Poweshiek County Alliance grants available

Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation is accepting applications for the 2025 Poweshiek County Alliance grant cycle.

Nonprofit 501(c) 3 organizations and public entities serving members of Poweshiek County are eligible to apply for support for new or ongoing projects.

Ideal grant proposals will provide cultural, educational, recreational and wellness opportunities, provide community enhancements or support physical or mental health for community members.

The PCA committee is particularly interested in projects focusing on the most pressing needs identified in the county, such as transportation barriers, mental health services, quality child care, elder care support, affordable housing and food insecurity, the Foundation said in a press release.

Grant requests may not exceed $10,000.

PCA grants blend funding from several sources to grant nearly $175,000 per year to organizations throughout the county.

About $118,000 is available this year from the current distribution from the County Endowment Fund. These funds from the State of Iowa are paired with funds from the Community Fund for Poweshiek County to support initiatives county-wide.

Funds distributed from the Brooklyn Community Fund and the Montezuma Community Fund are designated for grants supporting services in those communities.

The Carl and Joann Orr Fund, established in 2019, may only support requests in the Grinnell area, with the intent of supporting people in need of legal assistance, food and other essentials and physical and mental health assistance.

Organizations with projects that fall into these mission categories should complete grant applications by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. All grant requests must be submitted through the online grant portal.

A copy of the grant application and instructions for submitting an application can be found on the Foundation’s website at greaterpcf.org/grants/.

Any questions may be directed to Amy Blanchard at 641-236-1561 or amy@greaterpcf.org. Successful applicants will be notified of the award by April 1.

The PCA has distributed nearly $2 million to over 500 grants since its inception in 2005, said the Foundation. PCA grant committee members represent communities across Poweshiek County.

Scott Steffen, Alicia Blankenfeld, Tim Douglas, Tina Elfenbein, Derek Kriegel, Cassandra LaKose, Joel Kercheval, Ashlyn Hammen, Rusty Clayton and Mindy Tokle with assistance from Foundation staff members Amy Blanchard and Nicole Brua-Behrens make the grant decisions.

Poweshiek County Alliance is a committee of the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists donors in efficiently and effectively supporting charitable organizations that make life better for people in the area.