Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation

10/20/2026

Great visit to Garden City in southwest corner of Hardin County. Grant application was the first for this area, so excited about their project. Dave Nelson is taking the lead on the restoration. They even moved the steps into the stage area. Working hard to get the new flooring on stage by Sunday. What a wonderful update to this building. New tables and chairs will be unveiled also. A celebration/fundraising will be held Sunday, October 26th, 11 am to 1:30 p.m with a Kumla Dinner. This is a popular meal so come early. (Ham and mashed potatoes for those who are not Kumla fans.)

10/15/2026

One of the ways we support Hardin County is through community grantmaking.
Grants help local nonprofits and community organizations take on projects that strengthen our communities and improve quality of life.

From education and health to arts and culture, community development, the environment and human services, these investments help good ideas become real projects.
Local support makes local progress possible.

10/14/2026

So proud that HCCEF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.
Annual Affiliate Staff and Contractor Training
Building Stronger Affiliate Foundations: Planning, Endowments, and Relationships
at Community Foundation C3 Center | 1910 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines
Angie Rae Duncan is Vice President of Affiliate Impact AND a graduate of Hubbard-Radcliffe High School. Exciting to have a Hardin County connection in Des Moines office.
HCCEF MISSION: To promote charitable giving, to build permanent endowment funds for Hardin County, and to address a broad range of community issues through active leadership and grantmaking.💙

10/13/2026

There are so many people and organizations working to make Hardin County stronger.
The Foundation gives donors a way to support the causes that matter to them while helping charitable organizations throughout the county continue their work.
Whether you want to support something today or create a lasting legacy for the future, your generosity can stay close to home.

10/12/2026

See what’s happening in southwestern Hardin County!!!

We still have more projects to complete, but come see the progress we've made so far on the Garden City Community Center remodel!
Stop by, and enjoy a delicious KUMLA DINNER, Sunday, October 25th from 11:00-1:30. FREEWILL DONATION. Take outs available.
We hope to see you there!

10/08/2026

A strong community is built by people who are willing to invest in it.
The Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation helps connect local generosity with needs right here at home. Through grants, scholarships, endowment funds, and community partnerships, we support organizations working to make Hardin County a better place to live.
Since 2005, the Foundation has been helping turn local generosity into lasting community impact.

10/06/2026

“Be a somebody; don’t let it be up to everybody else.”

In small Iowa towns, one person can make a huge difference. We each have more impact than we think. That’s probably part of why we all choose to live, grow, and thrive in our small Iowa town.

You can raise the quality of life for you and your neighbor, and your neighbor’s neighbor. We all get wrapped up in the waves of life, but there are real things, here at your fingertips, that actually have a huge impact on your day-to-day life. Things like bathrooms near trails, showers at a campground, the new business down the road… you get it. These are the things that count!

Chip in. See the difference yourself.

The Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation

09/11/2026

Thank you Erin and Emma with Altar Media for a full day of shooting video across Hardin County. Thanks to those who participated in this filming for Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation. Just had to share two pics of the interviews - Carol Gilbert, who spent many hours establishing a great start to HCCEF and Betsy Kuecker, a member of the board for one year. The Lodge was a great backdrop for the interviews. We might have driven 100 miles across the county. I forgot one thing in my interview
We have enough video for a full length movie but will settle for a few minutes of segments on social media and website in the future.

09/11/2026