The Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation is preparing to open the 27th funding cycle of the Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund on June 1, 2020. The Bright Ideas grant program offers unique funding opportunities for Wapello County nonprofit organizations to pilot new programs, expand current services, and buy or repair equipment critical to their everyday operations.
“The Legacy Foundation, and in turn, the Bright Ideas program, has always tried to be responsive to the needs of our nonprofit community,” said Amy Nossaman, Grants Program Manager. “We try very hard to listen and recognize their needs and concerns, and like much of the country, our nonprofits are in need general operating support. They are experiencing an unprecedented demand for goods or services that are beyond their operating budget”, stated Nossaman. Assistance with general operating expenses related to COVID-19 is just one of several types of grant support offered through the Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund during this particular cycle. A list of past projects funded through the program is available here.
Over the past 10 years, the Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund, has infused more than $3.7 million into the county. It has supported volunteer-based nonprofits, small nonprofits, and large nonprofit agencies. The Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund is open to any 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization operating or providing services in Wapello County. Grant awards range from $2,500 to $30,000; priority is given to programs and projects with high need or high impact on area residents. The summer grant cycle opens on June 1, with an application deadline of June 30 at 5:00 pm. Grant information, eligibility requirements, and online application can be found here.
