An estimated 9,000 Davis County residents will benefit from the first grants made by the newly organized Davis County Community Foundation.

The 8 grants totaling $45,957 support arts & culture, education, community betterment, health & recreation, and youth development.

The Foundation applied for and was awarded $63,600 from the Endow Iowa program. Endow Iowa is a legislative initiative designed to foster the investment of philanthropic resources into local communities throughout the state.

The legislation requires that 25% of the funds be placed into a permanent county endowment to be invested, and that 75% be awarded in grants.

In addition to the funds from the state legislation, the Foundation can assist donors who wish to make outright and testamentary gifts to the DCCF and support those charitable organizations important to them. DCC Foundation has had one such gift of $10,000 already given. It's even possible for local charitable organizations to establish their own funds with DCCF and call upon available investment and management expertise that the Foundation has because of its affiliation with the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.