Black Hawk County Gaming Association
Black Hawk County Gaming Association (BHCGA) is a Waterloo, Iowa-based public charity that serves as the Qualified Sponsoring Organization and nonprofit license holder for Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. It allocates casino revenue to community projects and charitable uses in the Cedar Valley through a competitive grant process.
Black Hawk County Gaming Association at a glance
In short: Black Hawk County Gaming Association gave $5.7M across 25 grants in 2026 (avg $228K), mostly in Iowa. 40% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $5,689,000
- -6.9% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 25
- +31.6% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $227,560
- -29.2% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $17,675,790
- +0.6% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (10 of 25, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Black Hawk County Gaming Association
- Invitation Only
-
Submit a letter of intent through the online grant portal. Applications are by invitation for letters of intent that meet eligibility criteria; all phases are completed in the portal.
- Review Cycle
- For the FY27 fall cycle, applications are due October 20, 2026. The letter-of-intent period closed September 22, 2026.
- Deadline
- For the FY27 fall cycle, applications are due October 20, 2026.
- Next open deadline
- October 20, 2026 (FY26 Fall Grant Cycle)
- Contact
Mailing address: 114 E 4Th Street 300, Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 433-1153
Website: https://bhcga.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Black Hawk County Gaming Association
BHCGA General Grant Program
Black Hawk County Gaming Association
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Black Hawk County Gaming Association Grants
Black Hawk County Gaming Association
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
FY26 Fall Grant Cycle
Black Hawk County Gaming Association
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~October
Based on past cycles
Who Black Hawk County Gaming Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Waterloo Development Corporation ($3.4M). Together the top 10 received $5.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
121 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 121 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
BHCGA’s primary focus is Black Hawk County, where Isle Casino Waterloo is located. Applicants may also be located in Bremer, Butler, or Grundy County, subject to the limit that no more than 10% of annual revenue may be allocated to those three counties combined. The 2026 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Iowa recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Black Hawk County Gaming Association open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 10 of 25 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $353K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $35K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2023) to $11.9M (2022). In 2026 it made 25 grants totaling $5.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Development Corporation Waterloo, IA | Downtown Signage/Hard Court Facility/Property Acquisition/Terminated Grants | $3,428,958 |
| Hawkeye Community College Foundation Waterloo, IA | Hawkeye Butler Hall Renovation | $1,000,000 |
| Waterloo Housing Trust Fund Waterloo, IA | Program Support | $300,000 |
| Grout Museum Inc Waterloo, IA | Capacity Building - Director of Development | $200,000 |
| Allen Memorial Hospital Corporation Waterloo, IA | Allen Child Protection Center Expansion | $100,000 |
| Peoples Community Health Clinic Waterloo, IA | Clinic-Dental Renovation | $100,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley Waterloo, IA | Lime St Club Restroom Modernization Project | $100,000 |
| City of Sumner Sumner, IA | Sumner Trail Enhancement Project | $50,000 |
| Exceptional Persons Inc (EPI) Waterloo, IA | Low Income Housing Renovation Aiding Underserved | $50,000 |
| Link CCD Waterloo, IA | Walnut Neighborhood Playground Park | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Black Hawk County Gaming Association?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing narrative says BHCGA approved 34 grants and provided grants to 29 organizations during that year.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $17,675,790 | $5,707,939 | $4,563,112 | $5,689,000 | 25 | $377,721 |
| 2025 | $17,574,954 | $5,749,778 | $6,413,192 | $6,107,950 | 19 | $610,833 |
| 2024 | $16,590,596 | $6,149,657 | $5,369,058 | $5,551,500 | 22 | $683,246 |
| 2023 | $17,114,640 | $6,392,295 | $3,044,750 | $2,766,564 | 29 | $388,706 |
| 2022 | $18,246,475 | $5,898,126 | $12,101,373 | $11,872,674 | 26 | $84,470 |
| 2021 | $15,700,227 | $5,353,710 | $3,959,590 | $3,778,806 | 23 | $243,893 |
| 2020 | $13,878,579 | $4,093,497 | $3,131,843 | $2,828,494 | 31 | $304,071 |
| 2019 | $14,639,501 | $5,116,011 | $4,915,124 | $4,691,645 | 64 | $301,876 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
BHCGA funds programs, projects, and activities intended to strengthen the Cedar Valley and improve quality of life. It considers applicants in Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, and Grundy counties, with Black Hawk County as its primary focus. No more than 10% of annual revenue may be allocated to the other three counties combined.
