The Chickasaw County Community Foundation (CCCF) held its 2026 grant awards celebration at the New Hampton Community Center on April 16, announcing the distribution of $155,185.23 to 24 projects of organizations serving Chickasaw County through its 2026 grant cycle.

Grant recipient, organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount is listed below by impact priority.

Health & Safety

• Chickasaw County – EMA - Right Tool - Right Time – $10,000.00
• Chickasaw County – EMS - LifeBlanket System – $3,318.00
• Chickasaw County – Sheriff's Office - Protect the Protector Initiative – $10,000.00
• Chickasaw Township Fire District – Protective Clothing - Bunker Gear Replacement – $10,000.00
• City of Alta Vista – Fire Department - Ventilation Fans – $10,000.00
• City of North Washington – NWFD - Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus – $9,000.00
• Fredericksburg Firefighter Association – Slinger Workstation – $3,475.00
• Lawler Firefighters Foundation – Bunker Gear – $5,000.00
• New Hampton Firefighters' Association – Ventilation Equipment – $9,960.70
• Northeast Iowa Community Action – Chickasaw CFG Crisis Assistance Program 26 – $5,000.00
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank – Feeding Chickasaw County – $10,000.00
• Protivin Firefighters Inc – Structural PPE for PVFD 2026 – $4,961.58
• Riverview Center, Inc. – Chickasaw County Sexual Assault Crisis Response – $1,000.00

Opportunity & Access

• Choose 2 Include – Camp for All at Airport Lake – $10,000.00
• Fostering Families Together – Programming - Back-to-School Picnic – $1,000.00

Vibrant Community

• Carnegie Cultural Center – Cultural Connections – $2,500.00
• Chickasaw Wellness Complex – New Equipment – $1,500.00
• City of Alta Vista – Library - Foundation Insulation – $5,500.00
• City of Nashua – Outdoor Warning System – $10,000.00
• City of New Hampton – Parks & Rec - Sheakley Park Play – $10,000.00
• Fredericksburg Friends of the Library – Upham Memorial Library Repairs – $5,000.00
• Freedom Dog Run Park Corp – Water Station – $5,119.95
• Lawler Historical Society Inc – Copier/Scanner/Printer – $2,850.00
• The Little Brown Church in the Vale – Water & Sewer Project 2024/2025 – $10,000.00

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Chickasaw County. Jeff Berns (Chair), Kayla Flick, Mary Gruenberg, Courtney Lechtenberg, Kristen Nosbisch, Kayla Pride, Kristi Reicks, Nicholas Winter, and Matthew Ysbrand. CCCF funds established by generous donors contributing to the discretionary grant process include the Chickasaw County Impact Now Fund. This fund allows generous people to contribute to the current year’s grant cycle, with all donated dollars being added to the discretionary grant amount. Donors to this fund in 2025 who contributed over $250 are Harold and Rose Nordaas. 

Grants are awarded through CCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the impact priorities of health & safety, opportunity & access, vibrant communities, and youth empowerment. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Chickasaw County in order to be considered for funding. The 2027 grant cycle opens November15 with an application deadline of January 15. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.chickasawccf.org.