Enhance Hamilton County Foundation

09/04/2026

Registrations are still being accepted, and we encourage organizations to send anyone involved in planning, fundraising, grants, or community projects to attend our upcoming "Funding Your Next Project" workshop.

The workshop is FREE and will be held Wednesday, September 9, at 5 PM at Briggs Woods Conference Center and is designed for nonprofits, community organizations, committees, local leaders, and project organizers looking for funding resources, grant opportunities, and practical guidance to help move local projects forward.

Presenters will include:
• Ethan Pitt, Iowa Area Development Group
• Sacha Wise, Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Monica Haberman, Platinum Connect
• Mark Palmer, capital campaign and fundraising consultant
• Darcy Swon, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation

Topics will include statewide and regional grant opportunities, economic development programs, telco grant resources, Foundation grants and charitable funds, and fundraising/capital campaign strategies.

Reserve your seat by emailing: [email protected] with your name and the organization or organizations you are representing, or register online at: enhancehamiltoncounty.org/sept-9

09/04/2026

Emergencies can happen when we least expect them. That is why Hamilton County is working together to be better prepared.

The Hamilton County Emergency Preparedness Coalition is helping lead a countywide effort to encourage individuals, families, businesses, organizations, and communities to prepare, partner, and recover.

Through this effort, the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is also introducing the Hamilton County Disaster Recovery Fund — a local charitable fund that will help support organizations involved in disaster response and recovery right here in Hamilton County.

Gifts to the fund can be made at any time, not just after a disaster, so resources are ready when our community needs them most.

Learn more about emergency preparedness, local resources, and how you can support the fund at:
enhancehamiltoncounty.org/disaster-recovery

09/03/2026

Tonight is our last community conversation regarding a proposed meal program for the southern half of Hamilton County. Join us in Stanhope at 4:30 pm at the Community Center to learn more about the program and share feedback to help strengthen the program. All are welcome to attend.

09/02/2026

Have you registered for the upcoming "Funding Your Next Project" workshop that we are putting on with the Hamilton County Growth Partnership? We are extending the deadline to Friday, Sept 4th at NOON.

The workshop is FREE and will be held Wednesday, September 9, at 5 PM at Briggs Woods Conference Center and is designed for nonprofits, community organizations, committees, local leaders, and project organizers looking for funding resources, grant opportunities, and practical guidance to help move local projects forward.

Presenters will include:
• Ethan Pitt, Iowa Area Development Group
• Sacha Wise, Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Monica Haberman, Platinum Connect
• Mark Palmer, capital campaign and fundraising consultant
• Darcy Swon, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation

Topics will include statewide and regional grant opportunities, economic development programs, telco grant resources, Foundation grants and charitable funds, and fundraising/capital campaign strategies.

Reserve your seat by emailing: [email protected] with your name and the organization or organizations you are representing, or register online at: enhancehamiltoncounty.org/sept-9

09/01/2026

Thank you to everyone who welcomed us last night in Stratford and today at the Tuesday Together Potluck Lunch at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Jewell IA.

We appreciated the opportunity to share information about the proposed Southern Hamilton County Community Meals Program and, more importantly, to listen and gather feedback from those living in the communities this program may serve.

These conversations are helping us better understand local needs, existing resources, possible gaps, and what kind of community support would be needed if the program moves forward.

We have one more community conversation scheduled this week:

Thursday, September 3
4:30 PM
Stanhope Community Center

Anyone interested in learning more, sharing feedback, or helping shape what comes next is encouraged to attend.

Thank you again to those that attended the gathering last night and everyone who joined the conversation today.

09/01/2026

We have a lot going on this week, and we hope you will join us.

Today, we will be in Jewell at the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Jewell IA for the Tuesday Together Potluck Lunch. We will be sharing information about the proposed meal program for the southern half of Hamilton County and gathering feedback from those living in the communities being considered for the pilot program.

Tomorrow is the last day to register for our "Funding Your Next Project" workshop on September 9. This FREE workshop will provide information on funding resources, grant opportunities, and other tools available to help local organizations and project leaders move their work forward.

