NEWTON, IOWA (August 26, 2025) - Dan Skokan, President of the Jasper Community Foundation announced that $115,000 in grant awards were distributed recently to area non-profit organizations. The community foundation receives funds for grant making and endowment building each year from the state sponsored County Endowment Fund Program and from other public sources. Grant proposals were received from educational, municipal and non-profit organizations throughout Jasper County. Skokan stated, "I am pleased to announce that the Foundation awarded grant funding to 22 non-profits throughout Jasper County. These grant funds will provide much needed financial support for a variety of important programs and services in our communities." Skokan continued, "Each year we make an effort to fund a wide variety of programs that touch residents all over the county. This year we were able to make grants to organizations supporting programs and services in human services, education, recreation, arts, and culture, community vitality and many others."

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The Foundation awarded grants that ranged from $900 to $10,000 to new or enhanced, innovative programs that address needs or issues within Jasper County. All submitted grant proposals were reviewed by the Jasper County Community Foundation Board. The 22 organizations receiving funding through this program are:

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• Baxter Federated Garden Club - $964 - Community beautification

• Baxter Recreation - $3,500 - Scoreboard replacement

• Capstone Behavioral Healthcare - $10,000 - Group home

• City of Colfax, Iowa - $5,000 - Downtown beautification

• City of Monroe, Iowa - $5,000 - Playground fencing

• Colfax Economic Development Corporation - $10,000 - Childcare center

• Colfax Park & Recreation Auxiliary Board, Inc. - $3,924 - Osprey disc golf course

• Colfax Public Library - $1,000 - Read aloud books for kids

• Jasper County Agriculture Society - $10,000 - New building tables & chairs

• Jasper County Conservation - $2,500 - Education center classroom components

• Jasper County Habitat for Humanity - $5,000 - Home preservation

• Kellogg Fire Department Volunteer Association - $3,800 - Torpedo nozzle

• Lynnville Historical Society - $2,500 - Skunk River walking bridge

• Mingo Hometown Pride - $10,000 - Downtown beautification

• Monroe Public Library - $5,000 - Greenspace project

• Newbotics-Newton Community School - $3,000 - Newbotics Club Lab upgrade

• Newton Community Theatre - $5,400 - LED light project

• Newton High School Esports - $5,000 - Esport funding

• Newton Public Library - $4,710 - Children's discovery table

• Prairie City Public Library - $3,200 - Tech room equipment

• Sully Rural Fire and Ambulance - $10,000 - Utility vehicle upgrade

• Wesley Retirement Services, Inc. (Park Centre) - $5,000 - Interactive technology project

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The County Endowment Fund Program helped make the funds for these grants possible. This Fund was established by the state legislature in 2004 to help promote charitable giving and endowment building throughout the state. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations and affiliate community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

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The Jasper Community Foundation was established in 1997 for the purpose of receiving tax deductible bequests and gifts in the form of cash or property from individuals, corporations and other organizations that have an interest in improving the quality of life for people residing in Jasper County. The Foundation assists arts and culture, economic development, education, environment and recreation, health and human services organizations, and other high-impact projects and programs throughout the county.

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