Its 2026 grants show support for projects including downtown and community development, college facilities, housing, museums, health care, youth services, trails, parks, and libraries. Among its grantees, Hawkeye Community College Foundation says its mission is to provide financial assistance to students and help the college meet changing needs. Grout Museum Inc. says it raises funds for museum operations; Peoples Community Health Clinic says it provides affordable health care; and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley says it supports young people’s social, educational, health, cultural, character, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, BHCGA reported 25 grants totaling $5,689,000. Itemized grants ranged from $10,000 to $3,428,958, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed grant was $3,428,958 to Waterloo Development Corporation for downtown signage, a hard court facility, property acquisition, and terminated grants. Other significant awards included $1,000,000 to Hawkeye Community College Foundation for Butler Hall renovation; $300,000 to Waterloo Housing Trust Fund for program support; and $200,000 to Grout Museum Inc. for capacity building and a director of development. All reported 2026 grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa.
Applications are submitted through BHCGA’s online grant portal. The process begins with a letter of intent; applications are by invitation for eligible letters of intent. Applicants must be a governmental entity or a nonprofit with valid 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) status, be located in an eligible county, and may not share or borrow another organization’s nonprofit status. BHCGA’s board prefers projects with shared funding and a significant portion of project funds already raised or available at submission. The association may request additional documentation under state regulations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Melanie Knipp as president; Selvedina Samardzic as vice president; Jane Whittlesey as treasurer; John Huff as secretary; and Stacey Bentley as treasurer elect. Directors listed are Lekeisha Veasley, Russell Buchanan, Umar Chohan, Oksana Grybovych Hafermann, and Chiquita Loveless. BHCGA’s FY26 annual report identifies Emily Hanson as executive director.
Black Hawk County Gaming Association is led by Emily Hanson, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Emily Hanson
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$52K (2022) → $119K (2026)
Melanie Knipp
President
Director → Vice President, 2025
Vice President → President, 2026
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Ritland
Director
Director → At-Large Executive Member, 2024
At-Large Executive Member → Director, 2026
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kingsley Botchway
Director
Vice President → President, 2025
President → Director, 2026
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chiquita Loveless
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Tyer
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lekeisha Veasley
Director
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Schoon
Director
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oksana Grybovych Hafermann
Director
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell Buchanan
Director
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Umar Chohan
Director
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Whittlesey
Treasurer
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Huff
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2026
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Selvedina Samardzic
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2026
On filings since 2025
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Bentley
Treasurer Elect
Director → Treasurer Elect, 2026
On filings since 2025
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (27)
- Former: Scott Becker (2020–2025) — Director
- Former: Stacy Van Gorp (2022–2025) — Former Secretary
- Former: Russ Buchanan (2024–2025) — Director
- Former: Shawn Chestnut (2024–2025) — Former Director
- Former: Alice Shirey (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Ann Lyons (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Endya Johnson (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Nick Evens (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Selvedina Nuhanovic (2024) — Director
- Former: Carolyn Rafferty (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Eric Johnson (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Paul Lee (2019–2023) — At-Large Executive Committee Member
- Former: Dave Richter (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Debra Dj Corson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Knipp (2019–2022) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Kate Wyatt (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Mark Gallagher (2020–2022) — Former Director
- Former: Betsy Ratchford (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Dick McAllister (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Jim Schaefer (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sarah Craft (2019–2021) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Keyah Levy (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Endya Johsnon (2021) — Director
- Former: Geoff Grimes (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Joe Vich (2019) — Director
- Former: Kent McCausland (2019) — Director
- Former: Mark Thome (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $119K, to Emily Hanson (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Black Hawk County Gaming Association
How much does Black Hawk County Gaming Association give each year?
Black Hawk County Gaming Association gave $5.7M across 25 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $6.1M across 19 grants.
What is Black Hawk County Gaming Association's typical grant size?
