Iowa Council of Foundations

05/11/2026

We had a jam-packed room and a jam-packed agenda for our Spring Quarterly Membership Meeting last week! A sincere thank you to our meeting host and sponsor, Grinnell College.

Our members had the opportunity to hear from local, state and national experts in news, journalism and philanthropy about the important role local media plays in supporting civic engagement and a healthy democracy.

A special thank you to the following guest speakers: Becky Vonnahme – Executive Director, Western Iowa Journalism Foundation; Caroline Merenda – Director of Chapter Advancement, Press Forward; Mary Jo Jean-Francois – VP of Impact, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque; Grinnell College President Anne F. Harris; Debbie Anselm – Iowa Newspaper Association; Bob Woodward – Press Forward Northeast Iowa; Trevis & Nancy Mayfield – Owners, Sycamore Media; and Peggy Pinder Elliot – Co-Owner, Grinnell Herald Register.

03/19/2026

We had a full day on Capitol Hill yesterday meeting with each of Iowa’s Congressional offices. We asked for expansion of the IRA charitable rollover to include donor-advised funds and asked House members to join the newly launched Congressional Philanthropy Caucus. A big thanks to Charla Schafer, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine & Beth Jones, Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation for joining us for this important trip. We were also joined by Beth’s son, Gavin, who is currently studying at the U of Iowa. We feel it was a very worthwhile and productive visit!

03/06/2026

Community foundation leaders met with legislators this morning at the Capitol to express their gratitude for the Legislature’s continued investment in the Endow Iowa tax credit and County Endowment Fund Program. Yesterday, QSO grantmakers convened and had an opportunity to hear from Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority & Iowa Finance Authority. It was an engaging and meaningful week. Thank you to all who joined us!

02/06/2026

Kelly Dix was a long-time, dedicated member of the ICoF network. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy in her family and the many contributions she made working at the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. Please keep the Dix family in your thoughts.

View Kelly (Herek) Dix's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

11/21/2025

https://www.wqad.com/article/news/local/the-current/community-health-care-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner-grant-muscatine-first/526-8e1f982d-e433-4032-a5bd-b54e42d298d0

Community Health Care Inc. says the grant will allow for the hiring of CHC's first Muscatine-based psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

11/20/2025

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/principal-foundation-awards-500-000-grant-to-support-national-geographic-societys-vision-to-inspire-curiosity-through-a-reimagined-museum-experience-302613142.html

/PRNewswire/ -- Principal® Foundation, a global nonprofit organization committed to helping people and communities build financially secure futures, announced...

11/19/2025

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The Iowa Women’s Foundation announced $400,000 in grant funding awarded to 13 organizations at its annual luncheon on Nov. 5. According to a press release, grant-making is one of IWF’s five pillars of sustainable change, funding programs working to relieve evidence-based barriers to economic sel...

11/18/2025

🎉 Don't mind us, we've just been busy celebrating National Community Foundations Week!

Iowa’s more than 130 community foundations – at least one in each county – will take part in Community Foundations Week November 12-18. This annual, nationwide celebration recognizes the increasingly

11/07/2025

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Buy Photo GRINNELL — The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation and the Claude W. & Dolly Ahrens Foundation kick off …

11/06/2025

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Foundation of Greater Muscatine!

The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine has announced the awarding of more than $174,000 in grants to support local charitable programs and projects through the Muscatine Health Support Fund—the first round of grants since completion of the new Mulberry Health Clinic, a news release says. Th...