The Emmet County Community Foundation (ECCF) held its grant awards celebration at the VFW Hall in Estherville on July 8, announcing the distribution of $159,175.41 to 21 projects of organizations serving Emmet County through its 2025 grant cycle.

The 2025 grant recipient organizations, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

• Friends of Fort Defiance – Ranger Workshop Roof – $3,760.00
• Ringsted Community Improvement Organization – Lille Dansk Kirke – $7,500.00

Community Betterment

• City of Armstrong – Pool Project: Fun and Fitness Refresh – $7,740.98
• City of Estherville – Police/Fire: Training Facility – $20,000.00
• City of Ringsted – City Hall/Library - Handicap Door – $12,500.00
• Community Action Club – Christmas Decorations for Main Street – $3,000.00
• Estherville Little League Association – New Batting Cages at Thoreson Memorial Park – $12,158.57
• Ringsted Community Improvement Organization – Fire Department - Equipment – $14,600.00

Education & Youth Development

• Emmet County ISU Extension – Farm Safety Day – $3,000.00
• Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District – RWC - Splash Pad Playground Enhancement – $3,000.00
• Tiny Treasures Community Daycare Center – Building Purchase - Little Wranglers Daycare – $10,000.00

Environment & Animal Welfare

• City of Estherville – Estherville River Recreation Enhancement – $10,000.00
• Emmet County Nature Center Foundation – Recreational Hiking/Walking Trail Renovation – $3,554.00

Health

• City of Wallingford – Ambulance - Equipment Needs For Our Communities – $8,746.97
• Emmet County – Public Health - Generator to Protect Vaccines – $13,000.00
• North Union Community School District – AED & First Aid for Weight Room – $3,007.39
• Northwest Iowa Mental Health Center – Emmet County Office Expansion & Resources – $3,106.60

Human Service

• Elderbridge Agency on Aging – Client Assistance – $5,000.00
• Families Helping Families of Iowa – Programming Support – $5,000.00
• Food Bank of Iowa – Fighting Childhood Hunger in Emmet County – $7,500.00
• Grandview Baptist Church – Community Outreach and Breakfast – $3,000.00

Grants were recommended by the Emmet County Community Foundation’s governing committee, composed of volunteers committed to improving the well-being of Emmet County residents. The 2025 governing committee includes: Athlyn Black, Ryan Cellan, Robin Enerson, Sonya Gjerde, Robert Grems, Megan Janssen Spurgin, Morgan Klingeil, and Cory Rezac.  

ECCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, which provides administrative, investment, and technical support to enhance the local foundation’s impact. The 2026 ECCF grant cycle opens March 1, 2026, with a deadline of April 15, 2026. Application guidelines and materials can be found at www.emmetccf.org.

The Emmet County Community Foundation (ECCF) held its 2023 grant awards celebration at the VFW Hall in Estherville on June 28, announcing the distribution of $151,220.16 to 20 projects of organizations serving Emmet County through its 2023 grant cycle.

“There are so many fantastic things happening in Emmet County and the Emmet County Community Foundation is honored to be able to help make some of these efforts possible through impactful grantmaking,” said Robin Enerson, chair of the ECCF committee.

The grant recipient organizations, project each grant will fund and grant amounts are listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

• Peterson Point Preservation Foundation, Handicap Accessibility and Farmhouse Preservation, $10,000
• Ringsted Community Improvement Organization, Operation Umbrella, $10,000

Community Betterment

• Armstrong Betterment Club, Park Improvement Phase 2 & 3, $10,700
• City of Estherville, Airport Commission - Estherville Airport Signage, $5,000
• City of Estherville, Parks & Rec - Disc Golf Course Expansion, $4,000
• City of Estherville, Police Department - Programming and Equipment, $9,000
• City of Gruver, Fire Department - Helmets and Complete Fire Suits, $6,000
• City of Ringsted, Evening Out Club - Park Improvement, $13,700
• City of Ringsted, Friends of the Library - Digitalization of Yearbooks, $3,000
• Estherville Firefighters Association, Purchase Rescue Tool, $10,000

Education & Youth Development

• Emmet County ISU Extension, Farm Safety Day, $3,000
• North Union Elementary School - Fenton Campus, Rock Climbing Wall, $7,220.16
• Northwest Iowa Mental Health Center, Seasons Center: Emmet County Respite Care & Wrap-Around Support, $4,600
• Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Emmet County Early Head Start Roosevelt Renovation, $10,000

Environment & Animal Welfare

• Emmet County Nature Center Foundation, Nature Center Roof, $10,000

Health

• Emmet County, Public Health - Client Services and Community Programming, $9,500
• Wallingford Community Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Life Pack "15" Saving One Heart at a Time, $10,000

Human Service

• Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Congregate and Home-Delivered Meal Program, $5,000
• Food Bank of Iowa, Feeding Emmet County, $7,500
• Grandview Baptist Church, Community Breakfast and Outreach, $3,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Emmet County. Committee members include: Robin Enerson (chair), Bob Grems, Jean Hoffman, Megan Janssen Spurgin, Autumn Larsen, Mary Moorman, Diane Nelsen, Dr. Cory Rezac, Jim Rosendahl and Tena Sunde.

