BOONE, Iowa—The Boone County Community Endowment Board has awarded $153,235 to 31 local organizations. These grants funds are anticipated to leverage another $16,908,494 in total project spending.
The 31 grant recipients were announced on April 21. “We received 35 grant applications requesting $254,189. We wish that we had more resources at the Endowment because we know there are many needs and worthy projects throughout the county,” said Nick Lentz, Chair of the Community Endowment Board.
This was the fifteenth time that the Boone County Community Endowment has engaged in grantmaking. The first awards were made in 2006 where 10 grants were awarded totaling $42,883. In 2020, $153,235 were granted to 31 recipients. To date, $1,451,909 has been distributed in Boone County from the BCCEF utilizing our granting process. The Endowment receives funds annually from the County Endowment Fund legislation. Starting in 2016, Boone County is also the recipient of funds from Grow Greene County, a philanthropic associate of the Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson.
The Boone County Community Endowment Fund Board was organized by representatives from throughout Boone County. “Our mission involves helping the communities and non-profit organizations of the county,” said Lentz. “We want to partner with communities and non-profit organizations to help them with programs and projects that might otherwise not be available to the individuals, families and visitors to our county.”
As an affiliate Endowment, the Boone County Community Endowment can assist donors who wish to make outright and testamentary gifts of support to our Endowment or other charitable organizations in the county. “It is possible for local charitable organizations to establish their own funds and benefit from special tax credits and the professional expertise and investment management we help provide,” said Lentz.
There are currently 30 funds established.
| Applicant | Project | $ Awarded |
| ACCESS | Safe Housing for Boone Co | $ 5,000 |
| B Area Humane Society | Expansion of Cat Communal Housing | $ 2,825 |
| B Area Humane Society | $ 1,040 | |
| B Co 4H ISU Ext | Building Updates | $ 5,000 |
| B Co Fair Board | Public Safety, Health & Sanitation | $ 5,000 |
| B Co Hosp Found | Radiology Suite Renovation | $ 10,000 |
| B Co Probation | Office Upgrades | $ 1,500 |
| B Comm Wellness Center | Community and Wellness Center | $ 5,000 |
| B Scenic Valley RR | Depot Improvements | $ 10,000 |
| Battin Heritage Assoc | Paint Chapel and Replace Front Doors | $ 5,000 |
| Camp Hantesa | Camper Accessibility Project | $ 5,000 |
| CFI | Keeping Families Safe in Boone Co | $ 3,500 |
| Child Care Junction | Outdoor Learning Centers | $ 5,000 |
| Comm Family Resources | Accessibility Improvement Project | $ 4,500 |
| DMACC | Student Activity Center | $ 5,000 |
| Heart IA Habitat Humanity | Smelcer-Miller Home | $ 5,000 |
| HIRTA | Volunteer Driver Program | $ 5,000 |
| IA Arboretum | Automatic Door Opener Project | $ 5,770 |
| IA Gardening Good | Volunteer Gardening for Food Pantries | $ 5,000 |
| ICAN | Building Iowa’s Future Workforce | $ 2,000 |
| LSI | Crisis Child Care | $ 2,000 |
| Madrid Comm School | Tablet Infusion | $ 5,000 |
| Madrid Historical Society | Keigley Blding Façade and Lighting Renovation | $ 11,000 |
| McGraw Sr Center | Handicap Ramp | $ 5,000 |
| Mid IA Comm Action | Story Co Dental Clinic Operations | $ 5,000 |
| RSVP | Computer Upgrades | $ 2,935 |
| Sacred Heart School | Gymnasium Bleachers | $ 5,000 |
| Scouts BSA Troop 155 | Trailer and Gear | $ 5,000 |
| Shelter Housing Corp | Homeless to Housed | $ 4,000 |
| Trinity Lutheran School | Installing Windows | $ 4,800 |
| YMCA | Canoe and Waterfront Safety Project | $ 2,365 |
| YSS | Kids Club Summer Programs | $ 5,000 |
