The Iowa County Community Foundation (ICCF) held its 2025 grant awards celebration on Thursday, July 24, at Parnell City Hall, announcing the distribution of $144,621.25 to 17 local nonprofit organizations through its 2025 grant cycle. Grants were awarded to projects improving quality of life and creating long-term impact in Iowa County communities.

Grants were presented by program area. A full list of funded projects is below:

Program Area: Arts & Culture

• Amana Heritage Society – Homestead Church Museum Interior Preservation – $12,000.00
• English Valleys History Center – Technology Upgrade for Community and Organizations – $4,382.91
• Iowa County Historical Society – Restroom Addition with Handicap Accessibility – $5,000.00

Program Area: Community Betterment

• American Legion Post 76 – Parking Lot Expansion – $4,971.00
• City of Millersburg – Concession Stand and Ball Field Updates – $11,500.00
• City of Parnell – City Hall - Acoustical Tiles – $7,089.24
• Pickleball Iowa County – Outdoor Pickleball Courts – $5,000.00

Program Area: Education & Youth Development

• Parents and Leaders for Students – Playground Shade Structure – $12,620.10
• Williamsburg Community Child Care – W4C’s Continual Quality Improvement – $3,213.00

Program Area: Environment & Animal Welfare

• City of North English – Smoky Row Trail Updates - Phase 2 – $12,101.00
• City of Williamsburg – Williamsburg Trail Project - Phase 2 – $20,000.00
• Gateway Improvement Group – Gateway Park Dock Repair – $5,200.00
• Marengo Trails Foundation – Trail Expansion – $20,000.00
• Safe Haven of Iowa County – Iowa County Pound A/C & Drainage – $5,000.00

Program Area: Health
 

• City of North English – First Responders - Outdoor AEDs – $6,544.00
• Iowa Dental Foundation – Iowa Mission of Mercy - Free Dental Clinic – $5,000.00

Program Area: Human Service

• Families Helping Families of Iowa – Program Support – $5,000.00

Grants were recommended by the Iowa County Community Foundation’s governing committee, composed of volunteers committed to improving the well-being of Iowa County residents. The 2025 governing committee includes: Paulette Dietrich, Erin Eichhorn, Trenton Forrest, Ellie Garringer, Justin Gingerich, Rhonda Glandorf, Natasha Hauschilt, Ann Krakow, and Bonnie Romine.

Special recognition was given to Natasha Hauschilt and Bonnie Romine for their service as they transition off the committee, and new members were also welcomed at the celebration. ICCF 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 ICCF grant cycle opens March 1, 2026, with a deadline of April 15, 2026. Application guidelines and materials can be found at www.iowaccf.org.

The Iowa County Community Foundation (ICCF) held its grant awards celebration at Parnell City Hall on July 25, announcing the distribution of $144,214 to 18 projects of organizations serving Iowa County through its 2024 grant cycle.

“The Iowa County Community Foundation is proud to support these nonprofit projects and programs that are working to make transformational impacts in Iowa County. We appreciate all our nonprofits do for our communities,” said Bonnie Romine, ICCF committee chair.

The 2024 grant recipient organizations, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

• Amana Heritage Society – Homestead Folk Art Museum Security System – $9,393
• Iowa County Genealogical Society – Technology Upgrades – $9,611
• Iowa County Historical Society – Climate-Controlled Storage – $4,161

Community Betterment

• City of Millersburg – Administration, Community Projects - $1,714
• City of Parnell – City Hall and Playground Improvements, Phase 4 - $12,500
• City of Williamsburg – Aquatic Center, Slide and Shade Cover Updates - $830
• Ladora Development Committee – Ladora Playground - $13,389
• North English Benefited Fire District – NE City Park Ball Shack - $7,500

Education & Youth Development

• City of Millersburg – Park Committee, Millersburg Ball Field - $11,700
• Parents and Leaders for Students – Inclusive Playground Equipment - $11,000
• Williamsburg Community Child Care – KIND Care Quality Improvement - $4,500

Environment & Animal Welfare 

• City of North English – Smoky Row Trail Pedestrian Bridge - $14,781
• Safe Haven of Iowa County – New Dog Kennels - $5,000

Health

• Iowa County Board of Supervisors – EMS, Video Laryngoscope - $7,560

Human Service

• Families Helping Families of Iowa – Improving Life for Children in Foster Care - $2,500
• North English Community Center – Food Pantry Room - $13,075
• Rural Employment Alternatives, Inc. – Van Purchase - $10,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Iowa County. Committee members include Paulette Dietrich, Erin Eichhorn, Ellie Garringer, Trenton Forrest, Natasha Hauschilt, Ann Krakow, and Bonnie Romine

 Grants are awarded through ICCF’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 Iowa County in order to be considered for funding. More information about the ICCF can be found at www.iowaccf.org/

The Iowa County Community Foundation (ICCF) announced $144,831.18 was awarded to 16 projects of organizations serving Iowa County through its 2023 grant cycle.

“The Iowa County Community Foundation is proud to support the work of our local nonprofits and the impacts they are making across Iowa County,” said Josh Humphrey, chair of the ICCF committee.

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

Arts & Culture

• Amana Arts Guild, Heating & Building Use Expansion Project 2023, $4,300
• Amana Heritage Society, Bringing To Light: The Amana Printing Tradition as 19th and early 20th Century Iowa Agribusiness, $3,000
• English Valleys History Center, Facilities Improvements for Enhanced Public Circulation, Fire Safety and Veterans Museum Area, $12,982.29

Community Betterment

• Amana Benefited Fire District, Airpacks, $9,029
• American Legion Post 54 - Harold E. Smith, Solar Panel Project for Victor American Legion/Community Center, $10,000
• City of Marengo, Swimming Pool - Stackable, Pool Side Loungers, $6,500
• City of North English, Library - Furnishing New Opportunities, $7,525.89
• Iowa County, Rescue 48 - Missing Person Search and Rescue UAV, $15,606
• Marengo Community Development, Downtown Marengo Banners, $4,600

Education & Youth Development

• Iowa Valley Community School District Foundation, Inclusive Playground Equipment, $15,900
• Williamsburg Community Child Care, KIND Care STEM Lab, $5,000

Environment & Animal Welfare

• Iowa County ISU Extension, Master Gardeners: Gateway Park Arboretum, $16,793
• N-Compass, Iowa Project AWARE 2023, $10,000
• Safe Haven of Iowa County, Vetting Expenses for Iowa County Stray Pets, $5,500

Health

• Iowa County, EMS - IV Infusion Pumps, $15,095

Human Service

• Families Helping Families of Iowa, Program Support for Iowa County Children in Foster Care, $3,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Iowa County. Committee members include: Cassie Bott, Paulette Dietrich, Erin Eichhorn, Natasha Hauschilt, Josh Humphrey (chair), Grayson Jones, Adam Krebill, Ann Krakow, Bonnie Romine and Aaron Sandersfeld.

Grants are awarded through ICCF’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 Iowa County in order to be considered for funding. More information about the ICCF can be found at www.iowaccf.org.