Black Hawk County Gaming Association's median grant in 2026 was $25,000, and its average grant was $227,560, across 25 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Black Hawk County Gaming Association that year got $40K on average.
Where does Black Hawk County Gaming Association give grants?
Black Hawk County Gaming Association gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waterloo, IA (16 grants) and Sumner, IA (3 grants).
Does Black Hawk County Gaming Association give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Black Hawk County Gaming Association's 2026 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Black Hawk County Gaming Association's largest grantees?
Black Hawk County Gaming Association's largest 2026 grantees include Waterloo Development Corporation ($3,428,958), Hawkeye Community College Foundation ($1,000,000) and Waterloo Housing Trust Fund ($300,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Black Hawk County Gaming Association?
Black Hawk County Gaming Association reported $17.7M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.7M.
What does Black Hawk County Gaming Association fund?
BHCGA funds programs, projects, and activities intended to strengthen the Cedar Valley and improve quality of life. It considers applicants in Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, and Grundy counties, with Black Hawk County as its primary focus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Black Hawk County Gaming Association?
Submit a letter of intent through the online grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(9)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 9, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Black Hawk County Gaming Association's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation
Cedar Falls, IA
The Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation funds social issues, education, family and community betterment, and health, recreation, and fitness, primarily in eight Iowa counties. Its typical grants are $1,000–$35,000, with a 2025 median of $16,000; it accepts applications through its online system once per year.
Assets
$49.9M
Grants
125
Total Given
$2.2M
Otto Schoitz Foundation
Waterloo, IA
The Otto Schoitz Foundation funds efforts that improve health and wellbeing, including work on food access, housing, education, social services, and other root causes of health, with a preference for significant community benefit and impact in Waterloo. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from $100 to $800,000; it funds within a 30-mile radius of Waterloo. Organizations may apply online during an active grant cycle.
Assets
$74.4M
Grants
53
Total Given
$3.7M
Trustage Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
TruStage Foundation funds economic mobility through education—especially K–12 literacy, mentoring, and tutoring—and housing, including affordable housing, homelessness support, and rental assistance, with an emphasis on equity and systemic change. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $650,000, with a median of $22,500; it prioritizes Madison/Dane County, Wisconsin, and the Cedar Valley area of Iowa, while employee giving supports organizations nationwide. Its 2024 filing says it funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$14.6M
Grants
74
Total Given
$3.6M
First Interstate BancSystem Foundation
Billings, MT
The First Interstate BancSystem Foundation funds poverty reduction, youth development, financial education, and community development, as well as civic, arts, education, health, human services, and sustainability efforts in communities served by First Interstate Bank across 10 states. Its 2025 grants had a median award of $2,500, though amounts varied widely; the stated minimum grant is $2,500. Organizations can submit grant requests online, which are traditionally reviewed monthly, but grants must be recommended by a local First Interstate branch.
Assets
$19.2M
Grants
767
Total Given
$5.0M
Pauline R Barrett Charitable Foundation
St. Louis, MO
The Pauline R Barrett Charitable Foundation funds charitable organizations located in and serving residents of Black Hawk County, Iowa, across areas such as health, education, food access, housing, and community services. In 2025, grants ranged from $4,400 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000; the foundation accepts requests through an application form attached to a previously filed Form 990-PF.
Assets
$22.1M
Grants
22
Total Given
$1.1M
R J McElroy Trust
Waterloo, IA
The R.J. McElroy Trust funds nonprofit and government programs and projects that support young people’s education and well-being, primarily in 12 northeast Iowa counties. Grants vary widely; in 2024 the median was $5,000, though some awards were much larger. It invites letters of intent at any time, so unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$39.7M
Grants
93
Total Given
$2.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Iowa
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Black Hawk County Gaming Association funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/black-hawk-county-gaming-association-morg_aec8b39bf7ef47d3bd8b0eff27fd343d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_800103166_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Black Hawk County Gaming Association funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/black-hawk-county-gaming-association-morg_aec8b39bf7ef47d3bd8b0eff27fd343d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Black Hawk County Gaming Association's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Black Hawk County Gaming Association down — hundreds of funders to go?