The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation has announced that their 2019 Grant Cycle will begin in October.

As part of the grant application requirements, applicants must have a representative attend one of two informational meetings to be held in Hamilton County. The first meeting will be held in Stratford at the Shakespeare Community Center on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. The second meeting will be held in Webster City at the Kendall Young Library meeting room at 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 3. Each meeting will last approximately 30 minutes.

The meeting will provide information on the grant process and application as well as outline new changes being implemented with this grant cycle. In addition, the meeting will provide a forum for potential applicants to ask questions to assist them with completion of their applications.

Grant applications will be available online beginning Oct. 20. Completed applications will be accepted up until 5 pm on Dec. 31, 2018, to be eligible for review. Monies will be awarded in March 2019.

“The purpose of the Enhance Hamilton County grants is to provide philanthropic support for projects that address the needs in Hamilton County as well as those projects that are considered community betterment,” said Darcy Swon, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation Development Director.

Since the Foundation was established in 2005, they have awarded over $1.25 million to assist organizations with completion of worthwhile projects in the following areas: Arts and Culture, Community Betterment, Education, Health and Human Services, Recreation and Environment and Youth Development.

Swon reminded potential applicants if they are not a 501c3, a civic organization or a governmental entity, they will need to partner with one to be eligible for receipt of grant monies.

Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is a non-profit organization that serves as a liaison and resource for donor-driven charitable giving and community needs.

For more information about the Foundation, the tools they offer to assist with charitable giving or the upcoming grant cycle, contact Swon at (515) 835-0437 or via email at dswon@enhancehamiltoncounty.org.