Funding Guidelines

Black Hawk County Gaming Association (BHCGA) seeks to award grants that strengthen the Cedar Valley, making it a better place to live, work, and play. Our Board prioritizes funding requests that focus on:

Application Guidelines: Letters of Intent (LOI) and applications must be submitted throughout online grant portal. Please do not mail or email physical letters to our office. All applications are due by 4:00 PM on the deadline listed in each grant cycle.

FY26 Grant Cycle Schedule

FY27 Grant Cycle Schedule

Qualifications for Applicants: Applicants must be a governmental entity or nonprofit with a valid 501(c)3 or 501(c)19 status under the U.S. IRS Code. Nonprofit status will be verified through GuideStar or an IRS Determination letter. Applicants may not share or borrow nonprofit status from another organization.

State Requirements: As a Qualified Sponsored Organization (QSO), the BHCGA operates under the rules and regulations set forth by the IRGC. This often requires us to request additional documentation or information.

Funding Criteria: Applicants must be located in one of the following counties: Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, or Grundy counties. However, our primary focus area is Black Hawk County, as it is home to the Isle Casino Waterloo. A maximum of 10% of our annual revenue may be allocated to the remaining three counties.