Greater Jefferson County Foundation grants impact Fairfield, county

The Greater Jefferson County Foundation would like to share with its community the total impact of grants to the non-profits of Jefferson County.

The foundation announces the annual grant information during the month of April. Applications are then received and reviewed by the grant committees. The month of August is when the grant winners are announced and shared with the community. This has been the standard time frame since the foundation disbursed its first grants in 1999.

Initially all grants were designated for capital expense items for the non-profits of Jefferson County. As the non-gaming county funding became available a number of years ago, the foundation has opened the restrictions on a portion of those funds for operating money for the non-profit that has a special need in that area.

The number of grants distributed during the past 10-years is over 350. The total dollars of those grants is $1,329,982. The total impact is wide ranging as each area and town of the county has special opportunities, which are funded to enhance the wellbeing of the population. Some of the grants in 2019 have been to assist in rural cemetery plots and others have been granted over a five-year period, such as the construction of the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. Other areas that have benefitted the Jefferson County community annually include arts/culture, education, environmental, human services such as fire departments and first responders, and community improvement. The total impact to all areas of the county has been felt over these past 20 years.

The county is very fortunate that the founding committee of the foundation had the wisdom to encourage local individuals and businesses to utilize the concept of a county foundation to further enhance the lives of the citizens of the county.

The Mission

The Greater Jefferson County Foundation receives, accepts and distributes funds for educational, cultural, civic and charitable purposes for the benefit of the greater community of Jefferson County, Iowa.

The 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.

Current Board Members: President Kara Waugh. Vice President Tammy Dunbar, Treasurer Arvin Bogaards, Ex. Secretary Sim Buckley, Angie Atwood, Nelson Anderson, Lori Stever, Frank Redeker, Ashley Manning, Lucas Helling, Jessica Jones, Joan Fulton, Peggy Mottet, Ron Haines, Justin Engwall; Ex-Officio – Dr Wm Baumann/Finance, John Morrissey/Legal, Dave Neff/PR.

Contact the Greater Jefferson County Foundation at 641-472-0758; gjcf0758@windstream.net or view the website at www.greaterjeffersoncountyfoundation.org.