The Benton County Community Foundation has released its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting the generosity, partnerships, and community investments that continue to strengthen Benton County.

The report details grants awarded, charitable funds established, and stories of local impact made possible through donors, volunteers, nonprofits, and community leaders working together to create opportunities and improve quality of life throughout the community.

In 2025, the Benton County Community Foundation awarded $160,427 in grants supporting projects and organizations serving local residents. Since its establishment in 2005, the foundation’s assets have grown to $1,400,496 (as of Dec. 31, 2025), and it has granted over $2.29 million.

The 2025 overview report also marks an important milestone: the 20th anniversary of Iowa’s County Endowment Fund Program. Created by the Iowa Legislature in 2005, the program directs a portion of gaming tax revenue to community foundations in counties without a gaming license. The investment helped establish and grow local affiliate community foundations across Iowa, creating permanent resources that continue to support community priorities and local opportunities.

“Since 2005, the County Endowment Fund Program has empowered local volunteers to identify needs, support nonprofit organizations, and invest in projects that make our communities stronger,” said Kaye Englin, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. “The impact we celebrate today is possible because local people continue to give their time, talent, and resources to improve the place they call home.”

The anniversary also coincides with a significant milestone for the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA), which serves as the host foundation for the Benton County Community Foundation. In 2026, CFNEIA celebrates 70 years of service to the region.

Founded as the Waterloo Civic Foundation in 1956, CFNEIA began with a simple vision: creating a permanent source of charitable support for the City of Waterloo. Over seven decades, that vision has expanded to a regional organization serving 20 counties across Iowa while remaining committed to local decision-making and local impact.

Today, more than 250 volunteers help guide grantmaking decisions across CFNEIA’s regional network of local community foundations, ensuring charitable dollars address the unique opportunities and priorities of each community. Together, the Community Foundation and its affiliates steward more than $194 million in charitable assets and distributed more than $8.5 million in grants during 2025. Over its 70-year history, CFNEIA has awarded over $150 million in grants and scholarships. Through this partnership, local communities benefit from both regional resources and local leadership.

“The story of the Benton County Community Foundation is really a story about people who care deeply about their community,” said Kaye Englin, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. “As we celebrate 20 years of the County Endowment Fund Program and mark CFNEIA’s 70th anniversary, we’re reminded that lasting impact happens when local people invest in the future of their communities.”

The 2025 Impact Report is available online at www.bentonccf.org.

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About Benton County Community Foundation

The Benton County Community Foundation is a local organization dedicated to inspiring people and connecting resources to enrich Benton County. Through charitable funds, grantmaking, and community leadership, the foundation helps improve quality of life and create lasting impact for future generations.

The Benton County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Founded in 1956, CFNEIA helps generous people carry out their charitable vision, supports nonprofit organizations across a 20-county region, and provides leadership to strengthen communities. With more than $190 million in assets and having granted over $150 million over its 70-year history, CFNEIA works to create impact now and forever by partnering with donors, nonprofits, and local leaders to build vibrant communities.

For more information, visit www.bentonccf.org or cfneia.org.

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