The Shelby County Community Foundation (SCCF) is pleased to announce that it has awarded $117,594 in grants to Shelby County nonprofit agencies. The following nonprofit organizations were awarded grants by the Shelby County Advisory Board:

  • City of Elk Horn – $10,000 for new furnace & central air system
  • Irwin Fire & Rescue – $2,000 for backing cameras on 5 pieces of equipment
  • Concerned, Inc. – $1,000 for funds to implement a new service called Career Exploration
  • Country Care Corporation – $1,500 to replace all safety locks in the building
  • Danish Windmill Corporation – $10,000 to replace roofs on buildings in Danish Windmill complex
  • Earling Fire & Rescue – $10,000 for 12 lead defibrillator/monitor for ambulance
  • Elk Horn Fire Department – $8,000 to replace outdated turnout gear
  • Friends of Harlan City Parks – $15,000 to install playground equipment
  • Friends of Prairie Rose State Park – $6,000 to replace signs, boardwalk tiles, and add sand to the kayak launching area
  • Harlan Community Library – $15,000 for a magnetic security system
  • Harlan Fire Department – $7,000 for portable radios
  • Harlan Police Department – $1,000 for officer safety initiative
  • IKM Community School DistrictEducation Foundation – $2,000 for Body in Mind: Mind in Motion Project
  • Kirkman Centennial Committee – $2,000 for a generator
  • Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department – $2,594 for equipment
  • Shelby County Conservation – $5,000 for Reinig River access
  • Shelby County Fair Corporation – $5,000 for restroom renovations
  • Shelby Fire & Rescue – $3,500 for turnout gear
  • Defiance Walking Park Committee – $10,000 for safe play surfacing
  • West Central Community Action – $1,000 for food pantry equipment

All grantees met the criteria as Shelby County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Shelby County were eligible. Shelby County agency representatives received their checks on April 19. During brief check distribution activities, Gene Gross commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Shelby County.

Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $117,594 in grants to these important community efforts in Shelby County. The Shelby 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.
Gene Gross, Chair of the Shelby County Community Foundation Advisory Board

The Shelby County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent funds that address the 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’ll 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 Shelby 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 Gross.

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