Kossuth County Community Foundation Grants

The Kossuth County Community Foundation (KCCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, was established to support charitable causes that improve the quality of life in Kossuth County. Formed by and for the people of Kossuth County, the foundation helps local donors build lasting legacies through flexible giving options. Its grantmaking is focused on strengthening the county’s communities and enriching the lives of residents through targeted support across a variety of focus areas. The grant program funds projects in arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human services. Priority is given to initiatives that serve multi-generational populations, provide essential services to youth, engage residents on multiple levels, or offer critical emergency response within the community. The Foundation especially values proposals that demonstrate broad community support, address pressing local needs, and leverage funding from additional sources. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government entities, and other tax-exempt organizations if the project is deemed charitable. Organizations that do not meet these requirements may apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must be a 501(c)(3) or a government entity and must align closely with the project’s mission. They will be held legally and financially responsible for the proper use of awarded funds. Applicants must be in good standing with state and federal compliance requirements and must not have any past due reports from previous KCCF-funded grants. Certain restrictions apply to this funding opportunity. Only one application may be submitted per organization, with exceptions for separate departments within government entities or separately sponsored projects under a fiscal sponsor. Schools, churches, economic development groups, and service clubs are eligible only for specific types of projects that benefit the broader community. The Foundation will not consider requests for political or lobbying efforts, debt repayment, re-granting, endowment contributions, or expenses incurred before award decisions are made. All applications must be submitted online using the CFNEIA grant portal. Applicants are required to use the Foundation’s standardized budget template, which should clearly outline other secured or pending sources of support. The review committee, comprised of Kossuth County residents, evaluates proposals based on organizational health, feasibility of the project, alignment with community needs, strength of collaboration, and the ability to secure matching or in-kind contributions. Higher consideration is given to sustainable projects that avoid duplication of existing services and demonstrate potential for long-term impact. The 2025 grant cycle opens on September 1 and closes at 5:00 PM on October 15. A grant workshop will be held on September 9 at 11:30 AM at Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company in Algona. All applicants will be notified of their funding status in mid-December 2025, and grant awards will be formally presented at a ceremony in early to mid-January 2026. A final grant report will be due on January 31, 2027. Applicants seeking support or clarification are encouraged to contact Shanda Hansen, Director of Affiliate Impact, or Dotti Thompson, Grant and Scholarship Manager.

Focus on community-wide benefit, avoid duplication, and demonstrate funding from multiple sources