Floyd County Community Foundation Grants

The Floyd County Community Foundation Grants program is an annual philanthropic initiative dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of Floyd County, Iowa. Operated through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA), the program supports community projects across a range of categories, including arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human services. The Floyd County Community Foundation (FCCF) works with local volunteers who serve on a governing committee that reviews and recommends funding decisions to CFNEIA. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other tax-exempt organizations may apply only if their project is deemed charitable and they consult with the foundation prior to submission. Organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria may use a qualified fiscal sponsor, which must be a 501(c)(3) or a government entity. Fiscal sponsors are legally and financially responsible for managing awarded funds. Additional eligibility conditions include being current with IRS and state reporting requirements and having no overdue reports from prior FCCF grants. The 2025 grant cycle opens on September 1, 2025, and closes at 5:00 PM on October 15, 2025. All applications must be submitted through the CFNEIA online grant system. Two grant workshops are scheduled for August 28, 2025—one at 11:30 AM at the Charles City Library and another at 4:30 PM at the Rudd Community Center. Applicants will be notified of decisions in mid-December 2025, and awards will be presented during a public ceremony in early to mid-January 2026. Grant reports are due by January 31, 2027, though extensions may be considered upon request. Funding requests must range from $1,000 to $10,000. General operating support is not eligible, and budgets may not include salaries, wages, or benefits as part of the grant request. The foundation requires applicants to use its official budget template, which must detail requested and matching funds. Priority is given to proposals that demonstrate matching support—either cash or in-kind—and to volunteer-led projects. Other funding considerations include the project’s potential for long-term sustainability, collaborative impact, and geographic reach within Floyd County. Applications are reviewed and scored based on organizational strength, project feasibility, documented community need and expected outcomes, and quality of the budget. Member-based organizations seeking capital improvements must demonstrate that the improvements serve the broader public. Lower priority is given to projects that are not sustainable without future FCCF support. First-time applicants and organizations with questions are encouraged to contact 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) for guidance.

Use the CFNEIA budget template. Avoid including salaries or benefits. Emphasize matching support and community outcomes.