At its first annual grant celebration event, the Mills County Community Foundation honored 23 nonprofit organizations and community projects that received grants throughout the past year. Honorees included both spring and fall grant recipients, who were awarded a collective sum of over $265,000.

Spring 2021 Grant Recipients:

  • City of Emerson – $1,045, City Hall Flagpole
  • City of Glenwood – $11,000, Picnic Tables and Park Concrete Repairs
  • City of Henderson – $1,685, Message Board
  • Davies Amphitheater – $5,000, Davies Amphitheater Renovation 2021
  • Friends of the Malvern Public Library – $5,000, Library Renovations
  • Glenwood Public Library Foundation – $3,300, COVID-19 Priorities
  • Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department – $8,000, Rope Rescue Equipment
  • Hastings Fire and First Responders – $4,000, Structure Fire Ventilation Fan
  • Liberty Memorial Building Board – $10,000, Liberty Memorial Building Roof Replacement
  • Malvern Volunteer Fire Department – $7,073, Fire Equipment
  • Mills County Fair Association – $10,000, Cattle Barn Roof
  • Mills County Historical Museum – $5,000, Completion of New Building
  • Mills County Veterans Affairs – $7,415, Office Remodel
  • Mineola Community Center and Historical Society – $5,000, East Concrete Sidewalk
  • Oak Township Fire and Rescue – $4,800, Fire Fighting Foam Equipment
  • Silver City Ambulance – $2,600, AED Replacement
  • Silver City Historical Society – $4,927, Renovation of New Museum Buildings
  • Silver City Volunteer Fire Department – $3,000, Fire Engine Communication System
  • West Central Community Action – $5,000, Concrete Driveway for Food Pantry

Fall 2021 Grant Recipients:

  • City of Henderson – $7,500, All-Inclusive Playground
  • Friends of the Malvern Public Library – $11,451, Library Renovations
  • Glenwood Baseball Softball Club – $5,000, City Field Renovation
  • Glenwood Volunteer Fire Association – $9,310 , Video Laryngoscopes Updates
  • Hastings Fire and First Responders – $3,065 , Renovation of Fire Station
  • Liberty Memorial Building Board – $9,427, Liberty Memorial Renovation: Phase 7
  • Malvern Volunteer Fire Department – $7,150, Fire Equipment
  • Malvern Volunteer Rescue Inc. – $75,000, Ambulance Replacement
  • Mills County Fair Association – $20,000, Fair Office/Bathrooms Renovation
  • Mills County Love Tree, Inc – $1,000, Laptop Replacement
  • Mineola Community Center and Historical Society – $2,000, Patio Safety Rail
  • Nishna Productions, Inc. – $1,374, Residential Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
  • Oak Township Fire and Rescue – $1,400, Fire-Hose Bed Protective Covering
  • Silver City Ambulance – $5,300 , Patient Care Enhancement Projects
  • Silver City Volunteer Fire Department – $2,500, Fire Apparatus Monitor Base Stand
  • West Central Community Action– $1,673 , Emergency Clothing Room Storage Containers

Throughout 2021, the Foundation received a total of 48 grant applications from community organizations, with over $570,000 requested. As a part of its two grant cycles, the Mills County Community Foundation awarded $266,995 to 35 of these 48 applications. “In 2021, we’ve been able to fund a wide array of projects and programs,” said Board Chair Chad McCollester. “Grants were awarded to support renovation and construction throughout the community, bolster our local fire and rescue organizations, and fund 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 Mills County.”

Each year, the Mills 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 1997, it has distributed over $5.6 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 Mills County.”

The Mills 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 Mills 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 Mills County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit. 

The Mills County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members are Chair, Chad McCollester of Silver City; Vice Chair, Liz Baldwin of Hastings; Secretary/Treasurer, Kathy Reisner of Glenwood; Jennifer Gee of Imogene; Keith Johnson of Mineola; and Kate McGann of Malvern.

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.