Winneshiek County Community Foundation Awards $156,816 in 2026 Grants

The fire, the vote, the triumph — when it happens, Decorah News shows up. Support us being there. DECORAH — The Winneshiek County Community Foundation held its 2026 grant awards celebration at Luther College on March 26, announcing the distribution of $156,816.54 to 17 projects serving the county through this year's grant cycle. Grant recipients, their projects, and award amounts are listed below by impact priority: Health & Safety Allamakee New Beginnings – Iowa Food Hub – Delivery Truck for Local Foods – $5,000 City of Decorah – Police – Rapid Response Mini Shields – $3,000 Decorah Volunteer Fire Department Foundation – Hearing Clearly on the Fire Ground – $4,000 Luther College – R.A.D. Self-Defense Training Program – $7,400 Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging – Winneshiek County Senior Meals, First Half FY27 – $10,000 Northeast Iowa Community Action – Winneshiek CFG Crisis Assistance Program 26 – $17,290.21 Northeast Iowa Food Bank – Feeding Winneshiek County – $17,000 Riverview Center – Winneshiek County Sexual Assault Crisis Response – $20,000 Opportunity & Access The Spectrum Network – 2026 Day Habilitation Operating Support – $6,000 Vibrant Communities City of Calmar – Building Updates, Calmar Passenger Train Depot – $4,826.33 City of Fort Atkinson – Phase 2 Community Park Improvements – $10,000 Civic Improvement Association – Sound Equipment & Accessories – $3,000 Humane Society of Northeast Iowa – HSNEI Wellness Center, Community Care & Services – $18,600 N-Compass – Iowa Project AWARE 2026 – $4,000 Winneshiek County Agricultural Association – Lewis Lechtenberg Memorial Swine Facility – $18,000 Youth Empowerment Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois – Girl Scout Leadership Program in Winneshiek County – $3,000 National Inventors Hall of Fame – Camp Invention for Low-Income Winneshiek Youth – $5,700 Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee of volunteers from Winneshiek County. Committee members include Jean Boyer, Charles Crain (chair), Tracy Dostal, Terry Haindfield, Chelsey Kephart, Terry Linderbaum, Mary Meyer, Christopher Miculinich, Keith Newhouse, Mae Schmitt, Warren Shuros and Samantha Spilde. The foundation's discretionary grant funds include the Dick Guilgot and Barb Sokol Fund, the Elwin and Helen Farwell Memorial Fund, and an anonymous Winneshiek County Endowment Fund. The Winneshiek County Impact Now Fund allows donors to contribute to the current year's grant cycle, with all contributions added to the discretionary grant pool. Donors giving more than $250 this year include Karen Esterl. Grants are awarded through WCCF's competitive process to projects aligned with the priorities of health and safety, opportunity and access, vibrant communities, and youth empowerment. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization or government entity serving Winneshiek County. The 2026 grant cycle opens Nov. 15 with an application deadline of Jan. 15, 2027. Guidelines and applications are available at www.winneshiekccf.org. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.