
Discover the nonprofit organizations making an impact in Johnson County! Learn how you can support their work this holiday season and give back to our community.
GIVING GUIDE
Arts & Community Development

FilmScene
Iowa City’s nonprofit cinema challenges, inspires, educates, and entertains our diverse communities through the shared discovery of film.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Become a FilmScene member, includes discounted movie tickets
- Sponsor
- Give online
Global Ties Iowa
We connect the world and the heartland through collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to host current and emerging international leaders in eastern Iowa.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
Give online towards the David Tiffany Global Ties Endowment Fund, helping Global Ties Iowa be a force for positive global engagement for years to come.
Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature
The City of Literature promotes and encourages the love of literature by providing opportunities for the enjoyment of every genre to inspire and enrich the minds and souls of readers and writers of all ages and from all parts of our community.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Give online
- Mail donations to: City of Literature at 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA 52240
Iowa Public Radio
A statewide media organization serving Iowans with fact-driven reporting, skilled analysis, thoughtful commentary, cultural programming, and remarkable storytelling. IPR is dedicated to uncovering important stories from every corner of Iowa and lifting up more — and more diverse — voices in our communities.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
Your monthly or one-time donation keeps our news free, accessible and centered on the interests of all Iowans.
- Give online
- Mail donations to: IPR at 2111 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Public Space One
We are all things art. We make Iowa City a good home for artists, by providing platforms (venues, galleries), resources (workshops, tools), and opportunities (presentations, publics). We enrich the community by providing entry points to culture for artists and the art-curious.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Give online: monthly membership or annual support
Ten Thousand Villages
The mission of Ten Thousand Villages is to support artisans in developing countries with fair wages and safe working conditions by providing a marketplace for their hand crafted goods.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
We are accepting cash donations that help further our fair trade mission.
- Give online
- Give in our store at
105 S Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Child & Youth Services

4Cs of Johnson County
Our mission is to level the playing field so that all children, regardless of socio-economic status, receive a quality early educational experience that provides a pathway to kindergarten readiness.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
The following items can mailed to or dropped off at:
1500 Sycamore St
Iowa City, IA 52240
- Gift cards to: Amazon, Aldi, Walmart, HyVee, or Prairie Lights
- Baby wipes, boys clothing (infant to preschool), toys (infant-5)
- Crayons, markers, construction paper, glue sticks and school glue, scotch tape, printer paper
Big Brothers Big Sisters Johnson County
We create and support 1-to-1 mentoring friendships that make a lasting and positive impact on young people, families, volunteers, schools, neighborhoods and our community.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Give online or mail check to 3109 Old Hwy 218 S, Iowa City, IA, 5224
- Become a Big Brother or Big Sister. Receive free events, partner discounts, and professional support to hangout with a young person twice a month.
ChildServe Iowa City
A specialty pediatric healthcare provider for children and young adults with special healthcare needs. We partner with families to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life. We provide more than 30 services to over 5,600 children in Iowa each year.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Give online and designate your gift to Iowa City
- Give therapeutic toys and equipment via our online wish list
The Iowa Children's Museum
The Iowa Children’s Museum (The ICM) inspires every child to imagine, create, discover and explore through the Power of Play! The museum collaborates with community organizations to offer after-school programs, classroom enrichment activities, free events at local parks, and more!
REQUESTED DONATIONS
Offset the expense of creating free play experiences in communities throughout Eastern Iowa, renovating and repairing exhibits, and funding the ICM for Everyone program.
- Give online
- Mark your calendars for Celebrate Play Gala (March 3, 2023) and the Iowa Children’s Open (June 1, 2023).
United Action for Youth
United Action for Youth (UAY) has been providing advocacy, emotional support, enrichment opportunities, and counseling services to youth in Johnson County since 1970. Today, UAY continues these services as well as programs supporting young people experiencing homelessness and pregnancy/parenting.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
Give the following items for UAY to distribute to young people and family members who need them.
Drop Off:
UAY’s main office in the Iowa City Eastdale Plaza
1700 S. 1st Avenue, Suite #14
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9-5
- Gently-used winter coats, fleece jackets, warm socks, gloves, mittens, and hats
Health & Social Services

Access 2 Independence
We empower individuals with disabilities through education, advocacy, and peer support, so that they have the freedom to control the direction and quality of their life.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
CommUnity Crisis Services
CommUnity Crisis Services is a volunteer-driven organization that provides immediate and non-judgmental support for individuals facing emotional, food, or financial crisis. We provide support through our Food Bank, Financial Support Program, Crisis Helplines, and Mobile Crisis Response.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Give online to the Food Bank or Financial Support program.
Emma Goldman Clinic
Our nonprofit, independent health care clinic exists to empower people in all life stages through quality reproductive health care that includes abortion services, gynecology services, safer sex promotion, and active education. As we face legal and policy challenges to reproductive choice and bodily autonomy, the Emma Goldman Clinic will continue its work to serve the community and create a world in which reproductive healthcare is recognized as an essential human right.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
Contribute to our goal of raising $5 million dollars to help sustain our clinic over the next five years so we are here for everyone who needs our services.
- Give online
- Mail checks to: 227 N Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52245
HACAP
HACAP helps people develop skills to become successful and build strong communities. HACAP offers a variety of services within their 5 initiatives that assist 72,000 individuals every year with over 300 employees in 9 counties.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
Gift cards for families in need, monetary donations, and food donations.
- Give online and find more info
Iowa Donor Network
As Iowa’s sole organ procurement organization, we facilitate both organ and tissue recovery and serve as the state’s primary contact for organ, tissue and eye donation.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
$25 can help provide a donor family with a recording of their loved one’s heartbeat inside a pillow.
$50 can help us with our education and outreach efforts to inspire more Iowans to donate life.
$100 can help us train 10 new volunteers to spread the word about donation across the state.
- Give online
- Give in-person at our North Liberty office
The Bird House
The Bird House is a community-based not for profit dedicated to providing compassionate, dignified end-of-life care by focusing on the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of our guests and their loved ones in a peaceful, home-like environment.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Give online
- Volunteer
- Give through their online wish list
The Coralville Community Food Pantry
We are an anti-hunger nonprofit organization providing critical and innovative food assistance services to the greater Coralville community. We believe that food is a human right and that food has the power to bring people together. Our vision is to build a stronger, healthier, and hunger-free Coralville community.
REQUESTED DONATIONS
- Give online. Every $1 donation becomes 8 pounds of food.
- Donate goods. Top needed items are rice, peanut butter, menstrual products, soap, and shampoo.
- Volunteer. Opportunities include food stockers, pantry shift helpers, delivery drivers, and meal preppers.
Animal Care Services

Friends of the Animal Center Foundation
Our foundation raises funds to support animal programs at the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center and other animal welfare initiatives in our community.
REQUESTED DONATIONS