Grants are awarded through ECCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Emmet County in order to be considered for funding. More information about the ECCF can be found at www.emmetccf.org.

The Emmet County Community Foundation (ECCF) held its 2022 grant awards celebration at the VFW Hall on June 29, announcing the distribution of $135,050 to 20 projects of organizations serving Emmet County through its 2022 grant cycle.

“These nonprofit organizations are great examples of work being done to improve the quality of life in Emmet County and the Emmet County Community Foundation is honored to support them,” said Robin Enerson, chair of the ECCF governing committee.

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

Community Betterment

• City of Armstrong, Pool Safety Equipment Upgrade, $2,600
• City of Ringsted, Library – Building Renovation, $5,000
• City of Wallingford, City Hall – Heating/Cooling Update, $6,000
• Estherville Firefighters Association, PPE Fire Gear, $10,000
• Ringsted Community Improvement Organization, RCIO Project Special Delivery, $13,700
• VFW Post 3388, Improving the Infrastructure, $5,225
• Wallingford Community Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Upgrading Equipment for Patient Care & Fire Fighter Safety, $7,700

Education & Youth Development

• Emmet County ISU Extension, Farm Safety Day, $1,375
• Estherville Lincoln Central Community School Foundation, Demoney Elementary Playground Equipment, $10,000
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom, Agriculture Education in Emmet County Schools, $3,000

Environmental & Animal Welfare

• Emmet County Nature Center Foundation, Educational Building Concrete and Parking Area, $10,000
• Emmet County Water Trails, Emmet County Water Trails Kayak Rental, $15,000
• Izaak Walton League of Emmet County, Replacement Trap Thrower, $3,000
• N-Compass, Inc., Iowa Project AWARE 2022, $7,500

Health

• Emmet County – Auditor, Public Health – Healthy Beginnings Family Support, $1,500
• Iowa Great Lakes Ambulance Service, Stryker Power Cot, $11,350

Human Service

• Food Bank of Iowa, Fighting Childhood Hunger in Emmet County, $10,000
• Grandview Baptist Church, Free Community Breakfast, $2,700
• Seasons Center for Behavioral Health, Camp Autumn Therapeutic Respite Care, $4,600
• Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc., Coats For Kids, $4,800

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Emmet County. Committee members include: Robin Enerson (chair), Bob Grems, Jean Hoffman, Megan Janssen Spurgin, Autumn Larsen, Mary Moorman, Diane Nelsen, Dr. Cory Rezac, Jim Rosendahl and Tena Sunde.

Grants are awarded through ECCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Emmet County in order to be considered for funding. The 2023 grant cycle opens January 1 with an application deadline of March 1. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.emmetccf.org.

The Emmet County Community Foundation announced $104,989.61 in grant funding to 18 projects of organizations serving Emmet County as part of its 2021 grant cycle.

The Community Foundation will not hold its annual award celebration this year. Grant checks will be mailed directly to the nonprofit organizations, and photo opportunities will be offered to each recipient as an alternate celebration.

“The Emmet County Community Foundation is proud to support these nonprofit agencies and government organizations to ensure they are able to offer the programs and services which create more vibrant communities for all people in Emmet County,” said Tena Sunde, chair of the Emmet County Community Foundation.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding areas.

Arts & Culture

• Estherville Patrons of the Fine Arts, Music Shells for Estherville Lincoln Central, $10,000
• Ringsted Community Improvement Organization, Lille Dansk Kirke (Little Danish Church), $5,000

Community Betterment

• City of Armstrong, Library - Building Improvements, $10,000
• City of Ringsted, Library - LED Lighting, $3,000
• City of Wallingford, Playground Equipment Replacement, $7,000
• Emmet County, Emergency Management - Equipment for IC Trailer/ Vaccination Trailer, $8,000
• Estherville Firefighters Association Incorporated, Carbon Air Cylinder, $8,600
• Wallingford Community Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Fire Gear - It Protects Our Firefighters, $8,250

Education & Youth Development

• Armstrong Little League, Light Up the Little League Field, $6,371.61
• Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District, EnergizersPlus Afterschool Program, $5,000

Health

• Emmet County, Public Health - Healthy Beginnings Family Support, $1,500
• Emmet County Emergency Responders Association, Mass Care, $3,800
• Iowa Great Lakes Ambulance Service, Transmitting Cardiac Monitor, $5,000
• North Union Schools, North Union AED, $1,968
• Northwest Iowa Mental Health Center (dba Seasons Center), Seasons Center – Therapeutic Respite, $9,800
• Respite Angels, Senior Social Welfare & Well Being, $1,200

Human Service

• Food Bank of Iowa, Fighting Childhood Hunger in Emmet County, $7,500
• Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Birthday Room, $3,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Emmet County. Committee members include: Robin Enerson, Jean Hoffman, Laura Hoffman, Autumn Larsen, Tamika May, Mary Moorman, Diane Nelsen, Dr. Cory Rezac, Jim Rosendahl and Tena Sunde (chair).

Grants are awarded through Emmet County Community Foundation’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of: arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Emmet County in order to be considered for funding. The 2022 grant cycle opens January 1, 2022, with an application deadline of March 1, 2022. The grant guidelines and application will be posted prior to the cycle opening at www.emmetccf.org.