Dubuque, IA – September 28, 2022 – During its regularly scheduled monthly board meeting yesterday, the DRA announced that five additional organizations from Iowa will receive funding as a part of the organization's Mission Grant funding process in 2022. The organizations receiving funding include:
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Project: Equity, Education and Empowerment
Award: $100,000
United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States
Project: Community Impact of Poverty
Award: $75,000
St. Mark Youth Enrichment
Project: St. Mark Early Childhood Expansion
Award: $125,000
Habitat for Humanity
Project: Small Home Housing Development
Award: $200,00
Dubuque County Historical Society/National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Project: Rivers to the Sea (Permanent Exhibit & Interpretation)
Award: $50,000 per year for 3 years ($150,000)
As a group, these 2022 recipients have requested more than $17 million in funding for a collection of projects and initiatives under the Mission Grant category, which is designed to fund large, capacity-building project that tie into the DRA's overall mission. These grants can range from $50,000 to $500,000 and are intended to help fund programs and initiatives designed to enhance population growth, retention and/or tourism in the Dubuque area. Recipients of the funds should also be able to demonstrate their overall impact to the community and show there is sustainability beyond any initial funding.
“We are impressed with the proposals submitted and look forward to seeing how the capacity-building ideas the DRA has chosen to help fund take shape and come-to-life," said Alex Dixon, President & CEO of the DRA and Q Casino. "As an organization, we have a long history of making investments in communities and having a positive impact on growth and change. We are firmly committed to this approach and look forward to working with these five organizations and supporting their different projects throughout the Dubuque area."
Earlier this summer, the DRA presented Dyersville Events, Inc. a check for $250,000 as part the Mission Grant program to help support programs and activities taking place in the Dyersville area August 9 - 12, 2022. These dollars were used to fund Beyond the Game, a multi-event fan experience, and the new If You Build It, an exhibit which allows visitors to revisit their favorite moments from the iconic Field of Dreams film and hear about behind-the-scenes stories about how the movie was made.
DRA is the non-profit entity that owns and operates Q Casino and is the co-licensee for Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque. Since 1985, the DRA has awarded 5,000-plus grants – totaling more than $52 million – to over 1,500 organizations in the tri-state area (Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois). The organization has pledged $2,976,000 in 2022 for community organizations to tap into for grant opportunities.
“The overall pool of applicants for the 2022 Mission Grants was strong and there were some interesting proposals, but the five-member review committee did a good job of making a recommendation for the full DRA board," offered Kathy Buhr, Director of Strategic Philanthropy & Schmitt Island Development for DRA. “Our goal is to partner with organizations and provide them with the financial resources that can be a catalyst for positive change in their respective communities. We look forward to seeing how these newly funded programs and initiatives take shape in the coming weeks and months, but we are already planning ahead for 2023 and determining when those new grant opportunities will be announced.”
For more information on the 2022 Mission Grant recipients and other DRA-related news, including development plans for Schmitt Island, you can visit https://dradubuque.com/.
DRA’s commitment to the community is made possible by proceeds that come from both Q Casino and the Diamond Jo Casino – both of which attract thousands of visitors to Dubuque each year from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and beyond.