GreatAmerica Financial Services began accepting applications from nonprofits for its employee advised fund on March 1. The deadline to complete an application is March 29 at 4:30 p.m. CST. Another funding cycle will be available in the latter half of the year.

The company’s employee advised fund, launched in 2022, is in addition to the GreatAmerica Donor Advised Fund, established in 2001. The combined funds provide more than $1 million to projects in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor in Iowa each year. Both funds are managed by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

“The Employee Advised Fund brings increased awareness of the nonprofit community to GreatAmericans who wish to learn more about and participate in community betterment efforts,” Martin Golobic, CEO of GreatAmerica Financial Services, said. “It’s also an opportunity to understand their perspectives based on their personal beliefs, values and experiences.”

The employee advised fund focuses on four areas: health and human services, arts and culture, environment and public projects. All employees review and vote on each application. Approved projects are funded with the objective of exhausting the $500,000 fund each year. Nonprofits applying for funding must have a connection with a GreatAmerica employee and be a registered 501(c)(3) organization, among other eligibility requirements.