Sibley, Iowa — Every year, the Community Foundation of Osceola County and several other community foundations in Iowa give grants to non-profits and government entities for projects and things they need. The grant application period is now open for the Community Foundation of Osceola County.
Osceola County Economic Development Director Mike Earll is one of the people in charge of the foundation. He says the Foundation was made possible by the Iowa General Assembly. In 2004 the Iowa legislature passed several bills to encourage foundation building and community-based philanthropy. Among these measures was H.F. 2032 which provided that non-gambling counties, initiating a county-wide community foundation would be eligible to receive one half of one percent of the state’s gross gambling tax receipts. This action allows the local foundation to award grants to charitable organizations for educational, civic and public purposes in Osceola County.
Earll says they have received over $95,000 — twenty-five percent of which will go to facilitate endowment building, and the rest will be given away. Plus, Earll says people can also contribute to the fund to leave an Osceola County legacy. According to Earll, you could talk to your accountant or give Earll a call at Osceola County Economic Development for more information.
Earll says grant applications are being taken through November 15, 2018 at 4:30 P.M. All 501(c)(3) organizations, 107b units of government, and other potentially-qualifying charitable organizations operating in or for the benefit of Osceola County should contact The Community Foundation of Osceola County for applications, guidelines, and additional information. All information, the application, a sample application, and score sheet, can also be accessed on the County Foundation Web Site at: osceolacountyfoundation.org.
Also, if you think you’d like to serve on the Community Foundation of Osceola County board and assist with the grant evaluation process, Earll says you can call him at (712) 754-2523 by October 25th for more information.
In the past, the grants have been given out during a February ceremony.
