Annual Community Grants

The Annual Community Grant program is administered by The Greater Jefferson County Foundation, a private community foundation serving Jefferson County, Iowa. Over the last two decades, the Foundation has awarded more than $1,790,000 to local community organizations. The Foundation’s mission is to receive, manage, and distribute charitable funds for educational, cultural, and community purposes that benefit the greater Jefferson County area. Communities specifically identified as benefiting from this program include Fairfield, Batavia, Libertyville, Lockridge, Pleasant Plain, and Packwood. The Foundation supports projects that strengthen local services, infrastructure, arts, education, environmental stewardship, and community development initiatives. The grant program primarily supports nonprofit organizations and governmental entities serving residents of Jefferson County, Iowa. Funding has traditionally been used for capital improvements and selected operational expenses, although the Foundation specifically notes that it generally does not fund ongoing wages or long-term operating deficits. Eligible organizations must either hold 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or qualify as a governmental entity under section 170(b). Organizations lacking eligible status may still apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor that assumes responsibility for the grant funds. Required supporting documentation includes proof of tax-exempt status, organizational financial statements or IRS Form 990, a project budget sheet, board or leadership information, and any required accreditation documentation for schools or daycare providers. Applications are accepted annually beginning May 1 at 8:00 AM through the Foundation’s online system or by using the current-year PDF application form. Completed PDF applications must be submitted by email, fax, or hand delivery. Mailed applications are not accepted. The final application deadline is June 1 at 4:00 PM CDT, and the Foundation states there are no exceptions for late submissions. Applicants are encouraged to confirm receipt of their materials directly with the Foundation office. The Foundation also warns applicants not to exceed stated page limits and discourages the use of addendum pages outside the designated application spaces. The Foundation evaluates proposals according to the number of Jefferson County residents who would benefit from the project. Program areas include Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Health and Human Services, Public and Society Benefit, and Other qualifying community categories. Competitive projects are expected to demonstrate community impact, clear project planning, and additional financial support from other funding sources when possible. The Foundation explicitly encourages applicants to pursue supplemental funding opportunities beyond the Annual Community Grant program. Review and recommendation activities occur during June and July, with final Board action and distribution of funds occurring during August or September. The Foundation identifies several categories of ineligible requests. It does not fund past projects, debt reduction, individual applicants, political activities, fundraising efforts, demographics outside the greater Jefferson County area, endowments, or religious activities intended for sectarian purposes. The Foundation also expresses reluctance to fund tax-supported entities and generally avoids supporting equipment purchases unless the equipment is essential to the proposed program. Grants are intended for projects occurring during the August through February grant period, and recipients must submit proof of paid expenditures within six months of receiving funds. Failure to provide required proof of payment documentation may negatively affect future funding eligibility. Administrative support for the program is provided by Barbara Kistler and Amy Burkhart through the Foundation office. Applicants may contact the office by phone at 641-472-0758 or by email at gjcf0758@windstream.net for assistance or confirmation of submissions. Successful applicants must execute a Grant Agreement Contract prior to disbursement of funds. The Foundation also requires that grant recognition be included in media releases related to funded projects. Because the program operates annually with a recurring application cycle beginning each May, organizations serving Jefferson County communities may anticipate future funding opportunities on a yearly basis.

Focus on projects benefiting large numbers of Jefferson County residents. Follow page limits exactly and avoid addendum pages. Prepare all required documents before beginning the online application because the portal session is limited. Demonstrate additional funding support whenever possible.