chrysalis community grants

we don't grant wishes.

we grant knowledge and strength.

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These are extraordinary times. This makes our funding decisions increasingly important so that our investments provide the greatest return for our community.

Our unique approach leads to stronger nonprofit partners, more effective services, and more women and girls moving toward self-sufficiency. Community Partner Grants provide core support to the organizations delivering our mission. Rapid Response Grants offer funding for immediate - sometimes critical - needs that may hinder the day-to-day work of local agencies. And our Client Emergency Funds offer nonprofit partners a resource for simple client needs including bus tokens, uniforms for a job, or fees for a class.

We are not your typical funder. Our investments in the success of our nonprofit partners include training, coaching, and educational opportunities. We offer local agencies strategic planning, board development training, fundraising and grant writing education, and guidance on best practices.

Chrysalis tracks results of these investments through community measures, evaluation of results, and reports to community stakeholders and donors. We want to know, and we want you to know, what has changed in the lives of girls and women, in the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, and in the overall success of our community.

delivering on our mission: 2026 community grant partners

The Chrysalis Foundation announces its 2026 Grant awards to 22 local nonprofit organizations. The selected community grant partners are organizations working with girls and women to deliver the foundation’s mission to ensure safety, security, education and economic empowerment to girls and women. In addition to grant funding, chrysalis grant partners receive education, coaching, and additional support from Chrysalis including emergency funds for client needs.

  • Al Éxito
  • The Beacon
  • By Degrees Foundation
  • Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Center
  • Dress for Success Des Moines 
  • EMBARC 
  • Eyes Open Iowa 
  • Families Forward 
  • The Freestore
  • Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
  • Girls on the Run
  • HOME, Inc
  • House of Mercy 
  • Iowa Center for Children's Justice
  • Latina Leadership Initiative of Greater Des Moines
  • L.U.N.A.
  • Love for Red
  • Mind & Spirit Counseling Center 
  • Mindspring Mental Health Alliance 
  • Raise the Bar Initiative
  • S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa
  • Young Women’s Resource Center 

Chrysalis Awards $105,000 in 2026 Community Partner Grants to Support Girls and Women in Greater Des Moines


Des Moines, IA — January 19, 2026 — The Chrysalis Foundation has announced its 2026 Chrysalis Community
Partner Grant awards, distributing over $100,000 to local nonprofit organizations aligned with the foundation’s
mission to transform the lives of girls and women through education and leadership, community engagement,
and strategic grant investments.


Chrysalis grants support nonprofit agencies that promote the safety, security, education, and economic
empowerment of girls and women across Greater Des Moines. In addition to Community Partner Grant awards,
Chrysalis provides Client Emergency Funds to help partner organizations respond to urgent or unmet client
needs and offers Rapid Response grants for organizations facing unplanned emergency needs throughout the
year.


“We are proud to be close to our nonprofit community,” noted Terry Hernandez, Executive Director for
Chrysalis. “As partners, these organizations keep us informed about the needs of the girls and women they serve
and how they are navigating a complex society. As we learn, Chrysalis can assist and support service providers
and keep decisionmakers and community leaders informed of the challenges impeding girls’ and women’s
success.”


Funding decisions were guided by a comprehensive evaluation process and led by the Chrysalis Program
Committee. Organizations were assessed on mission alignment, program relevance, strength of outcome
measurement, and long-term sustainability. Priority funding areas include safety, security, education, and
economic empowerment.


Chrysalis delivers more than just financial support; the foundation offers the nonprofit community coaching and
training, strategic planning, and additional education to increase its long-term impact. The foundation also hosts
events to build community knowledge and to share the inspiring accomplishments of women and girls.
To celebrate its 2026 Community Partner Grantees, Chrysalis will host a public award reception on Friday,
February 6 from 8:30 to 10 am at the Westfield Campus, 1080 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines.

Full Press Release