The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, established in 1967 by Larned and Mary Hubbell Waterman, recently announced it will distribute more than $2 million in grants to 67 Quad Cities area nonprofit organizations in 2026.
The grants aim to advance the foundation’s vision of a growing, thriving, inclusive community through investments in innovation and accessibility.
“For over 55 years, the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation has been strengthening the fabric of our Quad Cities community,” Sari Blum, the funding cycle’s grants chair, said in a Wednesday, Jan. 21, news release Wednesday. “Every organization we support is doing vital work, and we’re honored to help fuel their impact in our community and make sure that impact grows.”
Since its founding, the foundation has granted more than $43 million to local organizations.
“What excites us most are initiatives that create real pathways to stability and opportunity,” said David Lundy, the foundation’s board chair. “Whether it’s ensuring kids have access to quality education, or that families have safe, affordable places to call home – these are the building blocks of a thriving community, and we’re committed to investing in these foundational needs.”
This year’s grants support a wide range of organizations, including those focused on alleviating food insecurity, supporting arts and culture, and improving child education opportunities.
The $2 million in funding is divided into three categories:
Capital Construction Grants
A total of $480,000 in grants will support construction and renovations for:
- Humility Homes and Services, Inc. — $100,000.
- Putnam Museum and Science Center — $140,000.
- SAL Community Services Foundation — $75,000.
- YWCA of the Quad Cities — $65,000.
- EveryChild — $45,000.
- Project Renewal of Davenport — $25,000.
- Ballet Quad Cities — $20,000.
- River Bend Food Bank — $20,000.
- YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley — $10,000.
Operational Support Grants
These grants fund ongoing operational costs for 47 nonprofits, including these major awards:
- The Cultural Trust — $100,000.
- River Bend Food Bank — $75,000.
- The Salvation Army — $60,000.
- Family Resources, Inc. — $50,000.
- World Relief Quad Cities — $50,000.
- Nahant Marsh Education Center — $45,000.
- Friendly House — $40,000.
- Together Making a Better Community (TMBC) — $37,500.
- Iowa Legal Aid — $35,000.
- Prairie State Legal Services Inc. — $35,000.
- The Martin Luther King Center — $30,000.
Program and Initiatives Grants
A total of $435,000 will fund new and ongoing programs for 12 organizations:
- United Way Quad Cities — $125,000.
- Quad City Arts — $80,000.
- The Project of the Quad Cities — $75,000.
- Common Chord — $30,000.
- Figge Art Museum — $20,000.
- Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois — $20,000.
- Junior Achievement of the Heartland — $20,000.
- Narratives QC — $15,000.
- Azubuike African American Council for the Arts — $10,000.
- Children’s Cancer Connection — $5,000.
- Creative Empowerment Initiative — $5,000.
- Genesius Theatre Foundation — $5,000.
The Quad Cities Community Foundation is based in Bettendorf. It provides the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation with administrative support services.
For more information, visit www.hubbellwaterman.org.
