By Degrees Foundation

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Des Moines, IA
By Degrees Foundation

We partner with public schools to help more students graduate from high school ready for the future.

06/03/2026

Double your impact for By Degrees! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce our participation in the Birdies for Charity program through the Principal Charity Classic!

Donating today via the link below will match your generous contribution, doubling the support we can provide Iowa's children. This is a powerful opportunity to amplify your impact and help us reach our goals.

Join us in celebrating this cause at the Wakonda Club from June 10 to June 11th, 2026 for the Pro-Am. Professional competition runs June 12 – June 14th. As you cheer on the professionals, know your support makes a meaningful difference!

https://www.bydegreesfoundation.org/get-involved

06/02/2026

The weather was clear and sunny on Field Day at Findley Elementary School ☀️

Throughout the day, students eagerly participated in a variety of games and events at different stations. They splashed around in water games and competed in relay races.

Students got creative drawing vibrant pictures with sidewalk chalk, and everyone ended the day by enjoying refreshing popsicles.

Thank you to our By Degrees staff and the generous volunteers from John Deere, who ran the various stations. Students were engaged and having a blast as they wrapped up another successful Field Day.

05/29/2026

Get ready for an exhilarating experience at this year's United Against Racism match, proudly presented in partnership with the Des Moines Menace!

This year, By Degrees and our friends at BLK & Bold Foundation have a chance to feel the impact. A portion of the proceeds from every single-game ticket sold, along with warm-up top sales and the auction of player-worn warm-up tops, will directly support our vital missions.

Mark your calendars and don’t miss the action as the Des Moines Menace takes on Springfield FC!
When: Saturday, June 13th, at 7:00 PM
Where: Mediacom Stadium, Des Moines

Show your spirit and gear up for the United Against Racism match! Get your warm-up top here: https://des-moines-menace.square.site/product/united-against-racism-warm-up-top/KKH67SB2EMP3OWGD7OFWQUYH?cs=true&cst=custom

05/26/2026

Summer is just around the corner, and we are already dreaming big for the upcoming year. ☀️
In this month's newsletter, you'll learn about how students are preparing for their futures:

🪙 Celebrating 529 Month at North High
🎒 Harding Students Support Incoming 7th Graders
🏀 1st Graders Team Up with Drake University

Read more exciting updates on this month’s programming here: https://conta.cc/4f5R0H1

05/14/2026

Double Your Impact❗

We recently announced Moving the Needle on Student Success, a $5 million campaign aimed at expanding By Degrees Foundation’s proven partnership model to benefit more students in Des Moines over the next five years.

This expansion will enhance systems within public education, reaching thousands more students and creating lasting, measurable change that promotes economic mobility throughout central Iowa. 📚

To kick off this next phase, all campaign donations made by June 1, 2026, will be matched dollar for dollar by GreenState Credit Union, up to a total of $10,000. This is a fantastic opportunity to double your impact for Des Moines students!

Make Your Impact Count: https://www.bydegreesfoundation.org/campaign

05/12/2026

Students in S.T.E.A.M. 🧪

This spring, members of North High's Poetry Club visited Iowa State University. The trip to Ames provided a valuable experience for our young poets as they explored the intersection of science and poetry.

At the HYDRO Initiative lab, students examined advancements in separation and sensing technologies used for water purification. Later, in the poetry classroom, they created their own poems inspired by the scientific processes they observed. 📝

Thank you to Iowa State University for organizing such a wonderful opportunity to explore the connections between science and the arts.

05/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our 20th Sweet Dreams event! 💫

At Sweet Dreams, we announced "Moving the Needle on Student Success", a $5 million campaign to expand By Degrees Foundation’s proven partnership model to serve more Des Moines students over the next five years.

Campaign gifts will advance two key priorities:

1️⃣ Triple the number of elementary students served annually, from 300 to 1,100.

2️⃣ Grow the number of individual students with access to 529 savings accounts from 600 to 3,200.

To help launch this next phase, all campaign gifts made by June 1, 2026, will be matched dollar-for-dollar by GreenState Credit Union, up to a total of $10,000. This is a powerful opportunity to double your impact for Des Moines students!

Learn How to Join the Impact: https://www.bydegreesfoundation.org/campaign

05/05/2026

Tomorrow is Wednesday, May 6th, which means Sweet Dreams has arrived!

Join us from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM as we celebrate milestones, honor our journey thus far, and unveil an exciting new chapter for expanding opportunities in Des Moines.

We anticipate a lovely, albeit slightly chilly, Iowa spring evening. Kelly and Ted invite you to explore their home and enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces available. Please note that our program is currently planned to take place outdoors.

Self-parking is available along Foster Drive, and golf carts will be running continuously to transport guests to and from the house.

05/04/2026

Happy 529 Month at By Degrees!

We kicked off the month at North High with our 529 Account Celebration. This year, thanks to a generous contribution from the Wells Fargo Foundation, the By Degrees Foundation has expanded our 529 Savings Account program to North High.

This expansion allows all the students we serve to access funds for their postsecondary futures. During the celebration, we highlighted students with open 529 accounts, hosted games that allowed students to earn contributions toward their accounts, and organized a student panel over lunch to discuss the impact of these accounts on their futures.

We are thrilled that more students can now access a 529 savings account and pursue postsecondary education.

05/01/2026

2nd Graders Explore DMACC🐻💙

Each year, our partner school students visit their grade-level postsecondary partner. Recently, our 2nd graders from Findley Elementary visited the Des Moines Area Community College Urban campus for their annual college trip.

The day kicked off with a warm welcome from the DMACC Bear and Admissions. Our 2nd graders were full of smiles as they toured the campus and participated in various activities.

The students enjoyed decorating bookmarks and had a great time in the Chemistry Lab, where they made stress balls using corn starch, water, and food coloring. We returned to Findley with fun souvenirs and a sense of excitement from visiting a college campus.

A big thank you to DMACC Urban for providing our young scholars with the opportunity to explore education pathways right in their hometown!

Address

1171 7th Street
Des Moines, IA
50314

Website

http://www.bydegreesfoundation.org/

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