IOWA CITY, Iowa — Recognizing that sometimes smaller neighborhood projects make the biggest impact, today Big Grove Brewery launches The Neighborhood Beer and with it, a new micro-grant initiative created to support local projects that enhance and revitalize neighborhoods while also just doing good for those that live within them. This unique program, the first of its kind in the beer industry, offers direct funding to individuals and organizations, through the Big Grove for Good Foundation, for small-scale, high-impact community projects.
“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.”
Big Grove For Good Foundation
To manage this innovative program, Big Grove has established the Big Grove For Good Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) foundation, responsible for the setup and operation of the program through reviewing applications, selecting recipients, and distributing 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 10th. 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, One Grant at a Time
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
- Grant Amounts: $250–$1,000
- 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 at BigGroveForGood.com 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.”
About Big Grove Brewery
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. Big Grove has received multiple craft brewing medals, including a Great American Beer Festival (GABF) gold medal for Easy Eddy, its flagship Hazy IPA, as well as medals for Citrus Surfer Fruited Wheat, and a GABF silver medal for Festbier, a Bavarian-style Märzen.
Site: biggrove.com
About Big Grove For Good Foundation
The Big Grove For Good Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization committed to strengthening communities in regions where Big Grove operates and has a presence. The foundation manages The Neighborhood Beer program, which provides micro-grants to individuals and organizations working to improve their neighborhoods. The foundation also administers sponsorship and in-kind donation requests, their Beers for a Cause program, plus “Good Giving” grants to support nonprofit organizations in Big Grove’s three core categories: Trees, Trails & Water; Equity & Equality; and Our Backyard.
While inspired and founded by the values of Big Grove Brewery, the Big Grove For Good Foundation operates independently, ensuring a dedicated commitment to community impact.
Site: biggroveforgood.com
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