Winneshiek County Community Foundation Highlights Grant Impacts, Awards Over $168,000 in 2024 Grants

Winneshiek County Community Foundation

March 27, 2024

The Winneshiek County Community Foundation (WCCF) held its grant awards celebration at Luther College’s Dahl Centennial Union on March 21, highlighting the impacts of WCCF’s 2024 grant awards and announcing the distribution of $168,636 to 25 projects of organizations serving Winneshiek County through its 2024 grant cycle.

“It’s an honor for the Winneshiek County Community Foundation to support these local organizations in their work to strengthen our communities and create vibrant places for all to live, work and play,” said Lilly Jensen, chair of the WCCF committee.

The 2024 grant recipient organizations, project the grant will fund, and grant amount is listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

• ArtHaus, Studio Improvements for Immersive Art Experiences - $12,970
• City of Ossian, Performances at the Pavilion, Storybook Walks, and City Events - $2,750
• Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Façade Restoration, $7,000
• Winneshiek County Agricultural Association, Handicap and Safety Improvements Part II - $10,000

Community Betterment

• City of Calmar, Fire Department, Brush Truck - $10,626
• City of Fort Atkinson, Community Center, Entrance Upgrade - $2,500
• Decorah Volunteer Fire Dept. Association, Fire Safety Education Inflatable - $5,475
• Decorah Volunteer Fire Dept. Association, Winneshiek County Firemans Assn., Electric Vehicle Fire and Rescue - $10,500
• Fort Atkinson Firefighter’s Association, Quick Attack Truck - $10,095
• Protivin Firefighters, Wildland and Tech Rescue Gear 2024 - $4,313
• South Winn Aera Community Group, Pyrotechnic Firing and Safety Improvements - $2,000

Education & Youth Development

• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Girl Scout Leadership Program in Winneshiek County - $3,000

Environment & Animal Welfare

• City of Decorah Parks & Recreation, PPE for You and Me - $2,114

Health

• Aase Haugen Senior Services, Vital Carts for Vital Care - $9,600
• Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Winneshiek County Congregate and Home Delivered Meal Program - $6,500
• Senior Citizens Hospital Center, SCHC Rejuvenation Phase 2 of 3 - $12,000
• Sunflower Child Development Center, Water Softening System - $6,500
• Winneshiek County Auditor, Emergency Management – The Weight of the Badge - $2,000
• WinnMed Foundation, Transforming Tomorrow – OB Renovation - $15,087

Human Service

• City of Decorah Library, Northeast Iowa RSVP Volunteer Program - $3,000
• Greater Area Pantry, Fruit and Vegetable Cleaning Station - $5,104
• Helping Services for Youth & Families, Domestic Abuse Resource Center - $3,000
• Northeast Iowa Community Action, NEICAC Crisis Assistance Program - $6,000
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Feeding Families - $6,500
• Riverview Center, Winneshiek County Sexual Assault Crisis Response Program - $10,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Winneshiek County. Committee members include: Jeannie Boyer, Ashley Christensen, Tracy Dostal, Nate Ersig, Terry Haindfield, Lilly Jensen, Chelsey Kephart, Terry Linderbaum, Marcia McKelvey, Emily Mineart, Keith Newhouse, and Jana Olson.

Grants are awarded through WCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Winneshiek County in order to be considered for funding. More information about the WCCF can be found at www.winneshiekccf.org.   

The Winneshiek County Community Foundation is a local foundation making grants to organizations creating stronger, more vibrant communities in Winneshiek County and helps people establish funds to support the causes they care about. The Winneshiek County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a nonprofit committed to creating long-term impacts in 20 counties in Iowa. For more information, contact 319-287-9106 or visit www.cfneia.org. CFNEIA is confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.