September 05, 2025

Jasper Community Foundation awards grants

By Newton News
Twenty-two non-profits throughout Jasper County received grants that will provide much-needed financial support for a variety of important programs and services in their communities.

Twenty-two non-profits throughout Jasper County received grants that will provide much-needed financial support for a variety of important programs and services in their communities. (Metro Creative)

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.

“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 said. “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.”

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 Community Foundation Board. The 22 organizations receiving funding through this program are:

Baxter Federated Garden Club - $964; Baxter Recreation - $3,500; Capstone Behavioral Healthcare - $10,000; City of Colfax - $5,000; City of Monroe - $5,000; Colfax Economic Development Corporation - $10,000; Colfax Park & Recreation Auxiliary Board, Inc. - $ 3,924; Colfax Public Library - $ 1,000; Jasper County Agriculture Society - $ 10,000; Jasper County Conservation - $ 2,500; Jasper County Habitat for Humanity - $ 5,000; Kellogg Fire Department Volunteer Association - $ 3,800; Lynnville Historical Society - $ 2,500; Mingo Hometown Pride - $ 10,000; Monroe Public Library $ - 5,000; Newbotics-Newton Community School - $ 3,000; Newton Community Theatre - $ 5,400; Newton High School Esports - $ 5,000; Newton Public Library - $ 4,710; Prairie City Public Library - $ 3,200; Sully Rural Fire and Ambulance - $ 10,000; Wesley Retirement Services, Inc. (Park Centre) - $ 5,000

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.

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.