In our globally connected, fast-paced, influencer-dominated culture, we can lose sight of smaller neighborhood projects that can actually make a big impact. Well, all of us except Big Grove Brewery. The Iowa City-based brewery is debuting a new micro-grant initiative to support local projects, that will be partially funded by sales of its new Neighborhood Beer.
Big Grove Brewery is among Iowa’s top beer producers and is a Top 100 craft brewery nationally. In 2013, the brewery started as a 3.5-barrel brewhouse in Solon, Iowa, and focused on freshly made craft beer and elevated pub cuisine. The brewery opened an 8,000-square-foot production facility four years later, anchoring the Iowa City Riverfront Crossings redevelopment project with additional concepts opening in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
And this year, the brewery is offering direct funds to individuals and organizations for “small-scale, high-impact community projects” that enhance and revitalize neighborhoods while also “just doing good for those that live within them.” Grant amounts will range from $250 to $1,000.
“Big Grove has always been about strengthening the neighborhoods where we operate,” said Matt Swift, co-founder and CEO of Big Grove. “We intentionally build where we can contribute to revitalization efforts. Now, we’re taking that commitment further—using our beer sales to directly fund neighborhood improvement projects led by the people who live there.”
The doom and darkness was really setting into my brain today, and this totally revived me. We send the biggest CBB kudos to Big Grove for this initiative, and solidify it as the Craft Beer Marketing Idea of the Week*, and probably year.
Big Grove For Good Foundation
Big Grove established the Big Grove For Good Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) foundation, to manage the program, review applications, select recipients, and distribute the funds. The foundation operates separately from the brewery, ensuring transparency and focus on community impact. Doug Goettsch, Big Grove co-founder, will chair the foundation’s board of directors.
To kickstart the initiative, Big Grove is contributing $20,000 in seed money to start issuing micro-grants at the brand’s launch. The foundation will also oversee Big Grove’s other community-focused initiatives including in-kind donation requests, sponsorships, and grants to various nonprofit organizations.
The Neighborhood Beer: Beer That Gives Back
Funding for the micro-grants comes directly from sales of The Neighborhood Beer, a new lager now available at all Big Grove taprooms and available at retail locations in Iowa, Nebraska, and Western Illinois starting March 10. For every case sold, $1 goes directly to Big Grove For Good to fund the micro-grants and neighborhood betterment within Big Grove’s distribution and taproom footprint.
“Adding a lager to our portfolio was always something we were looking to do, but we knew there had to be a differentiator in how we approached the market. What separates Big Grove is the good we do in the communities we are in, and that’s where the idea for the micro-grants came from. We hope these micro-grants inspire individuals and organizations to take action in their neighborhoods,” said Goettsch. “We’re putting our money where our beer is and helping people create change—one person, one project at a time.”
Building stronger communities (and awareness)
Big Grove is committed to raising awareness for The Neighborhood Beer and its impact. Customers will see in-store promotions, QR codes linking to the micro-grant application, and advertising and social media campaigns showcasing funded projects. While the first packaging showcases the Solon, Iowa community, upcoming packaging will begin to spotlight some of the micro-grants and individuals supported.
“The more we tell these stories, the more real it will be for everyone in our communities to know these micro-grants are available to them. We want to give people a reason to believe,” said Goettsch.
Big Grove For Good Micro-Grants
Who Can Apply: Individuals and organizations in Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska (with other Midwest states being added in 2025)
Eligible Projects: Initiatives that improve neighborhoods or better the lives of you and your neighbors, such as improving basketball courts, building lending libraries, planting trees, even purchasing a mixer to make baked goods for community events, and more.
How to Apply: Online here or via QR code on any Neighborhood Beer package.
Funding Process: Grants are awarded on a rolling basis. “The more beer we sell, the more we give back.”
* rarely given weekly
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