Viking Foundation 2025 Grants Announced

The Viking Foundation has announced its 2025 grants totaling a record $150,000 to nonprofit organizations, including seven in Polk County.

“We received nearly double the number of grant proposals this year compared to 2024,” said Steve Eggland, the foundation’s president and founder. “In light of this, we were very pleased to also significantly increase our level of funding.”

The Viking Foundation supported a record 33 grants, including these in the Des Moines area:

• By Degrees - $5,000 for travel experiences for low-income Des Moines students
• Children’s Cancer Connection - $7,500 to support camps for pediatric cancer patients
• Des Moines Refugee Support - $5,000 for a soccer program for immigrant children
• Everybody Wins! Iowa - $5,000 for its Power Read program
• Foster Squad - $5,000 for essential items for foster families
• The Iowa Center - $2,500 to assist individuals wanting to start businesses
• Iowa Gardening for Good – $5,000 to help purchase a refrigerated truck.

Additional grants, totaling 26, were given in Denver County, Colo., and Lancaster County, Neb.

The Viking Foundation was created to help improve and enrich the lives of individuals—especially children—who are less fortunate. The foundation provides charitable grants to 501(c)(3) organizations primarily in three counties. The grants are directed to those who are challenged with issues related to poverty, housing, gender, education, mental and physical health, and others.

The 2026 grant proposal submission deadline is Oct. 1. Detailed information about the foundation can be found at vikingfoundation.godaddysites.com.