2025 Lyon County Riverboat Foundation Competitive Grant

The Lyon County Riverboat Foundation (LCRF), based in Rock Rapids, Iowa, is a charitable organization affiliated with the Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort. As the license holder for the casino, the Foundation serves as a philanthropic catalyst to address needs within Lyon County and its surrounding areas. The organization places a strong emphasis on supporting initiatives related to community development and beautification, education and the arts, economic development, and human and social services. Each year, LCRF distributes funding through competitive grant programs aimed at fostering sustainable, meaningful improvements in these focus areas. The 2025 Competitive Grant Program from the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation offers a total award ceiling of $350,000. Eligible projects must be able to begin as early as October 25, 2025, and must be completed no later than October 3, 2026. To receive reimbursement, grant recipients must submit detailed financial documentation, including receipts, invoices, checks, and the required payout submission form, all through LCRF’s online Grant Management System, by the October 3, 2026, deadline. This documentation is essential for finalizing payment and ensuring compliance with the program's funding requirements. Applications open on August 4, 2025, and must be submitted by September 19, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Only one application per organization is permitted. Submissions must be made exclusively through the Grant Management System. As part of a new requirement introduced in 2025, applicants requesting $100,000 or more must include a video, no longer than five minutes, explaining the project and its anticipated impact. This video must be uploaded via the same grant portal and is intended to help the Foundation's board better understand and evaluate large funding requests. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application between October 21 and October 24, 2025. For projects that are approved, the award ceremony is scheduled for November 13, 2025, at the Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort Event Center near Larchwood, Iowa. Attendance at the ceremony by at least one representative of the awarded organization is mandatory in order to receive the grant funds. The ceremony will begin with appetizers at 6:00 p.m., followed by the formal program at 7:00 p.m. The Foundation emphasizes strong community impact and clear demonstration of need in evaluating grant proposals. While specific scoring criteria are not provided in the public-facing materials, the structure of the grant process suggests that clear communication, sound budgeting, and alignment with LCRF’s funding priorities are crucial to success. The application process itself requires the submission of all requested documents and, when applicable, multimedia materials to enhance the board’s understanding of project scope and significance. For inquiries or further information, interested applicants may contact the Lyon County Riverboat Foundation at (712) 472-0111 or by email at Executive@LyonCountyRiverboatFoundation.org. The Foundation’s offices are located at 301 First Avenue, Suite 222, PO Box 222, Rock Rapids, Iowa 51246. All components of the application and post-award documentation must be handled through the online Grant Management System.