Keep Iowa Beautiful is a statewide nonprofit organization that empowers Iowans to create vibrant communities and build hometown pride through volunteer-driven enhancement programs. Its work focuses on strengthening local leadership, improving public spaces, fostering civic pride, and supporting community vitality across Iowa
Mission and Focus
- Beautification Projects: Supports efforts to improve the appearance and quality of Iowa communities through beautification projects involving public buildings, parks, community spaces, downtown areas, and other public amenities. Iowa Code §314.28 specifically identifies beautification projects as an authorized purpose of the Keep Iowa Beautiful Fund.
- Environmental Stewardship: Promotes activities that encourage Iowans to take greater responsibility for their community environment, including litter prevention, improved waste management, and recycling efforts. These activities are specifically identified in Iowa Code §314.28.
- Community Pride: Encourages volunteer participation, local leadership, and community improvement projects that strengthen civic pride and contribute to vibrant and sustainable Iowa communities.
Key Programs
- Paint Iowa Beautiful: Provides free paint through Keep Iowa Beautiful's partnership with Diamond Vogel for public improvement and community betterment projects throughout Iowa. Eligible projects can include public-facing buildings, facilities, and parks.
- Build with Bags: Supports community projects through grants for products made from recycled plastic bags, including items such as park benches, picnic tables, planters, and playground equipment. The program is a cooperative effort involving the Iowa Grocery Industry Association, Keep Iowa Beautiful, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Metro Waste Authority, and Plastic Recycling of Iowa Falls.
- Pick-Up Iowa: Encourages Iowa communities to organize local litter-cleanup events involving roadsides, neighborhoods, streets, school grounds, parks, forests, streams, and other public spaces. Pick-Up Iowa is an annual Keep Iowa Beautiful initiative and is currently one of the organization's programs.
- Hometown Pride: Helps communities strengthen long-term cultural and economic vitality through local leadership, community development, volunteer involvement, and improvement initiatives
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Disclaimer: Always verify tax information with official forms and instructions from the Federal or State Department of Revenue. For questions about charitable contributions or environmental programs, consult IRS Publication 526 or contact the Iowa Department of Revenue directly.