Foundation for the Future of Delaware County Awards $92,000 to Delaware County Nonprofits
The Foundation for the Future of Delaware County (FFDC) granted $92,886 to 28 Delaware County nonprofit groups for the 2016 grant year.
These grants were possible, because more than 10 years ago the Iowa Legislature assisted in creating Qualified County Community Foundations through the Endow Iowa Program.
Endow Iowa is a 25% state tax credit given in addition to federal deductibility as an incentive to make charitable gifts to community foundation endowment programs. The Legislature also allocates gambling revenues to the program to enable community representatives to fund high priority needs and build countywide endowments in community foundations like the FFDC through the County Endowment Program.
To meet the rigorous standards of a Qualified Community Foundation, the FFDC chose to affiliate with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque in 2005.
The FFDC has a threefold mission. The first is working with donors to support charitable projects and programs of their choice in Delaware County by assisting them in creating lasting legacies through a variety of giving options.
Another role, through community leadership, is to provide a menu of opportunities to make communities better. The FFDC Board Members are: Jerry Burke, Manchester, Keith Kramer, Hopkinton; Cindy Vorwald, Edgewood; Jill Buschmann, Greeley, Jim Fisher, Manchester; Joy Jager, Ryan; Glen Puffett, Dundee; Jackie Johnson, Edgewood; and Larry Gritton, Manchester.
The third mission is to receive gambling revenues through the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program.
This is the 11th year the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County (FFDC) received a distribution. Under the guidelines, 25 percent of the funds received are used to build a permanent endowment fund for the county that will help to meet future charitable needs. The remaining 75 percent is granted to projects and programs in Delaware County.
“The goal of the Foundation to invest in worthy programs and projects throughout the county,” said Jerry Burke, FFDC Chairman. “We hope you see the impact these monies, an approximate sum of $950,000 in the last ten years, have had in the county as the 313 programs and projects may not have been accomplished without this program.”
A total of 35 grant applications were received by the FFDC requesting $135,345. Grants are awarded in the areas of: Health & Human Services; Education; Neighborhood and Community Development; the Environment; Children, Youth, and Families; and Arts and Culture including Historic Preservation.
The following were awarded grants for 2016:
| City of Colesburg | New Playground Equipment for City Park | $5,000 |
| West Delaware Community Schools | Creating 21st Century Automotive Employees for Tomorrow-Autel Maxisys Elite Diagnostic Tool | $4,254.36 |
| Kinderwood Childcare Center | Upgrade Classroom Essentials Lockers and Tables | $4,106.51 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Project Lead the Way Summer Gateway Academy | $4,000 |
| Backbone Lake Friends | Family Fun Attractions at the Park-Expression Swing and Volleyball Court | $3,914.42 |
| Dundee EMS | Full Response-radios and pagers | $3,500 |
| City of Earlville-Fire and Ambulance | Commercial Cleaning Machines-Gear Equipment Sustainability | $3,500 |
| City of Hopkinton | EMS Equipment- I.V. Fluid warmers | $3,500 |
| Hopkinton Little League | Little League Ball Diamond Improvement | $3,000 |
| Edgewood Museum Corporation | Edgewood Museum | $3,000 |
| Delaware County Economic Development | Communications Project-new phone system | $3,000 |
| Greeley Ladies Cemetery Association | Tree Removal/Updating | $3,000 |
| West Delaware Community Schools | WDHS Library 3-D Printer | $2,685.62 |
| Upper Bay Cemetery Association | Genealogy Kiosk at Upper Bay Cemetery-Boy Scout Project | $2,597.08 |
| Northeast Iowa Food Bank | Delaware County Mobile Food Pantry | $2,500 |
| City of Manchester | Rawrr with Colton Playground Project Family Swing Set | $2,500 |
| City of Ryan | New Patriotic American Flag/Poles | $2,500 |
| City of Manchester | Police Department Ballistic Vest Replacement Program | $2,500 |
| Delaware County Senior Citizen Center | New Roof for Senior Center | $2,500 |
| City of Ryan | New Patriotic American Flag/Poles | $2,500 |
| City of Manchester Police Department | Ballistic Vest Replacement Program | $2,500 |
| Delaware County Senior Citizen Center | People Helping People/Healthy Snacks, Lunches | $2,500 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa | Inspire and Prepare Delaware County Students to Succeed | $2,000 |
| Delaware County Tourism | 2016-2017 Marketing Campaign | $2,000 |
| Good Neighbor Society | Hospice Hospitality at GNS-Mattresses | $2,000 |
| Edgewood-Colesburg Community Schools | STEAM-Science-Technology,Engineering, Arts, Math) Initiated Makerspaces in the Library | $1,000 |
| St. Mary’s School | Water Bottle Filling Stations | $1,000 |
| Iowa College Access Network | Career Planning for-Delaware County High School Students | $900 |
| Manchester Good to Great | Educational Community Visits | $825 |
| Foundation for the Future of Delaware County | Grant Reserve | $19,103.40 |