The Kossuth County Community Foundation (KCCF) held its 2025 grant awards celebration at the Algona First United Methodist Church on January 13, announcing the distribution of $177,678.34 to 26 projects of organizations serving Kossuth County through its 2025 grant cycle.

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

Arts & Culture

• All Call Theatre – Building Community Through Theater – $9,000
• Iowa Chapter of National Society of Arts and Letters – Artists Competitions – $5,000
• Kossuth County Historical Society – Historical Museum New Signage – $1,062
• Stinson Prairie Arts Council – 515 Big Band Student Workshop & Performance – $1,500

Community Betterment

• Algona Community Pickleball Association, Inc. – Pickleball Court Enhancements and Upkeep – $3,300
• City of Algona – Veterans' Park Ball Field Improvements – $5,500
• City of Bancroft – Library – Water Proofing the West Entrance – $6,500
• City of Burt – Pickle Ball Court – $5,000
• City of Swea City – Fire Dept – SCBA Update – $20,585
• City of Titonka – Activity Center – Event Seating – $3,645
• City of Wesley – Swimming Pool Updates – $13,075.34
• City of Whittemore – Library – New Furnace & A/C – $6,500
• Community & Culture Connections – Expanding Connections – $2,276
• Kossuth County Cattlemen's Association – Pen of 3 Hoop Barn – $15,000
• Swea City Improvement League – Building of Pickleball Court – $12,000

Education & Youth Development

• Algona Family YMCA – Saturday Night Y – $4,114
• Iowa College Access Network – Future Ready: Engaging Parents for Success – $1,000
• Kossuth County C.A.R.E. Team – Loving Hands Nursery – $25,000

Environment & Animal Welfare

• Kossuth County Tails of Hope Rescue – Rescue Roof Replacement – $9,295

Health

• Active Senior Citizens of Algona, Inc. – Kitchen Floor Replacement – $5,000
• Healthy Harvest of North Iowa – Blending Up a Healthier Kossuth County – $3,000

Human Service

• Algona First United Methodist Church – SERVE Shelves – $2,000
• Crisis Intervention Service – Hope & Healing Project – $1,626
• Food Bank of Iowa – Offsetting USDA Food Assistance Loss in Kossuth County – $5,000
• North Iowa Detachment #859 Marine Corp League – Toys-for-Tots Cargo Van Replacement – $4,500
• Titonka Community Rest Home, Inc. – Air Conditioning Replacement – $6,500

“We are inspired by the dedication that these organizations bring to Kossuth County,” said Julie Murphy, Chair of the Kossuth County Community Foundation. “Each grant represents not just financial support, but an investment in building stronger, healthier, and more vibrant communities across our county. We are grateful to our committee, donors, and community partners for helping make this possible.”

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Kossuth County. Committee members include Julie Murphy (chair), Caleb Anderson, Bradley Arndorfer, Cynthia Arndorfer, Mark Davis, Gina Helmers, Tiffany Johnson, Deborah Kenne, Brian Kollasch, Jeremiah Lockett, and Julie Murphy. KCCF funds established by generous donors contributing to the discretionary grant process are the Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company Charitable Fund, the Iowa State Bank of Algona Charitable Fund, the Charles and Helen Lickteig Family Fund and the Kossuth County Public Safety Endowment Fund.

Grants are awarded through KCCF’s competitive grant process. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Kossuth County to be considered for funding. The 2026 grant cycle opens September 1 with an application deadline of October 15. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.kossuthccf.org.

Photo courtesy of the Bancroft Register.