Waterloo Community Foundation

05/28/2026

We’re excited to welcome Deb Lilly as Finance Manager at the Waterloo Community Foundation!

Deb retired from the Hawkeye Community College Foundation and also brings experience in wealth management from her time at Community Bank & Trust. Her strong background in financial operations, attention to detail, and commitment to the community make her a wonderful addition to our team!

In her role, Deb will steward and strengthen our financial operations, support Fiscal Sponsorship partners and help advance our mission of investing in Waterloo’s growth, opportunity, and future.

Please join us in welcoming Deb to the team!

05/26/2026

Eric and Judy Thorson have spent their lives investing in the Waterloo community, both personally and professionally.

Their story together began when they met as young adults while Judy was on dialysis waiting for a kidney transplant and Eric had already received a successful kidney transplant. With encouragement from dialysis nurses and a final push from Judy’s roommate, they connected when Judy returned to Waterloo after her successful transplant. They quickly became friends and were dating within six months. Today, Eric and Judy have been married for 39 years and both received kidney transplants again in 2022.

Eric is a lifelong Waterloo resident. After graduating from West High School and Iowa State University, he joined the City of Waterloo Engineering Department as a Project Engineer and eventually became the Waterloo City Engineer. Eric served as the longest running Waterloo City Department Head until his retirement in 2018.

Judy moved to Waterloo from Cresco, Iowa after graduating from Notre Dame High School to attend Hawkeye Institute of Technology, now known as Hawkeye Community College. Judy has now lived in Waterloo longer than her hometown of Cresco. She spent most of her career in sales in the professional portrait photography business. However, later in life she made a change in her career and worked for Edward Jones until her retirement. Throughout her career and diverse volunteer work, she has grown deeply connected to the community.

Judy said, “Being married to Eric has rubbed off on me. I’m a transplant to Waterloo and joining the UpDowntowners Board shortly after marrying Eric changed my perspective. I want to leave Waterloo better than I found it.”

Their shared commitment to Waterloo led them to establish the Eric and Judy Thorson Fund, an endowed Donor Advised Fund at the Waterloo Community Foundation. This Fund allows them to recommend grants to the nonprofits they care about while ensuring long-term support for their community. They are passionate about providing food assistance but also personally enjoy the arts and wish to support it. Since both Judy and Eric have a complex health history, they are thankful for the care they have received in Waterloo and hope to support these needs as well.

Eric and Judy have also included their fund in their estate plans, joining our Legacy Society and ensuring their love for Waterloo extends beyond their lifetime.

By establishing a Fund at the Waterloo Community Foundation, you can support your favorite nonprofits, respond to emerging needs, and create a lasting legacy that strengthens Waterloo for generations to come. Let us know if you are ready to take the next step toward establishing a Donor Advised Fund. We look forward to working with you!

It takes all of us to inspire growth and opportunity in Waterloo. Thank you for investing in the city we love!

Learn more about Donor Advised Funds at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/fund-types/ -Advised-Fund

05/20/2026

We are excited to award $84,000 in scholarships to graduating students this year!

It is a privilege to work alongside donors who are passionate about investing in the futures of local students. Donors have the opportunity to establish scholarship funds with various eligibility requirements and participate in the selection of recipients, alongside a volunteer committee appointed by the Foundation.

We are proud to support the success of these students as they pursue their dreams and create the future for Waterloo. Congratulations to all 2026 scholarship recipients!

Margaret Ann Enderlein Scholarship
• Hannah Smith
• Selena Andres-Mendez

Tyler Greene Scholarship
• Amarrie Dixon

West High Class of 1962 Scholarship
• Delphi Dixon
• James Knight

Hubert and Georgia Rossin Scholarship
• Knya Dellit

Dave Aumer Memorial Scholarship
• Logan Mcgilligan

DeNae Nash Purple Heart Scholarship
• Delanie Richardson

Dr. Sam Christensen Scholarship
• Alexander Madonna

VGM Scholarship
• Landon Cody
• Abigail Jensen
• Aubrey Sadler
• Aubree Land
• Anna Brodahl
• Kali Aldrich

Black Hawk County Bar Association Scholarship
• Oliver Manning
• Morgan Kisch

Park Educational Scholarship
• Aracelli Perez-Torres
• Elise Hong Miller
• Michael Wilson
• Sophie Matlock
• Makhi Fisher
• Benjamin Eberhard
• Rana Teke

Chuck Stilwill Scholarship for Performing Arts
• Sophie Lange

Liz Crowley Memorial Scholarship
• Taylor Zuck
• Delphi Dixon

Mother Moon Service Scholarship
• Jamari Kruse
• KeiMyjah Jenkins
• Chance Shaw
• Addyson Schoepske
• Maya Knight
• Alexander Madonna
• Addie Langel

POS Corporate Scholarship
• Brady Wall
• Jackson Primus
• Margaret Burkholder
• Carlyn Schumaker
• Aubrey Braegelmann

R. Michael Ingraham Scholarship for Technical Theater
• Ava Dunn

Rick and Debbie Morris Family Scholarship
• Jyvette Motuli

Todd Brekke Memorial Scholarship
• Ava Homolar

West High Class of 1976 Memorial Scholarship
• Diana Quinto-Rafael

Youth in Action Volunteerism Scholarship
• Addyson Schoepske

Congratulations to all 2026 scholarship recipients! We wish you the best in all your future endeavors!

