Mills County Grant Application Process
The Mills County Endowment Fund is here to help our community’s charitable projects and programs contribute to the quality of life in our area. One of the ways that is done is through grantmaking. Mills County Endowment Fund currently has two granting cycles each year - application deadlines are February 1, and September 1.

Click here for more information.

Grant Evaluation Form
Below is the form required for grant evaluations.  If you have any questions, or require additional information, please contact Kris Penney at kris@omahafoundation.org or (402) 342-3458.

Thank you for the important work you are doing in your community.

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Grant Evaluation Form
Mills County

Advisory Board

Jacque Young, Chair
Jay Burdic, Vice Chair
Wanda Williams, Secretary/Treasurer
Keith Johnson
Robert E. Woodfill
Robert K. Schoening

Mills County Needs Assessment

The Mills County Endowment Fund commissioned a study conducted by the Iowa State University Extension Community Development – Data Information and Analysis Laboratory to determine community needs and charitable giving in Mills County.

A random sample of Mills County residents was selected to receive a questionnaire.  The attached summary is the result of all individuals who returned useable questionnaires.

The Mills County Endowment Fund would like to thank those residents who participated in the survey.  The compilation of your answers helped Mills County officials begin a 2006 planning and granting process to determine the future of Mills County.

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Mills County Needs Assessment
Mills County Scholarships
The following scholarships are available to Mills County students:  Charles E. and Florence Lakin Endowed Scholarship, available to Nishna-Valley seniors or those who have graduated within the past three years and George and R. Charlotte Mort Endowed Education Scholarship Fund, available to college juniors and seniors who graduated from the Mills County School District.

HF2302 Grant Money Distributed to Mills County Nonprofit Agencies

May 2, 2007.  Steven A. Colerick, Chair of the Mills County Endowment Fund, announced today the distribution of $51,200 in grants to Mills County nonprofit agencies.  The following organizations received grants:

Organization

Program

Award

Silver City Beautification Committee

Main Street Beautification

$200

Silver City Historical Society

Purchase a Fireproof Cabinet

$500

Glenwood Rams PTA

RIF Book Distribution

$500

STARS

STARS Shine

$500

Henderson Betterment Committee

Addition to the Playground

$1,000

Friends of the Malvern Public Library

Historic Record Room

$1,000

LTD Leadership Through Drama, Inc.

Behind the Scene

$1,000

Nishnabotna Girl Scout Council

Camp Neyati Conservation Project

$1,000

On With Life Foundation

Therapeutic Environmental Enhancement

$1,000

Visiting Nurse Association of Pottawattamie County

Hospice Volunteers

$1,000

Glenwood Head Start

Purchase 2 Creative Curriculum Math Kits for each classroom.

$1,000

Word of Mouth Oral Health Education Connection

Bright Futures in Iowa:  Oral Health

$1,000

Glenwood Public Library

Meeting Room Tables and Chairs

$1,500

Senior Center, Inc.

Replace Dishwasher/Sterilizer

$1,500

Emerson Volunteer Fire Dept.

Technology Improvements

$2,000

City of Glenwood

Hiley Park Renovation

$2,000

Glenwood Park Board

Handicapped Accessible Restrooms at the Glenwood Lake Park

$2,000

Silver City Public Library

Four Person Workstation

$2,000

Animal Relief Fund for A Shelter

Driveway Preparation, Security Gate, and Fencing

$2,500

Emerson Public Library

Painting the Outside of the Library

$2,500

Malvern Park Board

Swimming Pool Retaining Wall Project

$2,500

Indian Creek Historical Society and Museum

Wiring of New Exhibit Building

$3,000

Mentoring with Heart, Inc.

Extend, Sustain, and Improve Services to Youth

$3,500

Silver City Fire Dept.

Replace Personal Protective Clothing

$4,000

Mills County Seniors

Safe at Home

$4,000

Oak Township Fire Dept.

Fast Attack Truck Supplemental Equipment

$4,000

Hastings Fire Dept

Equip a Fast Attack Fire Truck

$4,500

These organizations had submitted grant applications to the Mills County Endowment Fund by the February 15th deadline and were approved at its recent Board meeting.  All grantees met the criteria as Mills County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Mills County were eligible.

Mills County agency representatives received their checks this week.  During brief check distribution activities, Mr. Colerick honored the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Mills County.   The twenty-seven agencies receiving grants represent their community’s efforts at building stronger communities.  That is what the Mills County Endowment Fund is all about.  Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $51,200 in grants to these important community efforts in Mills County.”

Colerick explained, “The Mills County Endowment Fund is a countywide community foundation that serves the interests of Mills County and its residents.  It was established to help donors contribute to the betterment of their community by creating their own family foundation, an endowed named fund, or a scholarship fund to honor loved ones.  Because the Mills County Endowment Fund is a community foundation and a public charity each gift has maximum tax benefits.  The Mills County Endowment Fund is one of nine “Qualified Community Foundations” in Southwest Iowa as recognized by the Iowa Department of Economic Development.  The nine community foundations are collectively known as the Endowment Funds of Southwest Iowa, are affiliated with the Omaha Community Foundation, and meet or exceed the Standard for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington DC.   Colerick said, “In other words we are For Good…Forever.”

The Mills County Endowment Fund works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address the changing, vital community needs.  Contributions large and small come in the form of cash, appreciated securities, real estate and end of life bequests that leave a lasting legacy.  The Mills County Endowment Fund invests and administers these funds and makes the funds available each year for distribution to qualified organizations.  “This is an annual granting process,” said Colerick, “this year the Mills County Endowment Fund will distribute approximately $99,000 in grants and scholarships.”

Board members are:  Chair, Steven A. Colerick of Emerson; Vice Chair, Jay Burdic of Malvern; Secretary/Treasurer, Edward F. Cambridge of rural Glenwood; Robert K. Schoening of Silver City; Jacque Young, OD of Glenwood; and Wanda Williams of Henderson.  For more information on creating your family fund, foundation or scholarship in Mills County, contact a board member or the Endowment Funds of Southwest Iowa, Dennis N. Nissen, Iowa Program Officer at 800-794-3458.

From left to right:  John Blasingame, Gary Frankforter, Jodi Orton, Nancy Van Pelt, Michelle Faxon, Bonnie Mansfield, Sandy Buck, Becky Killpack, Ann Chambers, Wayne Keith, Larry Hurst, Linda McGrew, Gordon Woodrow, Anne Smith, Carol Robertson, Jane Susgin, Dean Bentley, Nancy McGrew, Rhonda Crouse, Denise Crawford, and Karen Gage.