January 1st, 2026 - Application Period Opens

January 31st, 2026 - Application Period Closes

March 6th, 2026 - Funding Decisions Announced

March 26th, 2025 - Grants Awarded

*Grant Cycle Budgets and Award Ceremonies are subject to change*

Applications will only be accepted from Local Governments and Tax-Exempt Organizations whose principal place of business and event are both in Woodbury County.

Educational Institutions, for-profit entities, and fundraising events are ineligible for this funding opportunity.

Tax-Exempt Organizations may only submit one application per funding opportunity, whereas Local Governments may submit more than one application per funding opportunity as “individual units” within these organizations are considered separate and may each submit one application per funding opportunity. Each funding request must be for a distinctly different event.

Entities with an active Community Event Grant or two active MRHD grants are ineligible to apply.

Events must be open to the public and provide general admission for free, or charge a nominal fee, and be located in Woodbury County.

Events must improve quality of life for Woodbury County residents and align with at least one of MRHD’s grant focus areas.

Grant recipients must use the awarded funds for their event.

Grants will NOT be awarded if the money goes to:

Grant programs for other Local Governments or Tax-Exempt Organizations, general funds, endowments, foundations, scholarships, capital campaign management and fund-raising efforts, or as replacement monies already allocated, individuals, political action committees, lobbyists, lobbying efforts, internal costs such as payroll, taxes, insurance, salaries, special salaries, volunteer incentives, reimbursements, office supplies, or general operation expenses.

Grant funds may not be used on alcohol or anything contrary to federal, state, or local law or ordinance.

Applications for the Community Event Grant will only be accepted via an online application process using MRHD’s Online Grant Portal.

During the application period, applicants will submit information to validate their eligibility to apply and their request for funding. The grant application must be deemed complete before it can be advanced for evaluation by a grant review committee.

Applicants who fail to submit a complete grant application and receive confirmation from MRHD of it being complete approval during the application period will be denied.

Local Governments must provide a W9 or IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) Verification Letter as proof of their federal EIN, and a signed Letter of Intent from the head of the organization (County Board of Supervisors Chairperson, City Mayor, or City Manager/Administrator) that approves the unit’s grant request and agrees to accept MRHD funds.

Tax-Exempt Organizations must provide a copy of their IRS Determination Letter as proof of their tax-exempt status and federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), and a signed Letter of Intent from the head of the organization (Board of Directors President, Chief Executive Officer, or Executive Director) that approves the organization’s grant request and agrees to accept MRHD funds.

Projects that involve a partnership or collaboration with another entity must provide a signed Letter of Agreement from each respective partner that acknowledges their agreement with the applicant’s proposal, describes their level of involvement, and if applicable, includes a statement of financial commitment detailing any cash or in-kind contribution the organization is providing and shall also describe any plans to continue the project after the grant funding ends, or a transfer of ownership of any project deliverable occurs.

Applicants partnering with another entity that will be the beneficiary of the grant proposal must include a statement in their Letter of Intent that the applicant will not receive or accept any direct benefit from the project beneficiary, such as a reduction in rent, fees, or charges, in a situation in which the applicant uses the beneficiary’s facilities.

Applicants must fully disclose in their Letter of Intent all relationships with any individual or entity, such as bidders, vendors, suppliers, or contractors that will, or may benefit directly or indirectly from the funds for which the grant is requested.

Grant recipients are required to submit a Grant Completion Form upon completion of the event.

Grant recipients must submit any request to amend or extend a Grant in writing to MRHD specifying the reason(s) for the request and the specific amendment or extension requested. Grant recipients must receive writing approval from MRHD prior to any change is made.

Failure to comply with the grant requirements will prohibit the organization from receiving a grant from MRHD in the future.

Community Events - are gatherings or activities in Woodbury County that are open to the public, bring people together, and build community bonds. These events must include at least one element of MRHD’s grant focus areas. Community events can be commercial affairs such as a farmers market or can be nonprofit pursuits designed to build community. The following are examples of common community events: fairs, festivals, holiday events, markets, parades, street dances, and sporting events.

Geographic Funding Area - is the specific county or counties in which MRHD grant funds will be issued provided that: the Grant Recipient maintains a primary place of business in the Geographic Funding Area, and the Grant Recipient uses the Grant to provide substantial services to the residents of Woodbury County, Iowa.

Award Date - is the date a Grant is publicly awarded by MRHD to the Grant Recipient.

Educational Entities - includes public and private schools (preschools, elementary schools, secondary schools), public and private institutions of higher education (colleges, universities, technical/trade schools), education agencies (state, regional, local), and “individual units” within these entities, such as operating departments, academic departments, and school-sponsored extracurricular groups.

Local Governments - includes counties, cities, federally recognized tribal governments, and “individual units” within these entities, such as departments, divisions, boards and commissions, and publicly owned venues, such as libraries and museums.

Tax-Exempt Organizations - includes charitable, religious and other nonprofit organizations that have received an IRS Determination Letter granting the organization tax-exempt status and such status has not been revoked.

Grant Completion Form - once the project is finished, Grantees shall submit a Grant Completion Form to MRHD via the Online Grant Portal and provide documentation of the grant expenditures.