The Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF) held its 2026 grant awards celebration at the Wieting Theatre on April 13, announcing the distribution of $193,436.99 to 26 projects of organizations serving Tama 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

• City of Gladbrook – Fire Department - Pump Build for Tanker – $5,000.00
• Community Resource Connections – 5 Loaves Kitchen Upgrade – $10,500.00
• Elberon Fire and Rescue Association – Upgrade SCBA – $4,831.00
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank – Feeding Tama County – $7,500.00
• Pied Piper Preschool and Child Care – Center Improvements - Fire Marshall Requirements – $4,800.00
• Tama County 4-H – Farm Safety Presentation Supplies – $1,241.47
• Tama EMS Non-Profit Association – LifePak 35 Cardiac Heart Monitoring System – $15,000.00
• Tama Fire Department Nonprofit Association – SCBA – $15,000.00
• Traer United Presbyterian Church – CHAT - Helping Your Neighbor 2026 – $10,000.00
• Vining Volunteer Fire Department – Fire Station Backup Generator – $10,800.00

Opportunity & Access

• Al Exito – Al Éxito Tama: Student Success Tama – $4,500.00

Vibrant Community

• American Legion Post 0453 – Furnace and A/C – $13,134.00
• Amvets Post 10 Lincoln – Lincoln Amvet Hall Bathrooms – $16,200.00
• City of Chelsea – Community Bathrooms Revitalization – $6,030.00
• City of Clutier – Clutier Park Revitalization – $19,134.00
• City of Clutier – Library Updates – $3,000.00
• City of Tama – Library - Children’s Room Renewal – $11,589.00
• Dysart Cemetery Association – Markers & Map – $1,000.00
• Tama County ISU Extension & Outreach Office – Expanding Gardening With Seniors – $1,892.00
• Tama County Livestock and Fair Association – Water Pit Replacement – $1,250.00
• Toledo Library Foundation – Spark a Love for Reading – $5,000.00
• Wieting Opera Housing Company – Projector Replacement – $7,500.00

Youth Empowerment

• Better Tomorrows Early Childhood Iowa – Tama County Early Literacy – $5,000.00
• Crayon Corner Learning Center – Healthy Climate Project – $3,460.00
• Garwin Little League Inc. – Garwin Little League Dugouts – $4,857.00
• STC Music Boosters – STC Middle School Drumline Equipment – $5,218.52

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Tama County. Committee members include Lori Baier, Dixie Forcht, Melanie Kemper (Chair), Maurice McWhirter, Michelle Podhajsky, and Stacey Zeman. TCCF funds established by generous donors contributing to the discretionary grant process include the Bill and Margaret Ramsey Charitable Fund – Tama County, STC United Endowment Fund, Pauline Kober Traer Endowment Fund, and the Renew Clutier Fund.

The Lance J. Horbach Award, presented annually by the Tama County Community Foundation, recognizes a grant-funded project that demonstrates innovative thinking and creates meaningful impact across Tama County and its communities. This year’s award is unique, honoring not a single project but an entire community for the collective impact of three grant-funded initiatives completed within one funding cycle. The 2026 Lance J. Horbach Award is presented to the City of Clutier in recognition of its Park Revitalization project, Library updates, and capital improvements at American Legion Post 0453.

Grants are awarded through TCCF’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 Tama County in order to be considered for funding. The 2027 grant cycle opens November 15 with an application deadline of January 15. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.tamaccf.org.