The Winneshiek County Community Foundation (WCCF) held its 2026 grant awards celebration at Luther College on March 26, announcing the distribution of $156,816.54 to 17 projects of organizations serving Winneshiek County through its 2026 grant cycle.

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

Impact Priority: Health & Safety

• Allamakee New Beginnings - Iowa Food Hub – Delivery Truck for Local Foods – $5,000.00
• City of Decorah – Police - Rapid Response Mini Shields – $3,000.00
• Decorah Volunteer Fire Dept Foundation – Hearing Clearly on the Fire Ground – $4,000.00
• Luther College – R.A.D. Self-Defense Training Program – $7,400.00
• Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Inc. – Winneshiek County Senior Meals First Half FY27 – $10,000.00
• Northeast Iowa Community Action – Winneshiek CFG Crisis Assistance Program 26 – $17,290.21
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank – Feeding Winneshiek County – $17,000.00
• Riverview Center, Inc. – Winneshiek County Sexual Assault Crisis Response – $20,000.00

Impact Priority: Opportunity & Access

• The Spectrum Network – 2026 Day Habilitation Operating Support – $6,000.00

Impact Priority: Vibrant Communities

• City of Calmar – Building Updates - Calmar Passenger Train Depot – $4,826.33
• City of Fort Atkinson – Phase 2 Community Park Improvements – $10,000.00
• Civic Improvement Association – Sound Equipment & Accessories – $3,000.00
• Humane Society of Northeast Iowa – HSNEI Wellness Center - Community Care & Services – $18,600.00
• N-Compass, Inc. – Iowa Project AWARE 2026 – $4,000.00
• Winneshiek County Agricultural Association – Lewis Lechtenberg Memorial Swine Facility – $18,000.00

Impact Priority: Youth Empowerment

• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois – Girl Scout Leadership Program in Winneshiek County – $3,000.00
• National Inventors Hall of Fame – Camp Invention for Low-Income Winneshiek Youth – $5,700.00

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Winneshiek County. Committee members include Jean Boyer, Charles Crain (chair), Tracy Dostal, Terry Haindfield, Chelsey Kephart, Terry Linderbaum, Mary Meyer, Christopher Miculinich, Keith Newhouse, Mae Schmitt, Warren Shuros, and Samantha Spilde. WCCF funds established by generous donors contributing to the discretionary grant process include the Dick Guilgot and Barb Sokol Fund, the Elwin and Helen Farwell Memorial Fund, and an Anonymous Winneshiek County Endowment Fund. The Winneshiek County Impact Now 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 who contributed over $250 include Karen Esterl.

Grants are awarded through WCCF’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 Winneshiek County in order to be considered for funding. The 2026 grant cycle opens November 15 with an application deadline of January 15. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.winneshiekccf.org.