The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa has announced more than $444,000 to projects across nine counties.
This collection of community foundations and boards serves to benefit nine communities in Southwest Iowa and the people who live within them, with support for arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and historic preservation.
Below are the 2025 grant awardees:
Audubon County
The Audubon County Community Foundation awarded $42,310 to Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| Audubon County Public Health | Clinical and Home Health Equipment | $9,500 |
| Exira Fire and Ems Association | New skid unit for fire truck | $5,000 |
| Friendship Home | Project Warmth and Wellness | $5,000 |
| Audubon County Agricultural Society | New Septic System for Horse/Rodeo Bathroom | $5,000 |
| Audubon County Tourism | T-Bone Trailhead Monuments | $1,405 |
| City of Brayton | Brayton Welcome Sign | $1,405 |
| Exira Lions Club | Exira Lions Building Roof Replacement and More! | $10,000 |
| Exira Public Library | Stories on Our Walls: Book Spine Mural at Exira Public Library | $5,000 |
All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions that support community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 25% supported health, 50% supported public/society benefit, 12.5% supported arts/culture/humanities, and 12.5% supported “other.” Advisory board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Pat Kaiser, Dr. Michelle Sprague, Doug Carter, Claire Asberry, Colton Jones, Cristie Knudesen, and Travis Nelson.
Cass County
The Cass County Community Foundation awarded $34,796 to Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| City of Anita | Downtown Park Shade Installation | $4,000 |
| City of Massena | Massena Community Building | $2,000 |
| City of Griswold | Cocklin Fish Farm Open Air & Wildflower & Tree Project | $3,500 |
| Wesley Retirement Services (Heritage House) | Community Connections: Heritage House Outdoor Gathering Tent | $1,315 |
| West Central Community Action | Emergency Clothing Room Equipment | $315 |
| CAM FFA Alumni & Supporters | Freezer & Building Addition | $2,000 |
| Cass County Historical Museum | Humane Bat Exclusion / Abatement | $1,800 |
| Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) | Seating chairs | $1,500 |
| CAM Cubs Childcare | CAM Cubs Childcare | $1,500 |
| Atlantic Public Library | Audio-enabled books for literacy improvement | $2,416 |
| Griswold Volunteer Fire Association | Thermal Imaging Cameras | $2,600 |
| American Legion Post 508 | Back Door and Patio Area | $2,500 |
| New Welcome to Marne Signs | New Welcome to Marne Signs | $1,500 |
| Griswold Rescue | Cardiac Trainers | $1,100 |
| Anita American Legion Post 210 | Entry Area and Office Ceiling and Light Replacement | $1,700 |
| Vision Atlantic | Vision Atlantic | $2,000 |
| Massena Public Library | Replacement sinks and front window blinds | $2,000 |
| Lewis Public Library | Child and adult enhancement program | $1,050 |
All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 16.7% supported human service, 5.6% supported environment/animals, 44.4% supported public/society benefit, 16.7% supported arts/culture/humanities, 11.1% supported education, and 5.6% supported other areas. Advisory board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Kristi Burg, Sue Hunt, Mike Tibken, Sandy Bierbaum, and Jolene Sisler.
Crawford County
The Crawford County Community Foundation awarded $12,354 to Crawford County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| City of Denison | Personal Protective Equipment | $5,575 |
| Westside Fire Department | Rescue Struts | $4,000 |
| Crawida Regional Childcare/Under the Son Childcare | Dramatic Play and Outside Time | $1,779 |
| Charter Oak Fire Department | Lighting for Replacement Tanker | $1,000 |
All grantees met the criteria as Crawford County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Among the grants awarded, approximately half funded initiatives focused on public or societal benefit, and 25% supported educational and health projects each. Advisory board members of the Crawford County Community Foundation are Maura Sailer, Corey Gaskill, Joe Ferguson, Deb Garrett, Jace Hawley, Paul Outhouse, Deb Quandt, and Peggy Staley.
