Black Hawk County Gaming Association
Black Hawk County Gaming Association (BHCGA) is a nonprofit organization based in Waterloo, Iowa, serving as the Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) and nonprofit license holder for the Isle Hotel and Casino Waterloo. The organization allocates a percentage of casino revenue to fund community projects and charitable initiatives across the Cedar Valley region.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.6M
+5.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.1M
Grant Count
19
Avg Grant Size
$321K
Mission & Focus Areas
BHCGA's mission is to benefit the Cedar Valley by providing property tax relief to cities and counties and funding capital projects and capacity-building initiatives. The organization accepts, reviews, and acts on requests to fund projects that benefit the region.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Urban and Community Economic Development
Grantmaking
Iowa state law requires BHCGA to distribute at least 3% of annual gross revenue from tables and slots each year. Up to 10% of annual revenue may be allocated to projects in contiguous counties outside the primary service area.
Review Cycle
):**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
BHCGA serves an eight-county region in Iowa:
- Benton County
- Black Hawk County (primary focus)
- Bremer County
- Buchanan County
- Butler County
- Chickasaw County
- Grundy County
- Tama County
Funds are primarily awarded to eligible projects located in municipalities within Black Hawk County, with up to 10% of annual revenue allocated to the seven contiguous counties.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total Assets: $17,574,954
- Total Revenues: $5,749,778
- Total Expenses: $6,413,192
- Total Giving: $6,107,979
- Number of Employees: 2
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,574,954 | $16,590,596 | $17,114,640 |
| Revenue | $5,749,778 | $6,149,657 | $6,392,295 |
| Expenses | $6,413,192 | $5,369,058 | $3,044,750 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $610,833 | $683,246 | $388,706 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Black Hawk County Gaming Association
BHCGA General Grant Program
BLACK HAWK COUNTY GAMING ASSOCIATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Black Hawk County Gaming Association Grants
BLACK HAWK COUNTY GAMING ASSOCIATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
FY26 Fall Grant Cycle
BLACK HAWK COUNTY GAMING ASSOCIATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
October 20, 2026
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Waterloo Development Corporation ($2,492,000), University of Northern Iowa ($1,001,000), Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CEDAR VALLEY ANGELS | CAPACITY BUILD: PROF. DEVELOPMENT AND EQUIPMENT | $9,500 |
| CEDAR VALLEY PRESCHOOL | RAISE THE ROOF! | $14,250 |
| CITY OF EVANSDALE | ANGEL'S PARK WATER QUALITY & RESTROOM PROJECT | $150,000 |
| CITY OF FAIRBANK | FAIRBANK BALL DIAMOND UPGRADES | $15,000 |
| CITY OF INDEPENDENCE | EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT | $20,000 |
| CITY OF NEW HARTFORD | MARTIN MEMORIAL LIBRARY ADA COMPLIANT RESTROOM | $12,000 |
| CITY OF TAMA | SAFE ROUTES NETWORK OF TAMA AND TOLEDO | $20,000 |
| COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMS INC | CONCRETE NEEDED: NEW HAMPTON GROUP HOME | $10,000 |
| FAMILY YMCA OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY | FAMILY YMCA OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY RE-VISIONING | $170,000 |
| FRIENDS OF NATIONAL CATTLE CONGRESS | NATIONAL CATTLE CONGRESS RENOVATION PROJECT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Emily Hanson
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KINGSLEY BOTCHWAY | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| MELANIE KNIPP | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| JANE WHITTLESEY | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| SELVEDINA SAMARDZIC | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| ERIC RITLAND | AT-LARGE EXEC. MEMBER | 2 | — |
| SCOTT BECKER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STACEY BENTLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RUSS BUCHANAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LEKEISHA VEASLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN HUFF | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHIQUITA LOVELESS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIKE TYER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STACY VAN GORP | FORMER SECRETARY (THRU 9/24) | 2 | — |
| SHAWN CHESTNUT | FORMER DIRECTOR (THRU 3/25) | 1 | — |
| EMILY HANSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $100,023 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
BHCGA has announced multiple grant cycles and awards in recent periods. The organization awarded $2.35 million in grants and $677,500 in additional grants in recent announcements. The City of Waterloo received one of the largest single grants from the organization.
Black Hawk County Gaming Association awards $2.35M in grantsRecent grant awards (December 2025) were distributed through the FY26 Fall Grant Cycle, supporting projects ranging from healthcare equipment to infrastructure improvements across the Cedar Valley region.
Black Hawk County Gaming Association awards $2.35M in grants---
**Contact Information:**
Address: 114 E 4th St, Suite 300, Waterloo, IA 50703-4771
Phone: 319-433-1153
Website: www.bhcga.org
EIN: 80-0103166
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Black Hawk County Gaming Association fund?
BHCGA's mission is to benefit the Cedar Valley by providing property tax relief to cities and counties and funding capital projects and capacity-building initiatives. The organization accepts, reviews, and acts on requests to fund projects that benefit the region. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Urban and Community Economic Development
How do I apply for a grant from Black Hawk County Gaming Association?
**Funding Requirements & Distribution:** Iowa state law requires BHCGA to distribute at least 3% of annual gross revenue from tables and slots each year. Up to 10% of annual revenue may be allocated to projects in contiguous counties outside the primary service area. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $7,000 to $4,010,000 • Recent grants awarded include amounts ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for specific projects • In 2025, the organization provided grants to 24 organizations • …
Where does Black Hawk County Gaming Association make grants?
BHCGA serves an eight-county region in Iowa: • Benton County • Black Hawk County (primary focus) • Bremer County • Buchanan County • Butler County • Chickasaw County • Grundy County • Tama County Funds are primarily awarded to eligible projects located in municipalities within Black Hawk County, with up to 10% of annual revenue allocated to the seven contiguous counties.
What size grants does Black Hawk County Gaming Association award?
In 2025, Black Hawk County Gaming Association awarded 19 grants totaling $6.1M — an average of about $321K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Black Hawk County Gaming Association's EIN?
Black Hawk County Gaming Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0103166. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Black Hawk County Gaming Association's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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