Mills County Community Foundation Grant Program

The Mills County Community Foundation, established in 1997 as an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents of Mills County, Iowa. Through its biannual grant programs, the foundation supports projects in key focus areas such as civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The foundation is part of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, a network that serves a nine-county region with the shared objective of funding projects that will have a lasting and meaningful impact on the communities they serve. The Mills County Community Foundation Advisory Committee oversees the local decision-making process for grant allocations. This committee, composed of local community members, reviews all submitted applications and selects recipients based on a rigorous evaluation of project need, feasibility, and potential impact. Applications are only accepted through the foundation's online Grants Lifecycle Management portal, and the system requires that the email used to register also serve as the main communication point throughout the grant cycle. Grants are offered during two cycles annually, with the fall cycle accepting applications between July 15 and September 1. Award decisions for fall submissions are typically communicated in late October or early November. Selected projects must expend all awarded funds by May 31 of the following year. Eligible applicants must be federally recognized 501(c)(3) public charities or municipal entities serving Mills County. Organizations without this status may apply through a fiscal sponsor, such as a city government or county board of supervisors, who must complete a fiscal sponsorship agreement before funds are disbursed. The foundation emphasizes capital support—funding for physical infrastructure, renovations, and durable equipment—as well as program support for time-bound initiatives with clear objectives and measurable outcomes. Operating support is rarely awarded and typically reserved for one-time efforts that enhance organizational capacity. Projects must respond to demonstrated community needs, leverage other community resources, and show a clear plan for sustainability. Incomplete applications, or those submitted without required fiscal sponsor details, will not be considered. Grant applicants should avoid proposing uses such as training fees, consumables like food or t-shirts, or fundraising activities. Additionally, tax-supported institutions and organizations such as cemetery associations, social clubs, and religious groups are typically deprioritized unless applying under a fiscal sponsor arrangement. After submission, additional contact or site visits may be conducted based on the proposal's content and community relevance. For questions related to the Mills County grant cycle, applicants are encouraged to contact Sunni Kamp or Sarah Beth Ray via the Omaha Community Foundation. Contact can also be made toll-free at 402-342-3458. A detailed list of past recipients and additional county-specific guidance is available at www.swiowafoundations.org. All applications must be completed and submitted online before the stated deadline. Printed applications or emailed proposals will not be accepted.

Submit complete applications; avoid consumables or general ops; focus on lasting capital or program investments.