The Benton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, is accepting applications for its 2026 competitive grant cycle for charitable projects benefiting Benton County, Iowa. The cycle opened September 1, 2026, and applications are due October 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The controlling 2026 guidelines do not state a time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities serving Benton County. Other tax-exempt organizations may qualify only when the proposed project is charitable and the Foundation confirms eligibility. Groups that do not independently qualify may apply through an eligible 501(c)(3) or government fiscal sponsor, which becomes legally and financially responsible for any award. Applicants must be current on state and federal reporting requirements and may not have past-due CFNEIA grant reports. Inherently religious activities, lobbying or political activity, debt repayment, endowment contributions, re-granting, and expenses incurred before grant notification are not eligible.
The Foundation’s impact priorities include Health & Safety, Opportunity & Access, Vibrant Communities, and Youth Empowerment. The 2026 guidelines set a $5,000 minimum request. They do not publish a Benton County program-specific maximum award. One application per organization is permitted, except for government entities and fiscal sponsors; government entities and schools may submit one application per department.
Applicants must use the CFNEIA Budget Template linked to the application or the proposal will be disqualified. Bids or estimates for work, equipment, or materials should be attached in the Support Document section. The Foundation gives higher priority to projects demonstrating community need, broad support, leveraged funding, collaboration, and long-term sustainability. Requests showing no other funding sources receive a zero for the budget portion of scoring.
Atlas assessment: Strong Iowa rural/community-health relevance, with equipment potentially eligible when tied to a qualifying charitable project. N9+ fit is conditional only and must be established through applicant-specific project need, eligibility, allowability, procurement, budget, and funder confirmation. Ordinary ORIGINAL outreach must not introduce or sell N9+. Dr. Miltie direct application: FALSE.