Fremont County
The Fremont County Community Foundation awarded $28,962 to Fremont County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| West Central Community Action | Food Pantry Freezer Replacement | $ 1,923 |
| Randolph Public Library | Randolph Library Relocation and Repair Project | $ 6,100 |
| Sidney Fire & Rescue | Attack and Training | $ 4,735 |
| Colonial Theatre | New Projector | $ 730 |
| City of Imogene | Imogene Housing Readiness | $ 2,000 |
| Hamburg Youth Sports, Inc. | Hamburg Baseball/Softball Field Renovations | $ 2,615 |
| Shenandoah Medical Center Foundation | Rural Athletic Training Program | $ 3,500 |
| City of Farragut | Safe Routes | $ 5,864 |
| Percival Hometown Pride | Percival Park Improvements | $ 1,055 |
| Fremont-Mills Drama Department | Drama Staircase Design | $ 440 |
All grantees met the criteria as Fremont County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 10% supported health, 60% supported public/society benefit, 20% supported human service, and 10% supported “other.” Advisory board members of the Fremont County Community Foundation are Teri Emberton, Mai Le, Stephanie Langer, Teresa Hardy, Tim Inman, Peter Johnson, and Daniel Scott.
Harrison County
The Harrison County Community Foundation awarded $82,519 to Harrison County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| Woodbine Carnegie Public Library | AED & First Aid Kit addition | $1,975 |
| City of Dunlap | Stop signs | $6,000 |
| Modale Fire and Rescue Association | Electric Vehicle fire equipment | $2,900 |
| Harrison County Sheriff’s Office | Hearing Protection | $8,225 |
| Pisgah Safe At Home PROG – City of Pisgah | Baseball Field Dugout Replacement | $16,000 |
| Boyer Valley Youth Org | Baseball field dugouts | $16,000 |
| City of Persia | Persia Fire and Rescue Turnout Gear | $4,620 |
| Loess Hills Agriculture in the Classroom | Loess Hills Ag in the Classroom | $1,000 |
| Missouri Valley Public Library | Community Room Renovation | $4,945 |
| Missouri Valley Youth Enhancement Association | YEA Sports Storage | $12,683 |
| Woodbine Main Street | Upgrades to Veterans Park | $7,000 |
| Little Willow Dog Park | Benches for patrons | $1,171 |
All grantees met the criteria as Harrison County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 23.1% supported health, 53.8% supported public/society benefit, 15.4% supported human service, and 7.7% supported education. Advisory board members of the Harrison County Community Foundation are Lori Thomsen, Kerry Stueve, Todd Noah, Mitchell Flaherty, Matt Fouts, Jeff Kuhl, and Ashley West.
Mills County
The Mills County Community Foundation awarded $154,496 to Mills County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| Mills County Historical Museum | Installing an Accessible Door in Building Number One | $3,275 |
| East Mills Child Care Solutions | The Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills | $56,250 |
| Malvern Volunteer Rescue, Inc. | Building security system and installation | $14,000 |
| Oak Township Fire and Rescue | Deck Pipe Device | $7,030 |
| Glenwood Police Department* | Glenwood Police Department Search and Rescue | $3,500 |
| Silver City Library | New door and windows | $9,021 |
| Hastings Volunteer Fire Department | Hastings Volunteer Fire Department Pagers & Radios | $5,000 |
| Nishna Productions, Inc. | Safety Care Training | $2,920 |
| The Malvern Volunteer Fire Department | Tanker/Pumper | $50,000 |
| Share My Smile | Project Birthday Joy | $3,500 |
All grantees met the criteria as Mills County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 30% supported public/society benefit, 10% supported education, 30% supported human service, 10% supported health, 10% supported arts/culture/humanities, and 10% supported “other.” Advisory board members of the Mills County Community Foundation are Kate McGann, Mary Bolton, Jim Schoening, Curtis Frazee, Larry Lauridsen, and Brent VonEssen.
