Keep Iowa Beautiful Awards
Photographer: Aaron Koopal of Urbandale, IA
Organization Award for Excellence
This Organization Award for Excellence is presented annually to local or statewide organizations that assist communities with planning and implementation of programs that enhance the quality of life in Iowa.
2025 Recipient:
AARP Iowa
The Organization Award for Excellence goes to AARP Iowa for their impactful work in helping communities across Iowa plan and implement programs that improve livability and promote healthy, vibrant places to live. AARP Iowa helps foster livable communities that prioritize accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity for residents of all ages.
Previous Recipients
- 2024 – Iowa Rural Development Council
- 2023 – Iowa Rural Development Council
- 2022 – Iowa Bicycle Coalition
- 2021 – Pocahontas County Foundation
- 2020 – Iowa’s County Conservation System
- 2019 – Iowa Department of Transportation and the Living Roadways Trust Fund
- 2018 – Iowa Downtown Resource Center
- 2017 – Pride in Community Appearance (PICA) Volunteer Group
- 2016 – The Iowa League of Cities
2022 Recipient: The Iowa Bicycle Coalition for promoting safe and enjoyable bicycling as an economic benefit and tourism attraction making communities better places to live.
2021 Recipient: Pocahontas County Foundation
Pocahontas County Foundation received the 2021 Keep Iowa Beautiful Organization Award for celebrating 15 years of charitable giving, awarding $1.3 million dollars for over 360 community projects.
2020 Recipient: Iowa’s County Conservation System
Iowa’s County Conservation System is receiving the 2020 Keep Iowa Beautiful Organization Award for providing a better Iowa County through conservation, education and recreation making Iowa a better place to live.
2019 Recipient: Iowa Department of Transportation and the Living Roadways Trust Fund
The 2019 Organizational Award was presented to the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Living Roadways Trust Fund for the grant integrated roadside vegetative management program making Iowa’s roadsides visually interesting and making Iowa and it’s communities a more attractive place to live and work. The award was presented at the Governor’s office on March 28, 2019.
2018 Recipient: Iowa Downtown Resource Center
The Iowa Downtown Resource Center delivers critical resources to help Iowa small towns thrive. This organization helps communities learn more about the importance of downtown development and specifically how communities can use specific tools to make downtowns more viable through a downtown walk around or through the services of the award-winning Main Street Iowa program.
2017 Recipient: Pride in Community Appearance (PICA) Volunteer Group
The PICA volunteer group was recognized for the many volunteers who enhance the beauty, cleanliness, and attractiveness of Fort Dodge.
2016 Recipient: The Iowa League of Cities
The Iowa League of Cities is recognized for providing advocacy, training, and guidance, making Iowa’s communities more attractive places to live and enhancing the quality of life across the state.