Register online at:
https://enhancehamiltoncounty.org/sept-9/

You may also register by emailing [email protected] with your name and the organization(s) you represent.

On Thursday, we will be in Stanhope for our final community conversation regarding the proposed meal program. The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Stanhope Community Center.

For questions about these events or charitable giving, please contact our office at 515-835-0437 or email Darcy Swon at [email protected].

08/31/2026

We are looking forward to our community conversations this week and hope you will join us as we talk about a potential new program to help reduce food insecurity in southern Hamilton County.

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is exploring whether a community meals program could help support residents through prepared meals, home delivery, community meal opportunities, volunteer check-ins, and connection to additional resources.

This idea is still in the planning stage, and your feedback will help determine whether the program should move forward, what it could look like, and what community support would be needed to make it work.

Our first meeting is tonight in Stratford, and additional meetings will be held this week in Jewell and Stanhope.

Residents, family members, caregivers, churches, civic groups, local businesses, potential volunteers, and anyone interested in food access in southern Hamilton County are encouraged to attend.

We hope you’ll join the conversation and help shape what comes next.

08/31/2026

Have a community project in need of funding?

You won’t want to miss the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation’s "Funding Your Next Project" workshop, presented in partnership with Hamilton County Growth Partnership.

Registration is due by the end of the day on Wednesday, September 2nd.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, September 9, at 5 PM at Briggs Woods Conference Center and is designed for nonprofits, community organizations, committees, local leaders, and project organizers looking for funding resources, grant opportunities, and practical guidance to help move local projects forward.

Presenters will include:

• Ethan Pitt, Iowa Area Development Group
• Sacha Wise, Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Monica Haberman, Platinum Connect
• Mark Palmer, capital campaign and fundraising consultant
• Darcy Swon, Enhance Hamilton County Foundation

Topics will include statewide and regional grant opportunities, economic development programs, telco grant resources, Foundation grants and charitable funds, and fundraising/capital campaign strategies.

Reserve your seat by emailing: [email protected] with your name and the organization or organizations you are representing, or register online at: enhancehamiltoncounty.org/sept-9

08/30/2026

REMINDER - our Southern Hamilton County Community Meals Program meetings are happening THIS WEEK.

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation is exploring whether a community meals program could help support residents in southern Hamilton County through prepared meals, home delivery, community meal opportunities, volunteer check-ins, and connection to additional resources.

This idea is still in the planning stage, and we need to hear from the communities it may serve.

Your feedback will help determine whether the program should move forward, what it could look like, and what volunteer or community support would be needed to make it work.

Residents, family members, caregivers, churches, civic groups, local businesses, potential volunteers, and anyone interested in food access in southern Hamilton County are encouraged to attend.

Please join us for one of the upcoming meetings and help shape what comes next.

View the full press release: https://enhancehamiltoncounty.org/enhance-hamilton-county-foundation-to-host-community-meetings-on-proposed-meals-program/

08/30/2026

This is a beautiful example of what giving back can look like in Hamilton County.

Brandrup’s Timber began with an incredible act of generosity from Mike and Pat Brandrup, who chose to preserve a special piece of land for future generations. Now, years later, that same spirit of giving continues through projects that help more people enjoy and access this unique area.

The Enhance Hamilton County Foundation was honored to play a small role in helping this project move forward by facilitating charitable gifts, including support from the fund established by Stacie Jacobson in memory of her late husband (Doug “Jake” Jacobson Legacy Fund).

Gifts like this show the lasting impact charitable giving can have. They honor people we love, support the places we care about, and help create something meaningful for others.

We are grateful for the donors, partners, and community leaders who continue to look for ways to give back and make Hamilton County better for today and for generations to come.

By Robert E. Oliver In 2012, Mike and Pat Brandrup did something extraordinary. They looked at the farm bought by Mike’s grandparents in the thirties, the place they called home, and made a big decision. They gave part of it away. Not all of it, just what they called “the most unique, fragile an...