catherine McAuley Center
The Catherine McAuley Center provides tutoring, transitional housing, and education to various members of the community, including recovering addicts, battered women, immigrants, and refugees. This includes English classes, job readiness training, and life skills workshops. You have the option to volunteer by becoming a tutor or assisting with behind-the-scenes operations, donate money, provide resources, or even partner with the center to host your own supply drive.
Additionally, the CMC encourages supporters to advocate for their cause—that is, sharing information on issues central to their mission.
The Catherine McAuley Center is also the nonprofit partner of UniMovers Cedar Rapids and UniMovers Iowa City! Through collaborations and sponsorships, local businesses have the opportunity to lend their time, resources, and talents to support their neighbors. We donate 1% of revenue from each move back to our nonprofit partners as well as our Working Student Scholarship Fund in an effort to give back to our communities.
Horizons
Horizons offers a variety of human services across Eastern Iowa! This includes but is not limited to Meals on Wheels programs for residents and their pets, neighborhood transportation services, financial counseling, and catering. Together, these programs strengthen the local community and improve daily life for Iowans in need. To show support, community members have a wide variety of volunteer options, ranging from drivers to seasonal event organizers. Alternatively, you can send monetary donations, either one-time or on a recurring schedule.
Looking to move soon?
Check out UniMovers and save 30-50% on your move as compared with traditional moving!
Dogs Forever
Dogs Forever is a nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers, dedicated to giving homeless, neglected, and abused dogs better lives. Volunteers work tirelessly to find homes for each dog, even difficult or hard-to-place dogs. They’ve hosted multiple sanctuary dogs over the years as a no-kill shelter.
Like others on this list, you can donate to support operations or buy items the dogs need from their wishlist. That’s not all, though! There’s a host of opportunities for volunteers from working with the dogs directly, fostering them, caring for them, or assisting behind the scenes with fundraising and event planning.
Of course, if you’re interested in adopting a new family member, you can meet available dogs and apply to adopt them on their website.
Conclusion
Each of these nonprofit organizations in Cedar Rapids, IA addresses the community’s needs with practical, local solutions. From training service dogs to offering rides, supporters play a vital role in the continued development of the Cedar Rapids community. Start by exploring this list! You’ll find many unique ways to get involved and give back! You’ll find groups of all sizes doing meaningful, hands-on work every day.
FAQs
You can search online directories or visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s website for an updated list.
No, many nonprofits serve a wide range of community members and needs. Many will ask no questions and turn no one away from their valuable services.
You don’t always need experience to volunteer! Many nonprofits offer their own training. They welcome people with all kinds of backgrounds and skills.
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.
