Butler County Community Foundation Grants

The Butler County Community Foundation Grants program is a locally driven initiative administered through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. It supports charitable projects and organizations that aim to improve the quality of life for residents of Butler County, Iowa. The foundation is focused on addressing community needs across multiple areas of impact, including arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human services. The grant program is open to eligible nonprofits and public entities operating within Butler County and is guided by a committee of local volunteers who review and score all applications. Eligible applicants must be classified as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government entities. Tax-exempt organizations with other IRS classifications may also apply, provided the proposed project is charitable in nature. In such cases, applicants must consult with foundation staff before submitting. Entities not meeting these criteria may apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor, who must be either a 501(c)(3) or government body and will be legally and financially responsible for the grant. All applicants must be current on IRS reporting requirements and have no outstanding grant reports from prior cycles. Projects tied to religious instruction, worship, or the promotion of specific doctrine are ineligible. The 2025 grant cycle opens on September 1, 2025, and applications must be submitted online by 5:00 PM on October 15, 2025. All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by mid-December, with grants formally awarded at a ceremony in January 2026. A grant workshop is scheduled for September 22, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the Allison Library to assist potential applicants. Grants must request a minimum of $1,000 and are expected to demonstrate clear community benefit. Budgets must be submitted using the required template and include cost estimates and funding source details. Grant applications are reviewed based on organizational strength, project feasibility, alignment with community needs, and financial planning. Preference is given to proposals that address essential services, demonstrate significant local impact, and secure support from additional funding sources or in-kind contributions. Each submission is evaluated by a local advisory committee and recommendations are forwarded to the board of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa for final approval. Awarded grantees are required to sign a grant agreement and submit a final report documenting how the funds were used and the outcomes achieved. Grant reports are due by January 31, 2027. Requests for deadline extensions may be considered based on project needs. Applicants are encouraged to contact Shanda Hansen, Director of Affiliate Impact, at 319-243-1357 or shansen@cfneia.org, or Dotti Thompson, Grant and Scholarship Manager, at 319-243-1358 or dthompson@cfneia.org for assistance with questions or eligibility clarification.

Attend the grant workshop on September 22, 2025. Use the budget template and include all estimates. Focus on community need and potential leverage of additional funding.