The Community Outreach Program presented by MidAmerican Energy Foundation offers twenty non-profit organizations the opportunity to participate on-site at the Des Moines Arts Festival to share their mission to thousands of guests free-of-charge.  To participate, non-profit organizations provide an on-site interactive arts-related activity and manage their booth during the open hours of the Creative Zone. MidAmerican Energy Foundation will also provide $250.00 to each of the selected non-profit organizations for their interactive activity art supplies and staffing. The non-profit organization is encouraged to display approved signage and distribute organization information within the area.  

 

2025 Timeline 
March 25: Applications Open 

April 17: Virtual Info Session
May 9: Applications Close 
May 19: Selected organizations notified 
May 30: Paperwork due from organizations 

 

101 Community Outreach Program Virtual info session

• Are you a non-profit organization interested in participating in the Des Moines Arts Festival’s Community Outreach Program (COP)? Join us for a virtual information session designed to help selected organizations maximize their experience at the festival!

• Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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The Festival will provide: 

• One 10’ x 10’ tented space in the festival’s Creative Zone 

• A banner displaying your non-profit organization’s name and logo 

• Two 8’ skirted tables and two chairs 

• Shared on-site storage unit (with padlock) 

• $250.00 to be used for the purchase of Festival related art supplies or staffing (received one week post festival) 

 

Non-Profit Organizations will provide: 

• An interactive arts-related activity (approved by Festival – we’re happy to brainstorm with you!) 

• Staff/Volunteers to manage and run the booth for the duration of Creative Zone hours:  
  (Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. / Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.). 

• Any costs above the $250.00 associated with the activity and staffing. We encourage you to utilize your volunteers and Board members to host your booth! ​​​

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Exhibiting Regulations: 

• All interactive activities and performances must be pre-approved by the Festival. 

• Non-profit organizations are encouraged to solicit memberships and hand out promotional literature and educational materials.   

• Raffling or distributing merchandise requires written approval. Please include this information in your application (we’re open to ideas!). 

• No merchandise, novelties, food, or drink sales are permitted. 

• No tipping is permitted. 

• Non-profit organizations are responsible for maintaining a clean and orderly tent during all Festival hours.  Any damage done to the tent, table, or chairs will be the responsibility of your non-profit organization. 

• Organizations must leave their space the way they found it at the conclusion of the Festival. (Trash and recycling to be disposed in proper bins provided by DMAF in your area). 

• Non-profit organizations are entered into a contract with the Festival and must provide a valid Certificate of Insurance. 

• Non-profit organizations and their employees/volunteers must abide by the general rules and policies of the Festival.  

• Booths are required to be open and attended to at all times during the Creative Zone hours, rain or shine. Failure to do so will result in denial of future participation.  

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PLEASE NOTE BEFORE APPLYING 

• Only apply if your organization is capable of providing an on-site activity and staffing at your booth. 

• Electricity is not provided in this area of the Festival. Do not submit an activity that requires the use of power.

• If you are selected and subsequently cancel your participation at any time, you will be ineligible for program participation for the next three years. Additionally, your organization will be responsible for any pre-festival costs incurred (e.g., signage printing).  

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Acceptance notifications will be sent out by or on Monday, May 19th, 2025. A program representative will be in touch should we have questions about your activities. 

 

Participating organizations will be required to attend a conference call to review load in, set up, engagement during the festival, and tear down, on Sunday, June 18, 2025. 

 

For questions and assistance, please contact: 

Sophie Danker 

Program Intern 

Sdanker@desmoinesartsfestival.org  

(641) 757-0147