Learn more about Scholarship Funds at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/fund-types/ -Fund

05/14/2026

Thank you for joining us for Windows on Waterloo this week!

This conversation highlights Waterloo CourtWorks, a new 100,000-square-foot hardwood court sports facility coming to downtown Waterloo and expected to open in 2027. Presented by Jim Miller, Vice President of Waterloo Development Corp, and Ashley Johnson, Executive Director of the Cedar Valley Sports Commission, the webinar provides an overview of the project, its role in supporting downtown redevelopment, and how sports tourism is expected to help drive economic activity throughout the community.

If you missed this presentation, a recording can be found here:

Learn more about Waterloo CourtWorks, a new 100,000-square-foot hardwood court sports facility coming to downtown Waterloo and expected to open in early 2027...

05/11/2026

We hope you will join us Wednesday, May 13 at 11 AM for a Windows on Waterloo webinar to learn more about Waterloo CourtWorks!

Waterloo CourtWorks is a new 100,000-square-foot indoor sports facility coming to downtown Waterloo and expected to open in early 2027. This presentation will provide an overview of the project, its role in supporting downtown redevelopment, and how capitalizing on sports tourism will help drive economic activity in our community.

Register online at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/learning-opportunities/ to receive the Zoom information!

05/06/2026

Join us Wednesday, May 13 at 11 AM for a Windows on Waterloo webinar to learn more about Waterloo CourtWorks.

Waterloo CourtWorks is a new 100,000-square-foot indoor sports facility coming to downtown Waterloo and expected to open in early 2027. This presentation will provide an overview of the project, its role in supporting downtown redevelopment, and how capitalizing on sports tourism will help drive economic activity in our community.

Register online at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/learning-opportunities/

04/28/2026

We hosted our annual Celebrate Waterloo Grant Recognition Event last Tuesday evening. This is one of our favorite nights of the year because it gives us an opportunity celebrate the meaningful work happening across our community and learn more about the organizations driving that impact. Guests enjoyed an evening of appetizers and connection with fellow community members who love Waterloo.

The highlight of the evening was hearing directly from our grant recipients. Several organizations were featured through short videos, giving attendees a closer look at the impact of their work, while others shared their stories live. You can watch the featured videos and learn more about the grant recipients here: https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/grants/

We are proud to recognize the following ten organizations:

- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley - Great Futures Career Pathways
- Lutheran Services in Iowa - Child Care Business Development Program
- University of Northern Iowa Foundation - Waterloo Neighborhood Tree Equity and Resilience Project
- Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective - Promoting Inclusion Within Our Community
- Iowa Legal Aid - Waterloo Eviction Diversion Project
- Inclusion Connection - Building the Foundation for Inclusive Communities
- Hawkeye Community College Foundation - Hawkeye Community Care Summer Dental Clinic
- YWCA Black Hawk County - Y's Kids
- Growing Minds Early Learning Center - Classroom Improvement
- GO! Transportation - Accessible Youth Transportation

It is a privilege to witness the power of your collective generosity and the deep commitment shared by our donors and nonprofit partners working together to make a difference in Waterloo.

Thank you for investing in the city we love!

04/16/2026

The Waterloo Community Foundation is seeking a Part-Time Finance Manager to administer and strengthen our financial operations.

This role is perfect for someone who is detail-oriented and mission-driven. The Finance Manager will oversee financial recordkeeping, ensure compliance with nonprofit accounting standards, prepare reports for our Board of Directors, and support our Fiscal Sponsorship partners.

If you’re passionate about community impact and bringing clarity and integrity to financial systems, we’d love to connect!

A complete job description and application instructions are available at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/hiring/

04/15/2026

2025 was a transformational year for the Waterloo Community Foundation!

Together, we surpassed our reach goal of $10 million and closed the year with $11.4 million in assets across 128 Funds. This milestone reflects the strength of our donors, both new and returning, that continue to grow our capacity to serve Waterloo.

This significant asset growth in 2025 was driven by an increase in annual donations, including several especially generous contributions.

One of these gifts came from the estate of Mary K. Williams, whose generosity will leave a lasting impact on Waterloo for years to come. Her gift established the Mary K. Williams Fund, a Donor Advised Fund supporting local nonprofits, and the Mary K. Williams Scholarship Fund, an endowed scholarship that will help students pursue post-secondary education. You can learn more about this gift on our website at https://wloocommunityfoundation.org/legacy-of-educator-mary-k-williams-to-benefit-waterloo-students-and-community/.

Thank you for your trust, your generosity, and your commitment to building lasting resources for our community!

04/10/2026

Thank you for joining us for Windows on Waterloo this week!

In this conversation, Executive Director Margaret Moye offers an inside look at the exciting work happening across the Grout Museum District .

She highlights current programs and exhibits, shares the vision behind Reimagine the Imag, and previews what’s ahead for summer activities. Margaret also provides context around local levy changes and what they could mean for the museum’s future. It’s an insightful and timely update on an organization that continues to play an important role in our community!

If you missed this presentation, a recording can be found at

Executive Director Margaret Moye, shared about current programming, future plans to Reimagine the Imag, and what’s ahead for summer activities. She will also...