Annual Community Grant

The Annual Community Grant by the Greater Jefferson County Foundation supports educational, cultural, and civic initiatives in Jefferson County, Iowa. With over $1.79 million awarded, grants assist local non-profits with capital improvements and operational costs. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 or government units, focusing on projects that benefit children, families, and community development. However, funding excludes past projects, individuals, and religious purposes. This initiative fosters community betterment and engagement across various sectors.

Our Goals
The Community Foundation achieves its mission by assisting qualified organizations through grant distributions, providing scholarships for post-secondary education and training, encouraging individual and corporate involvement through gifts and bequests and administering and investing funds for the creation of perpetual opportunities and services.
The Greater Jefferson County Foundation has awarded many community organizations with grants totaling more than $1,790,000 over the last two decades. These grants to local non-profit groups have traditionally been used for capital improvements as well as some operational expenses. Area communities benefiting from these grants include Fairfield, Batavia, Libertyville, Lockridge, Pleasant Plain, and Packwood.

Eligibility

Your organization must be a 501(c)3 or a unit of government 170(b). Agencies that qualify as a 170(b) include counties, cities, and schools and do not need an IRS letter. If the applicant is not a 501(c)3 or 170(b), a fiscal agent is required who is 501(c)3 or 170(b).Grant applications will be reviewed on the following criteria, based on the number of citizens of Jefferson County who would benefit from the grant/project:Children, Youth & Families: Programs that enhance the quality of life for children & youthCommunity Betterment/Neighborhoods & Community Development: Programs that address community and neighborhood development, both social & economicHealth & Human Services: Fire Departments, Law Enforcement; social service projects that benefit the underserved segments of the community;Education: Community education and services projects that serve all age groups and segments of the populationThe Environment: Programs that address our natural resources and environmentArts & Culture: Programs that provide or increase access to cultural and educational resources for theatre, music, arts, dance, and museums and that increase awareness of arts & culture

Ineligibility

Please note that we do not fund:Past projects; Debt Reduction; Budget ShortfallsIndividualsDemographics outside the greater Jefferson County areaFundraisersPolitics/causesReligious purposes (this does not exclude grants to religious organizations for nonreligious purposes)Equipment, unless it is essential for the programOngoing expenses such as wagesEndowments