The Mills County Community Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded $116,815 in grants to Mills County nonprofit agencies. The following organizations were awarded grants by the Mills County Community Foundation Advisory Board:

  • City of Glenwood – $11,000.00 for Park Picnic Tables
  • City of Malvern – $5,823.06 to Renovate Poolhouse
  • Emerson Volunteer Fire and Rescue – $1,152.07 for Equipment
  • Glen Haven Home, Inc. – $10,000.00 for Glen Haven Village Project
  • Glenwood Public Library – $5,000.00 to Update Teen and Adult Areas
  • Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department – $6,600.00 for Equipment
  • Hastings Fire and First Responders – $17,000.00 for Water Tender Truck
  • Malvern Area Betterment Association – $7,500.00 for Park Safety and Erosion Control
  • Malvern Volunteer Fire Department – $6,180.00 for Equipment
  • Mills County Conservation –$21,000.00 for Pony Creek Park Cabins
  • Mills County Extension and Outreach – $2,000.00 for 4-H Dog Agility Project Equipment
  • Mills County Fair Association – $3,323.05 for 4-H Building Overhead Door
  • Mills Masquers – $5,500.00 to Replace Lights
  • Silver City Ambulance – $3,300.00 for Cardiac Monitor
  • Silver City Public Library – $1,000.00 for Fireproof Filing Cabinet
  • Silver City Volunteer Fire Department – $1,000.00 for Equipment
  • Wabash Trace Nature Trail –$6,500.00 for Bicycle Repair Stations
  • West Central Community Action – $2,937.00 for Handicap Accessible Door

All grantees met the criteria as Mills County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Mills County were eligible. Mills County agency representatives received their checks on April 15. During brief check distribution activities, Lana White commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Mills County.

Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $116,815 in grants to these important community efforts in Mills County. The Mills County Community Foundation is one of nine counties that are collectively known as the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa and meets or exceeds the Standards for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington DC.

The Mills 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 Mills County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create charitable funds that address the changing, vital community needs and interests. Donating to a charitable 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 Mills 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 White.

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. Mills County nonprofits may go here to learn more about the grant guidelines and to apply.