Community Foundation of Louisa County

The Community Foundation of Louisa County is now accepting grant applications for the 2012 Grants.  Grants are available for non-profit organizations, schools or government agencies operating in Louisa County.  This year awards of up to $5,000 will be granted.  Smaller grant applications of $1,000 or less for equipment, training, and building organizational capacity are also encouraged.  Grants are awarded for projects/initiatives that improve the quality of life in Louisa County in the following general areas:  Arts, Culture and Museums; Community Improvement & Development; Education & Research; Environment/Animals; Health; Human Services (Family, Children & Youth); and Public/Societal Benefit.

 Completed applications are due December 1, 2011. Applications should be emailed to the address above and a signed copy should be mailed to Community Foundation of Louisa County, PO Box 34, Morning Sun, IA  52640.

 This will be the seventh year that the Community Foundation of Louisa County will be awarding grants.  Over the prior six years, a total of 263 grants totaling $478,237 have been awarded to 91 separate organizations.  The grant funds come from the State of Iowa as a share of gambling profits and are made available to Community Foundations that reside in counties that do not have gambling operations. The mission of the Community Foundation is to build endowment funds that will benefit Louisa County now and in the future.  The Community Foundation of Louisa County is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Great River Bend.  For more information, contact Paula Buckman at 319-868-4240.

Get information and an application form: How to Apply

 

Connie Lewis, Columbus Junction, IA received the 2011 Community Caring Award at the Community Foundation’s annual celebration held Saturday, October 1, 2011. 

The Community Foundation of Louisa County is seeking nominations for the “Community Caring Award”. The Community Caring Award gives recognition to the individuals who make a positive difference in their community.  The award winner will receive a $100 donation to a Louisa County non-profit organization of their choice.  The award will be presented on October 1, 2011 at the third annual “Community Foundation Celebration” to be held at Briggs Center in Wapello at 6:00 pm.  Individuals or organizations should submit their nominations no later than September 19 by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by mail to Community Foundation of Louisa County, PO Box 34, Morning Sun, IA  52640.  The nomination should state why the person is being nominated and how they have made a difference in their community. The nomination should include the organization(s) the nominee is involved with, leadership roles, and/or specific achievements and their value to the community or county.

Use of a nomination form is not required, but a form is available here: Download PDF document    Download Word document

Prior years’ recipients include Kathy Vance of Morning Sun and Tonya Lanz of Oakville.    

 The Community Foundation of Louisa County (CFLC) has established the Louisa County Memorial Endowment Fund.  The purpose of the fund is to provide a memorial fund for families and friends who wish to remember their loved one with a gift that will benefit Louisa County.   Earnings from the permanent memorial endowment fund will be used to benefit Louisa County non-profit organizations, schools, and agencies. Once the memorial fund has reached a minimum balance of $10,000, the Board of the Community Foundation of Louisa County can grant the earnings from the fund to non-profits that apply to the Community Foundation.  The fund is expected to earn an average of 4% or more annually.   Gifts to the memorial endowment fund may be eligible for a 25% Iowa income tax credit.

 The Louisa County Memorial Fund is a great way to remember a family member, according to Paula Buckman, Director of CFLC. “It’s a gift that keeps on giving because it is a permanent endowment, or as we like to say, the fund is For Good, Forever.  It’s a great way to give back to the community where a person grew up, lived, worked or played.”

 Gifts can be made in memory of a friend or relative.  Checks should be made to the Louisa County Memorial Fund and can be sent to Community Foundation of Louisa County, PO Box 34, Morning Sun, Iowa.  The address of the deceased’s family should be included so that the Community Foundation can send an acknowledgement of the gift to the family.  For more information about the Louisa County Endowment Fund, contact Paula Buckman at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 319-868-4240.