The Franklin County Community Foundation (FCCF) held its 2025 grant awards celebration at First Bank Hampton on April 11, announcing the distribution of $146,652.51 to 23 projects of organizations serving Franklin County through its 2025 grant cycle.

Grant recipient, organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount is listed below by funding area.

Program Area: Arts & Culture

• Franklin County Fair & Convention Center - Grandstand ADA Platform Bleachers - $10,000.00
• Franklin County Historical Society - Harriman-Nielsen Historic Farm Barn Foundation Repair - $6,500.00
• Windsor Theatre Development Corporation - Costume Room Update - $2,500.00

Program Area: Community Betterment

• City of Coulter - Administration - Gazebo Overhaul - $4,000.00
• City of Geneva - Geneva Playground Project - $10,000.00
• City of Hampton - Library - Outdoor Project - $10,000.00
• City of Hampton - Police Department - In-Car Computers - $7,800.00
• City of Latimer - Latimer Community Center - $7,400.00
• City of Sheffield - Fire Department - Communication and Radio Project - $8,600.00
• City of Sheffield - Park Department - New Picnic Tables - $3,000.00
• Franklin County R.A.C.E. Inc. - Franklin Wellness Center Updates - $10,000.00
• George A. Aldinger American Legion Post 183 - Building Improvements - $2,000.00
• Windsor Theatre Development Corporation - Friends of Beeds Lake - Playground Project - $10,000.00

Program Area: Education & Youth Development

• Al Exito - Al Éxito Hampton: Student Success Hampton - $5,000.00
• Apple Daycare Inc. - Improved Outdoor Play Space - $1,917.51
• Greater Iowa Youth for Christ - Franklin County Youth For Christ - Hampton's Outdoor Building - $3,835.00
• Hampton Community Christian Daycare - Baby Room Cribs - $7,500.00
• North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom - Connecting Franklin County Youth to Agriculture - $5,000.00
• West Fork Community School District - Middle School - The Warhawks' Space for Discovery & Growth - $4,600.00

Program Area: Health

• Hampton Senior Center - Chair Replacement - $7,500.00

Program Area: Human Service

• 43 North Iowa - Franklin County Disability Employment Support Services - $2,000.00
• Food Bank of Iowa - Fighting Hunger in Franklin County - $7,500.00
• West Fork Food Pantry - Ceiling Tile Replacement - $10,000.00

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Franklin County. Committee members include Eric Reicherts (Chair), Elizabeth Carr, Sarah DeBour, Ashley Francis, Robyn Hill-Kofoot, Kayla Norman, Nicole Poock, and Kyle Whalen.

Grants are awarded through FCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Franklin County in order to be considered for funding. The 2026 grant cycle opens November 15 with an application deadline of January 15. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.franklinccf.org.