At its first annual grant celebration event, the Fremont County Community Foundation honored 25 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 over $132,000.

Spring 2021 Grant Recipients:

  • City of Sidney – $16,000, Gazebo Park on the Square
  • City of Thurman – $1,000, Park Enhancement Project
  • Farragut Community Hometown Pride – $2,270, Admiral Trail Rest Area
  • Farragut Fire and Rescue Association – $8,638, Air Packs and Bunker Gear
  • Fremont County Conservation Board – $4,419, Roadside Park and Campground Playground
  • Fremont County Fair Board – $10,000, Update Building HVAC
  • Fremont County Historical Society – $2,500, Operating Support
  • George C. Grape Community Hospital – $8,314, Patient Care Equipment
  • Hamburg Hometown Pride – $7,500, Concrete Picnic Tables
  • Percival Hometown Pride – $2,600, Accessible Restroom Project
  • Randolph Public Library – $11,460, New Floor in Library
  • Shenandoah Medical Center Foundation – $3,000, Sidney Clinic Building Improvements
  • Sidney Hometown Pride – $5,000, South Entrance Welcome Sign
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. – $5,850, Building Beds
  • Southwest Iowa Fishing Team, Inc. – $1,000, Fish Habitat Conservation Project
  • Tabor Historical Society – $5,000, HVAC Improvements
  • Thurman Fire Department – $9,000, Protective Fire Gear
  • West Central Community Action – $324, Food Pantry Utility Cart

Fall 2021 Grant Recipients:

  • Farragut Public Library – $4,500.00 , Farragut Library Renewal
  • Fremont County Historical Society – $1,300.00 , Digitization of Sidney Newspapers
  • George C. Grape Community Hospital – $10,000.00 , ALS Defibrillator
  • Hamburg Public Library – $588.81 , Children’s Library Book Display Project
  • Hamburg Public Schools – $760.00 , Visual Art through Airbrush Opportunities
  • Knights Athletic Club – $3,151.19 , Equipment and Field Upgrades
  • Lakin Library and Envisioning Center – $800.00 , Presentation and Program Room Equipment
  • Percival Hometown Pride – $1,060.00 , Park Improvement with Concrete Upgrades
  • Randolph Hometown Pride – $1,818.00 , Community Center and Town Improvements
  • Shenandoah Medical Center – $2,000.00 , Exam Table for Sidney Clinic
  • Tabor Hometown Pride – $2,500.00 , VFW Memorial Improvements
  • West Central Community Action – $172.00 , Food Pantry Equipment

Throughout 2021, the Foundation received a total of 37 grant applications from community organizations, with over $385,000 requested. As a part of its two grant cycles, the Fremont County Community Foundation awarded $132,525 to 31 of these 37 applications. “In 2021, we’ve been able to fund a wide array of projects and programs,” said Board Chair Darryn Ruiz. “Grants were awarded to support a variety of conservation efforts and recreational opportunities, renovation and construction, and 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 Fremont County.”

Each year, the Fremont County Community Foundation holds two grant cycles with an objective to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in the county. “Since the Foundation was established in 1998, it has distributed over $2.2 million in grants and scholarships,” said Iowa Foundations Director Stacey Goodman. “Through the generosity of donors and charitable funds allocated through the community foundation, along with our participation in the County Endowment Fund Program, we are able to continue to invest valuable resources back into communities across Fremont County.”

The Fremont 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 cycle of grants 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 fall grant cycle is made possible through the generosity of donors to the Fremont 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 Fremont County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit. 

The Fremont County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members are Chair, Darynn Ruiz of Sidney; Vice Chair, Lindsey Carter of Randolph; Secretary/Treasurer, Staci Shearer of Farragut; Teri Emberton of Hamburg; and Tim Inman of Randolph.

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.