Theisen’s More for Your Community Grant Program

The Theisen’s More For Your Community Grants program is a corporate philanthropy initiative funded by Theisen’s and administered in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. The program is designed to support communities located within a defined geographic radius of Theisen’s retail store locations. Through this initiative, the funder demonstrates a commitment to strengthening local communities by investing in organizations that address essential needs, particularly those affecting families and children. The program operates on an annual cycle, reinforcing its role as a recurring funding opportunity for eligible organizations. The primary purpose of the grant program is to provide financial support to agencies that directly and effectively serve basic human needs. These needs include access to food, safe shelter, education, health services, and general safety. The program emphasizes practical, community-based solutions that have a measurable and immediate impact on vulnerable populations, especially youth and families. Priority is given to programs that align with key focus areas such as basic health and human services, children’s needs, educational programming, food security, and youth-focused programs and services. Funding is restricted to programmatic expenses, meaning that grants are intended to support specific services or initiatives rather than general operating costs or capital expenditures. The program explicitly excludes funding for events, fundraisers, sponsorships, conferences, travel expenses, religious activities intended for sectarian purposes, and capital campaigns. This ensures that awarded funds are directed toward direct service delivery rather than ancillary or promotional activities. The typical award size averages around 1600 dollars, with grants ranging from 100 dollars to a maximum of 5000 dollars depending on the scope and impact of the proposed program. Eligibility for the grant is geographically limited to organizations serving communities located within 40 miles of any Theisen’s store. While nonprofit organizations are the primary eligible applicants, entities that do not have nonprofit status may still apply if they secure a fiscal sponsor that is a recognized 501 c 3 organization. This requires the completion and submission of a fiscal sponsorship agreement, ensuring accountability and compliance with nonprofit funding standards. The program is therefore accessible to a broader range of community-serving initiatives while maintaining financial oversight. The application process is conducted through the GOapply system managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. Applicants are expected to complete and submit their proposals within the defined application window, which opens on June 15 and closes on July 31 each year. While specific application components are not fully detailed, applicants are expected to provide sufficient information to demonstrate alignment with funding priorities, program effectiveness, and community impact. Support is available during business hours through designated foundation staff for technical assistance with the application platform. The timeline for the grant cycle is clearly defined and consistent annually. Applications are accepted beginning June 15, with a firm deadline of July 31. Following the review and evaluation process, recipients are notified in mid October. The program’s recurring nature indicates that similar timelines can be expected in future cycles. Although specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly outlined, it can be inferred that proposals are assessed based on their ability to directly address essential community needs and demonstrate meaningful outcomes for families and children within the eligible service area.

Focus on direct service impact and clearly demonstrate how the program meets basic needs such as food, shelter, education, safety, or health