The Montgomery County Community Foundation, working in partnership with the Red Oak Heritage Foundation, is pleased to announce awards of $117,595 in grants to Montgomery County nonprofit agencies. The following nonprofit organizations were awarded grants by the Montgomery County Advisory Board:
- City of Red Oak Public Library – $3,000 for repairs
- City of Villisca – $10,000 for playground equipment
- Elliott Volunteer Fire Department – $6,200 for a washer and extractor project
- Friends of the Red Oak Trails – $5,000 for a pedestrian trail
- Friends of the Villisca Public Library – $5,095 for window replacement
- Montgomery County Agricultural Society – $10,000 for livestock pen improvements
- Montgomery County Family YMCA – $30,000 for pool interior safety
- Nishna Productions – $1,265 for outside break space
- Red Oak Grand Theatre – $20,000 for an expansion project
- Stanton Historical Society – $4,000 for a stair lift
- Stanton Viking Center – $10,000 for equipment
- Villisca Historical Society City – $4,000 for cemetery block markers
- Villisca Public Library – $4,505 for window replacement
- Wilson Performing Arts Center – $4,530 for updated parking lot lights
All grantees met the criteria as Montgomery County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Montgomery County were eligible. Montgomery County agency representatives received their checks on May 3. During brief check distribution activities, Dennis D. Bloom commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Montgomery County.
Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $117,595 in grants to these important community efforts in Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Community Foundation is one of nine Iowa county affiliates that are collectively known as the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, and are affiliated with the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations. The Montgomery County Community Foundation, as an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation and member of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, receives funds annually from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. Created in 2004, the County Endowment Fund Program is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations and affiliate community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.
Beyond the County Endowment Fund Program, the Montgomery County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. Donating to a permanently endowed fund helps your neighbors today and you help build a stronger community tomorrow. Not only that, you may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for each donation, in addition to any Federal tax benefits for which you may qualify.
The Montgomery County Community Foundation invests and administers these funds and distributes grants to deserving, qualified nonprofit organizations. “This has grown from an annual event to twice a year, with one grant cycle in the spring and another in the fall,” said Bloom.
For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org. Montgomery County nonprofits may go here to learn more about the grant guidelines and to apply.