KOWZAN / SANDROCK GRANT FUND

It’s been twenty years since the North Lee Community Foundation founders dreamed of what could happen if they pooled their resources and worked with others to resolve their community’s challenges and build on their strengths. The mission they embraced was to give back to Lee County, create leaders, and promote nonprofit organizations. The Sandrock Trust and Joe Kowzan were instrumental in spreading that mission.

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In 2025, North Lee Community Foundation were honored to receive a significant estate gift from the Sandrock Trust, established by longtime community supporters Dr. Austin Sandrock and Carole Wallis - Sandrock. This extraordinary act of generosity allowed the North Lee Community Foundation to substantially expand their annual grantmaking and scholarship awards.

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Throughout his life, Joe Kowzan believed the two most important days in our life are the day we are born and the day we discover why. What we do with the why, shapes your life entirely. Joe used his “why” to become one of the leaders of Fort Madison and Lee County, and a founder of the North Lee Community Foundation in 2005.

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Joe’s charitable works were unmatched. He established the Lee County Charitable Fund, and  Emma Cornelis House to help families in Fort Madison, and gave grants to charities through the Kowzan Family Foundation. Anyone who knew Joe, knew that it was his true joy to always speak with pride and love about Lee County nonprofit organizations.

To honor both Joe Kowzan and Sandrock’s the North Lee Community Foundation renamed their grant fund to the Kowzan / Sandrock Grant Fund in 2025.

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Kowzan / Sandrock Grant Guidelines​

• Application Dates: 8/3/2026 – 10/5/2026

• General Keokuk Area Community Foundation and North Lee Community Foundation General Guidelines also apply.

• Lee County 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations, municipalities, churches, and schools with charitable intent will be considered.

• One grant per organization.

• Grants awarded up to $10,000. 

​Types of Projects Supported 

• Capital Projects: Grant awards would assist organizations with the upkeep and/or repair of buildings and facilities for the purchase of new equipment and/or upgrades or the replacement of existing equipment or the purchase of new equipment and technology.

• Program Projects: Grant awards could be awarded to establish new programs or initiatives and/or to assist with funding the growth and expansion of existing programs and activities. 

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