Dear Kossuth County nonprofit partner,
Last fall, we communicated with you about how the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is striving to better support the essential role of nonprofits in our region and eliminate the power dynamic between funder and nonprofit. One of the ways to better support you is to adjust our four grant cycles to provide consistency, ensure funding faster, and create efficiencies.
The first step, which has been completed, was to align our grant cycle dates to create consistency for you, especially the nonprofits who serve multiple counties, and a shorter turnaround between grant application submission and having the funding in your hands. The second and final step to the grant cycle adjustments is to evenly distribute the number of affiliates on each grant cycle to create more administrative efficiencies, allowing CFNEIA staff to be more responsive to your needs. We will shift some affiliates, including the Kossuth County Community Foundation, to other cycles for more even distribution.
Beginning in 2024, the Kossuth County Community Foundation will be part of the fall grant cycle. Here is the new timeline:
Application Opens: September 1
Application Closes: October 15
Grants Distributed: December
Kossuth County Community Foundation’s 2023 grant funding was awarded in April, which is why the next grant process will open on September 1, 2024. We recognize this shift creates an extended time of pause in between grant cycles which may bring unease for some of you. However, this grant cycle shift is necessary to alleviate unnecessary burdens for those seeking funding in our region. We believe that once this final shift has taken place, you will ultimately have more time to focus on your critical missions and services.
As a nonprofit, you understand the importance of creating stronger communities. We thank you for your impactful work and appreciate your commitment to Kossuth County and beyond! If you have questions about this next phase of our work, please contact me at 319-243-1367 or shansen@cfneia.org .
Director of Affiliate Impact
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa