Carroll County supervisors hear FY27 funding requests from Family Crisis Centers, Elderbridge, RSVP and Historical Society

Carroll County supervisors on Monday heard four FY27 funding requests from local nonprofit organizations as they begin work on the county budget.

Tracy Feathers, director of development for Family Crisis Centers, asked the board to continue the county's $6,000 annual support. Feathers said the center’s team is “mighty but small,” describing 52 employees (41 advocates) serving 31 counties across western Iowa. Advocate Jill described a typical day responding to hospital calls, attending court hearings, helping clients obtain protection orders and arranging shelter or hotel stays. Feathers said the organization’s annual budget is about $3,750,000, with roughly 65% from federal and state grants, 31% from donations and about 5% from thrift-store revenue; she said it costs about $1,030 to serve one client.

"We meet them with intervention," Feathers said, asking the board to continue funding that helps them provide crisis counseling, safety planning and shelter placements in Carroll County.

Emily Winger, director of Lifelong Links at Elderbridge Agency on Aging, told the board county support helps leverage federal matching funds and makes up for declining public funding. Winger noted Elderbridge’s public funding fell from about $8.58 million during the pandemic to $6.86 million in FY25 and is expected to decline further. She said Carroll County contributed $17,798 in FY25 while Elderbridge delivered $347,147 in services to the county. For FY27, Elderbridge is asking for $3.30 per older adult in Carroll County; Winger said there were 5,870 residents age 60 and older in the county in FY25.

"Every dollar you invest helps a Carroll County senior stay in their home," Winger said, urging continued support so seniors can remain connected and independent.

Stacy, representing the RSVP volunteer program, asked the board for level funding of $9,000 — the same ask the program has made since 2013. She said local funding helps leverage a $122,500 federal grant and $14,968 in state funding. Stacy described RSVP programs that include a pen-pal literacy exchange with third graders, the Speak Up public-speaking program, volunteer visits to nursing homes and other outreach that county dollars help sustain.

Barb, president of the Carroll County Historical Society, requested $5,000 for FY27 (up from $4,000 last year). She described recent building repairs after a basement ceiling collapse and ongoing maintenance needs for the society’s buildings and exhibits, and highlighted programming such as ghost-town tours and library presentations.

Board members asked clarifying questions about local service counts, how county funds are leveraged with state and federal grants, and whether agencies have matching requirements. Supervisors noted the budget is likely to be finalized early in the calendar year and thanked presenters for their work.

Next steps: the board is scheduled to continue budget work in the coming weeks with a target to approve the county budget early in the new year.