Benton County Community Foundation Grants

The Benton County Community Foundation Grants program is an annual competitive funding opportunity designed to support charitable initiatives that benefit residents of Benton County, Iowa. Administered through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA), the program supports community-building and transformation through grants in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human services. Applications are reviewed by a local volunteer committee and recommendations are submitted to CFNEIA’s board of directors for final approval. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other tax-exempt organizations may also be eligible if the project is charitable; these applicants are required to contact the foundation prior to submitting a proposal. Organizations not meeting eligibility requirements may apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor that is either a 501(c)(3) or government body. Fiscal sponsors are fully responsible for managing any awarded funds. All applicants must be current with state and federal filings and must not have overdue reports from previous BCCF grants. The foundation does not fund requests for religious instruction, worship, or the promotion of specific doctrine. Applications must be submitted online via the foundation’s grants portal between September 1 and October 15, 2025, by 5:00 PM. First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the foundation staff for guidance, and a grant workshop will be held in September. Results of the grant review process will be communicated by mid-December, with grant ceremonies held in early to mid-January 2026. Grantees must complete a final report no later than January 31, 2027. Extensions may be granted depending on the project timeline. Applicants may request a minimum of $5,000. While there is no stated maximum, strong preference is given to projects that show leveraged funding through other grants, donations, or in-kind support. Proposals must use the foundation’s required budget template, which breaks out CFNEIA funds from other committed or pending sources. Additional supporting documentation such as bids or cost estimates is encouraged and must be uploaded with the application. The foundation does not fund welcome signs, wayfinding signage, veterans’ memorials, or pass-through grants. Applications are evaluated on four core dimensions: organizational capacity, project feasibility, alignment with community needs and outcomes, and quality of the project budget. Projects that demonstrate county-wide impact, strong collaboration, and sustainability without recurring foundation support are prioritized. Applicants may only submit one application per year, except for fiscal sponsors or different departments of government entities. All inquiries should be directed to Shanda Hansen, Director of Affiliate Impact, at shansen@cfneia.org (319-243-1357) or Dotti Thompson, Grant and Scholarship Manager, at dthompson@cfneia.org (319-243-1358).

Use the required budget format, document other funding sources, and submit all estimates. Avoid ineligible costs such as city welcome signs or pass-through grants.