Endowment payout supports prairie enhancements

Each year, payouts from endowment funds held by the Community Foundation of Jackson County support organizations’ missions and improve quality of life in local communities. The Friends of Jackson County Conservation used the 2022 payout from their endowment to help support a weeklong effort by the Conservation Corps of Minnesota & Iowa to restore remnant prairie habitat.  

“Remnant prairies have never been plowed. They are rare and important habitat for many plant and animal species,” says Jessica Wagner, environmental education coordinator for Jackson County Conservation (JCC). “Our staff have been working on habitat restoration at our remnant prairies and engaging the public in this work. Through the Conservation Corps, young adults learn more about these unique ecosystems and work to help us preserve them.”

Conservation Corps participants grow as environmental stewards and leaders while giving back to the community through meaningful service. In Jackson County remnant prairies, the Corps team removed woody vegetation and invasive species, and helped improve hillside prairies, another unique ecosystem. 

The Friends of JCC endowment fund was created to help ensure a strong future for the organization. Payouts are used for projects that further the group’s mission: supporting the conservation board in providing outdoor recreational and educational opportunities in Jackson County.

The Community Foundation holds funds for many nonprofits as well as individuals and families with charitable goals. In 2022, the Foundation’s family of funds made over $400,000 available to community projects in Jackson County. 

“The Foundation connects donors with the greatest needs in our community,” says executive director Lori Loch. “We offer many opportunities to improve quality of life by addressing an array of local issues.” To learn more about how you can establish a fund or make a gift that impacts your community, contact Loch at 563-588-2700 or email lori@dbqfoundation.org.