The Bremer County Community Foundation (BCCF) held its grant awards celebration at the Waverly Area Veterans Post on July 22, announcing the distribution of $223,589.34 to 36 projects of organizations serving Bremer County through its 2026 grant cycle.
The 2026 grant recipient organizations, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding area.
Health & safety
- Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community – Kitchenette Upgrade – $3,500.00
- Bremer County – Health Dept - Ready at Home - Training Materials – $4,046.00
- City of Frederika – Fire Department - Grass Attack Upfit – $10,000.00
- City of Plainfield – Fire Department - Bunker/Turnout Gear – $8,000.00
- City of Sumner – Fire Department - Turnout Gear Replacement – $10,000.00
- City of Tripoli – Ambulance - Lifting Vest – $4,300.00
- City of Tripoli – Fire Department - Air Tanks – $10,000.00
- Friends of CMH Foundation – Fire Alarm-TrueSite Workstation – $10,000.00
- Friends of the Family – Bremer County Housing Services – $5,000.00
- Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity – Affordable Homeownership and Critical Home Repairs – $10,000.00
- Northeast Iowa Community Action – NEICAC Crisis Assistance Program – $10,000.00
- Northeast Iowa Food Bank – Feeding Bremer County – $10,000.00
- Riverview Center, Inc. – Supporting Trauma Survivors and Helping Them Heal – $3,870.00
- SEMS Ambulance – Safe Transport and Accurate Dosing Project – $10,000.00
- Waverly Senior Center – Lower Level Building Update - Final Phase – $5,351.92
- Waverly Volunteer Fire Association – Wild Land Firefighting Gear – $5,000.00
- Waverly-Shell Rock Area United Way – Holiday Shoppe – $6,000.00
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Opportunity & access
- City of Tripoli – City Hall - Accessibility Upgrades – $4,552.44
- City of Waverly – Leisure Services - Cedar River Park Safety & Seating – $2,500.00
- North Star Community Services, Inc. – Day Habilitation Programming Support – $4,200.00
- The Larrabee Center Inc. – Community Support Services – $5,000.00
Youth empowerment
- Boy Scouts of America, Winnebago Council – Staff Cabins – $8,532.00
- Fostering Families Together – Back-to-School Picnic – $2,500.00
- Leader Valley Foundation – Leader in Me - Bremer County – $10,000.00
- Sumner Daycare and Learning Center, Inc. – Paving the Way for Success – $10,000.00
- Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District – Empowering Young Makers: Design & Construction Lab – $3,000.00
Vibrant community
- Bremer County – Conservation - Cedar Bend Park Cabin – $10,000.00
- Bremer County Fair Association – Installing New Mobility Improved Walkways – $10,000.00
- Bremer County Historical Society – Bremer County Passport to the Past Program – $3,250.00
- City of Denver – Library - Technology Expansion – $3,436.98
- City of Plainfield – Library - Public Computers – $3,500.00
- City of Tripoli – Library - Shelving-Children's Area – $3,500.00
- City of Waverly – Community Development - Kohlmann Park Revitalization – $2,000.00
- ISH, Inc. – Building Update - Bathroom – $5,050.00
- Wartburg Community Symphony Association – Pops and Panache: Holiday Party with the Symphony – $3,500.00
- Waverly Chamber Music Series – Belladonna Christmas Concert and Reception – $4,000.00
Grants were recommended by the Bremer County Community Foundation’s governing committee, composed of volunteers committed to improving the well-being of Bremer County residents. The 2026 governing committee includes: Morgan Bergmann, Lisa Biersner, Brian Bunce, Gloria Campbell, Beth Hartman, Jane Juchems, Karen Neuendorf, Lauri Phelan, Stacie Schroeder, and David Smolik Hagen.
BCCF funds established by generous donors contributing to the discretionary grant process include the Bremer County Community Foundation Governing Committee Endowment, Gene Drape Family Fund, Frederika Area Community Impact Fund, Malvin Tribon Bremer County Memorial Fund, Waverly Community Impact Fund, Corson Family Charitable Unrestricted Fund, Shell Rock Products Fund, and Gaylor Family Fund. The Bremer County Impact Now Fund allows generous people to contribute to the current year’s grant cycle, with all donated dollars being added to the discretionary grant amount. Donors to this fund in 2025 who contributed include the Marvin and Helen Schumacher Family Fund.
BCCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, which provides administrative investment, and technical support to enhance the local foundation’s impact. The 2027 BCCF grant cycle opens March 1, 2027, with a deadline of April 15, 2027. Application guidelines and materials can be found at www.bremerccf.org.
