(Omaha, NE) – The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, which includes the community foundations in Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby counties, is pleased to announce that grant applications are now being accepted from organizations providing charitable services in southwest Iowa. As part of this spring grant cycle, over $1.2 million will be available to support nonprofit organizations and community projects in the nine counties. The deadline to apply for funds through the online application process is February 1, 2026.

Beginning December 15, application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form can be found here or by logging in on omahafoundation.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, serves to benefit the nine-county region by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The objective of the grant program is to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in our communities.

Only organizations providing services in the nine-county region are eligible to apply. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

This cycle of grants is made possible through the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program. Created in 2004 by the Iowa Legislature, the program is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue.

Please contact Southwest Iowa Foundations Advisor Sarah Beth Ray at sarahbeth@omahafoundation.org or 402-342-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the March advisory committee meetings, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of March.

For general questions about the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa and the County Endowment Fund Program, please contact Southwest Iowa Foundations Director Sunni Kamp at sunni@omahafoundation.org or 402-933-4188.