Allamakee County Community Foundation awards $91,500 in funding at annual grant award celebration
Several entities serving the Harpers Ferry area and Allamakee County overall received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 18 ACCF awards presentation. The City of Harpers Ferry Volunteer Fire Department received $6,000 for its Personal Firefighter Protection Equipment Replacement Project, the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society received $6,000 for its Oil Springs School Preservation Project - Phases I and II, the Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. received $6,000 for the Harpers Ferry Family Splash Zone, and Upper Iowa River Alliance received $2,000 to complete and publish a new and improved Upper Iowa River Canoe Guide. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row - Jack Heffern of the Harpers Ferry Fire Department, Wayne Hasek, Jane Regan and Jane Hasek of the Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. and Harper Ferry Heritage Society, ACCF Board member Pat Cota and Theresa Gallagher of Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. and Harper Ferry Heritage Society. Back row - ACCF Board member Betty Steege, Ron Steege and Robert Vavra of the Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. and Harper Ferry Heritage Society, Josh Dansdill of Upper Iowa River Alliance, and Lindsey Deason and Paul Deason of the Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc.
The Waterville Volunteer Fire Department received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 18 ACCF awards presentation. The Waterville Volunteer Fire Department received $20,000 for firefighter self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and facemask equipment. Pictured above, left to right, are ACCF Board member Sheryl Evanson, and Roxanne Hawkins, Chip Lamb, Chief Loren Mitchell and Doug Kubitz of the Waterville Fire Department.
Several entities serving the Waukon and greater northeast Iowa areas received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 18 ACCF awards presentation. The Northeast Iowa Community College Foundation received $500 for Allamakee County STEAM Creation - Makerspace Summer Camp; and the City of Waukon - Wellness Center received $7,500 for improvements to the Waukon Softball Complex and Park Diamond. Pictured above, left to right, are ACCF Board member Diana Johnson, Erica Nosbisch of Northeast Iowa Community College, Kim Krause of the Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department, and ACCF Board member Jarrod Olson.
Several entities serving the Lansing area received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 18 ACCF awards presentation. The City of Lansing Park and Recreation Board and the Lansing Lions Club received $10,000 for the Lansing Lions Playground Enhancement Project, and the Lansing Fire Department received $6,000 for Confined Space Equipment. Pictured above, left to right, are ACCF Board member Barb Winters-Kelly, Kelly Welsh of the Lansing Lions Club with Ada and Easden Welsh, Lansing Fire Chief Tony Becker, Tara Kolsrud of the Lansing Lions Club, and Leah Rohrer of the Lansing Lions Club with Lena Rohrer.
The New Albin Fire Department received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 18 ACCF awards presentation. The New Albin Fire Department received $6,000 for Personal Protective Equipment Compliance. Pictured above, left to right, are ACCF Board member Betty Steege, New Albin Fire Department Secretary Ellie Harmon, New Albin Mayor Josh Dreps and New Albin Fire Chief Jon Johnson.
Several entities in the Postville and greater Allamakee County areas received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 18 ACCF awards presentation. The Postville Volunteer Fire Department received $14,500 for a new fire truck-tanker/tender, Northeast Iowa YMCA received $6,000 for YMCA of Northeast Iowa equipment, and the Allamakee County ATV/UTV Club received $1,000 for Allamakee County ATV/UTV trail signage. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row: City of Postville Mayor Leigh Rekow, and Roxanne Hawkins, Chip Lamb and Marlene Blocker representing the Allamakee County ATV/UTV Club. Back row: Kevin Kohrs and Chief Jeff Bohr of the Postville Fire Department, Dennis Blocker representing the Allamakee County ATV/UTV Club, ACCF Board member Tony Gericke and Postville City Clerk Darcy Radloff.
The Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) awarded $91,500 to area nonprofits Tuesday, April 18 at its annual grant award celebration held at Empty Nest Winery in Waukon. Many of those grant recipients are pictured in the photos surrounding this article.
The ACCF receives funds each year from the Iowa Department of Economic Development County Endowment Program. Seventy-five percent of the money received is granted out each year. The other twenty-five percent is maintained in a permanent endowment with the income to be distributed in future years.
Foundation Coordinator Betty Steege remarked that this program might not be available forever, encouraging people to consider permanent endowment funds. "Endowments are a perpetual source of grant dollars for your organization," said Steege. "Every year these funds pay out to support the missions of causes in our community. Our goal is that someday, these endowment funds will pay back far more than what we get from the state of Iowa."
And Steege's goal is getting closer. This year the ACCF authorized $83,000 in agency and donor-advised endowment payouts to more than 20 local nonprofits. "Endowments form a reliable source of funding for nonprofits," said Steege. "They help them respond to emerging needs as well as plan for the future and sustain the good work they do."
Donors who give to endowments through a community foundation also benefit from the Endow Iowa 25% State Tax Credit in addition to federal charitable income tax deductions.
As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, ACCF also works with its host to strengthen nonprofits by offering a variety of training programs and networking opportunities that build capacities and organizational structures. ACCF regularly evaluates nonprofits to assure donors and the Foundation that funds produce the maximum benefit for improving lives.
The Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) was formed in 2005 as an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. The founding members of the organization had a vision to ensure that the local community's charitable programs were supported, both now and in the future. ACCF works together with many individuals, families, business and organizations to establish endowment funds that will provide grant awards for years to come.
For more information on the Allamakee County Community Foundation, visit www.dbqfoundation.org/accf or call 563-586-2046.
