Crawford County Endowment Fund Changes Name to the Crawford County Community Foundation

In an effort to reflect its growth as a charitable organization, Crawford County Endowment Fund (CCEF) announced that it's changing its name to the Crawford County Community Foundation (CCCF).

The Crawford County Community Foundation, which originated in 2005, reflects the diversity of the communities it serves in its planning, decision-making and grant making. The new name will reflect on the work the Foundation is doing throughout Crawford County. In addition to providing mission clarity, the new name will allow the CCCF to highlight how it benefits grant recipients, donors and the county at large. Moreover, The Crawford County Community Foundation will continue to function as one of the nine regional foundations affiliated with the Omaha Community Foundation.

"As the community foundation in Crawford County, the Crawford County Community Foundation is more relevant to our county than ever before," said Steve Vary, Chair. "We are a leader in working with individuals, businesses, governmental bodies, and nonprofit organizations, helping them to achieve their philanthropic goals with confidence and sophistication."

CCCF stimulates philanthropy and enhances the quality of life in the county through accumulating, managing and disbursing grant funds. Geographically focused community foundations formerly known as The Endowment Funds of Southwest Iowa are now the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, consisting of the Audubon County Community Foundation, the Cass County Community Foundation, the Crawford County Community Foundation, the Fremont County Community Foundation, the Harrison County Community Foundation, the Mills County Community Foundation, the Montgomery County Community Foundation, the Page County Community Foundation, and the Shelby County Community Foundation.

"I am very excited that the CCCF is positioned for great growth for the future through the formation of our new name," said Vary. "The Crawford County Community Foundation enables donors of all types to achieve the essence of community impact more quickly through our flexible approach for building stronger communities."

CCCF offers a wide array of charitable products and services. They include:

  • Funds - can be created by individuals, businesses, financial institutions, charitable organizations, probate courts, and private foundations; funds can make grants to charitable organizations or provide scholarships.
  • Charitable Trusts and Annuities  - provides income to charitable beneficiaries
  • Fund Management Services - provides a proven and ready-made structure
  • Grant making services - assist donors with their grant making goals

The foundation's expertise in managing charitable funds has helped its assets grow from a $50,000 challenge grant from the Southwest Iowa Foundation in 2005 to more than $200,000 today, all for charitable benefit of the county.  In 2008, more than $65,000 in grants was made in support of charitable programs.  Nine named funds have been established within The Crawford County Community Foundation since 2005.

Support a cause you care about with a gift to one of the CCCF's many charitable funds or by starting a fund of your own. To learn more information about the Crawford County Community Foundation, contact any of the board members Chair, Steve Vary of Arion; Vice Chair, Jim White of Westside; Secretary/Treasurer, Allen Nepper, Esq. of Denison; Larry Abbe of Schleswig; Charles Agan of Manilla; Lynn Hoffman of Denison; Dave Kock of Breda; Jim Lohman, CPA, Esq. of Denison, and Scott Ferguson of Denison or Dennis N. Nissen, Iowa Program Officer at dennis@omahafoundation.org or 800-794-3458. 

For good. For Crawford County. For ever.
How to Give Professional Advisors Grant Information
Iowa Community Foundations provide each donor a unique giving experience, tailored to suite his or her situation and charitable goals. more... Community foundations have earned the trust of hundreds of professional advisors throughout Iowa. more... Community Foundations seek to be a responsive and proactive community partner that works strategically to address existing and emerging community issues. more...

Please download the grant application and fact sheet to your computer as a word document.  If you have any questions about the grant application or the grant process please contact Kris Penney, Assistant Grants Administrator at kris@omahafoundation.org.

Making a Difference at CCCF

CCCF Grants Distributed

Crawford County Community Foundation Brochure

Endow Iowa 20% Tax Credit Information