At its first annual grant celebration event, the Crawford County Community Foundation honored 32 nonprofit organizations and community projects that received grants throughout the past year. These honorees included both spring and fall grant recipients, who were awarded a collective sum of $116,840.

Spring 2021 Grant Recipients:

  • Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault (CAASA) – $1,650, Crawford County Operational Support
  • Charter Oak Community Club – $4,000, Cement Slab for Building
  • Charter Oak Fire Department – $2,500, New Fire Helmets
  • City of Buck Grove – $1,000, New Flooring in City Hall
  • City of Kiron – $3,500, North Park Playground
  • City of Ricketts – $1,990, City Playground Equipment
  • Crawford County Fair Association – $12,000, Improving Swine Barn Pens
  • Crawford County Shooting Sports – $3,500, Youth Marksmanship League
  • Crossroads of Crawford County – $4,000, CoCares for Elderly and Caregivers
  • Dow City Community Club – $6,000, Community Building Floor Resurfacing
  • Dow City-Arion Fire and Rescue – $2,500, Protective Fire Gear
  • Friends of Yellow Smoke – $4,000, Outdoor Playscape
  • Kiron Fire Department – $2,500, Community CPR Training
  • Little Hawks Childcare Center – $12,000, Childcare Center Renovation and Equipment
  • Loess Hills Agriculture in the Classroom – $500, Agricultural Literacy for ELL Denison
  • Lutheran Services in Iowa – $1,200, Behavioral Health Services in Crawford County
  • Manilla Fire Department – $2,500, Bunker Gear Replacement
  • Manilla Wellness Center – $6,000, Operational Support and Fitness Equipment
  • Norelius Community Library – $1,000, Newspaper Digitization Project
  • Schleswig Volunteer Fire Department – $2,500, Replacing Outdated Equipment
  • Southwest Iowa Fishing Team, Inc. – $4,000, Fish Habitat Conservation Project
  • UCC-Child Care – $10,000, Child Care Center Land Acquisition
  • WESCO Industries – $4,000, Respite Updates
  • Western Iowa Expo – $5,000, Equipment Needs
  • Westside Community Club – $6,000, Building Repair

Fall 2021 Grant Recipients:

  • City of Arion – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Aspinwall – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Buck Grove – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Charter Oak – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Deloit– $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Denison – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Dow City – $1,000, Parks and Recreation Projects
  • City of Kiron – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Manilla – $1,000, Community Revitalization Projects
  • City of Ricketts – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Schleswig – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Vail – $1,000, Community Development Projects
  • City of Westside – $1,000,Parks and Recreation Projects

In the spring of 2021, the Foundation received a total of 37 grant applications, with over $300,000 requested. As part of this grant cycle, the Crawford County Community Foundation awarded $103,840 to 25 of these 37 applications. Along with this, the Foundation awarded $13,000 to 13 municipalities for community development projects in the fall. “In 2021, we’ve been able to fund a wide array of projects and programs,” said Board Chair Kelly Sonnichsen. “Grants were awarded to support a variety of recreational opportunities and building renovations, as well as many more projects that will have a positive effect on our community members—both young and old. We’re proud of the impact of the Foundation, and we’re glad to have this opportunity to celebrate the important work of these organizations throughout Crawford County.”

Each year, the Crawford County Community Foundation accepts applications for its spring grant cycle and awards initiative-based funding to deserving, qualified nonprofits and local municipalities serving Crawford County in the fall. “Since the Foundation was established in 2005, it has distributed over $1.8 million in grants and scholarships,” said Iowa Foundations Director Stacey Goodman. “Through the generosity of donors, along with our participation in the County Endowment Fund Program, we are able to continue to invest valuable resources back into communities across Crawford County.”

The Crawford County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. It annually receives funds from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. The spring grant cycle is made possible through the County Endowment Fund Program, and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license. 

The Foundation’s initiative-based funding in the fall is made possible through the generosity of donors to the Crawford County Community Foundation. The Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Crawford County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit. 

The Crawford Community Foundation Advisory Board Members are Chair, Kelly Sonnichsen of Denison; Vice Chair, Maura Sailer of Denison; Secretary/Treasurer, Steve Vollstedt of Manilla; Nikki Ahart of Dow City; Steve Brownmiller, OD of Denison; Jace Hawley of Vail; Paul Outhouse of Schleswig; Deb Quandt of Westside; and Sarah Weinbrandt of Charter Oak.

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.