Montgomery County
The Montgomery County Community Foundation awarded $29,006 to Montgomery County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| Montgomery County Child Development Association, Inc. (DBA: Red Oak Child Development Center) | ROCDC Kitchen Improvement/Renovation | $9,596 |
| Montgomery County History Center | Sidewalks | $1,000 |
| Montgomery County Family YMCA | Weight Room Update | $6,000 |
| Red Oak Grand Theatre, Inc. | Laserjet Copier/Printer | $1,000 |
| The Restored Burlington Northern Depot & World War II Memorial Museum | expand Red Oak Iowa Restored Depot parking lot | $1,000 |
| Stanton Public Library | Computers | $1,337 |
| Stanton Viking Center | Youth Sports and Fitness Equipment | $1,737 |
| Montgomery County Agricultural Society | New Dell Pro 16 Plus Laptop | $1,000 |
| Elliott Fire Department | Dual-Certified Wild-land Firefighting/Technical Rescue Personal Protective Equipment | $1,530 |
| Villisca Public Library | Library Basement Museum Remodel and Update | $2,305 |
| Elliott Public Library | New Bookshelf Project | $1,500 |
| Nishna Productions, Inc. | Entry Doors at Oak Complex | $1,000 |
All grantees met the criteria as Montgomery County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 45.5% supported public/society benefit, 9.1% supported education, 18.2% supported arts/culture/humanities, 9.1% supported human service, 18.2% supported health, and 9.1% supported “other.” Advisory board members of the Montgomery County Community Foundation are Jenna Ramsey, Brian LeRette, Marty Barnett, Dennis Bloom, Alex Burton, Christine Johnson, Jason Orme, Allen Pohren, and Chris Tischer.
Page County
The Page County Community Foundation awarded $20,719 to Page County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| Clarinda Community Center | Clarinda Food Pantry Fund | $4,240 |
| Sew and Share Food Pantry | Program for food purchases for the Sew and Share Food Pantry | $4,240 |
| Porters Lake Lutheran Founders, Inc. | Skating Rink Floor Revitalization Project | $8,000 |
| Community Food Pantry- Shenandoah | Area of Greatest Need | $4,239 |
All grantees met the criteria as Page County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 75% supported human service and 25% supported public/society benefit. Advisory board members of the Page County Community Foundation are Mark Walter, Pam Herzberg, Zeb Burkheiser, and Amy McQueen.
Shelby County
The Shelby County Community Foundation awarded $39,531 to Shelby County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.
The following organizations are Fall 2025 grant recipients:
| Organization | Project | Grant amount |
| Shelby County EMS Ambulance Service | Hamilton T1 60-SD Ventilator, & Zoll X Series Securing Brackets, Surface Base & Spacer Mounting System | $4,431 |
| Kids in the Village | 2025 Furnishings & Safety Upgrades | $3,917 |
| Elk Horn Fire Department | Fire Truck Lighting | $5,000 |
| Earling Fire & Rescue Department | SCBA Replacement | $10,187 |
| Shelby County Community Outreach, Inc. | Hero’s Attic Renovation Project | $4,000 |
| Shelby Fire & Rescue | EV (Electric vehicle) Emergency Plug & Fire Blankets, and MSA G1 Face Masks | $3,632 |
| Petersen Family Wellness | Exercise Class Equipment | $4,569 |
| Loess Hills Agriculture in the Classroom | Loess Hills Ag in the Classroom | $3,795 |
All grantees met the criteria as Shelby County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Of the grants awarded, 62.5% supported human service, 12.5% supported education, 25% supported public/society benefit, and 12.5% supported health. Advisory board members of the Shelby County Community Foundation are Max Powers, Jodee Dixon, Daniel Fischer, Jill Mages, Jill Schaben, and Rich Wiig.
_______
For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) or Sydney Calcagno (sydney@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458.