Connecting to Community Foundations

Iowa Funding Opportunities

About the Iowa Council of Foundations

The Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) is a statewide membership association of 70+ grantmakers in Iowa. Their mission is to strengthen and grow philanthropy in Iowa. You can view a full listening of ICoF members here. 

While all ICoF members could be potential supporters of your work, Iowa Community Foundations are a great resource in each county in Iowa. 

What is a Community Foundation? 

Community foundations are grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area. In Iowa, the geographic area is almost always a county and sometimes a specific community. Community foundations play a unique role within the nonprofit sector. They are:

• Grantmakers, supporting a wide range of community needs - education, health, human services and more

• Local giving vehicles, establishing and holding numerous funds for a variety of charitable purposes

• Community leaders and conveners, acting as community catalysts focusing on long-term endowment building and sustainability 

Why Should I Connect With My Local Community Foundation? 

Local Expertise

Staff members have an in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities and resources that shape your community. They monitor all areas of community need, including: human services, education, the environment, healthcare, the arts and economic development. They can help you learn more about local agencies and programs that make a difference in areas you care about most.

Community Leadership

Community foundations across Iowa invest in the long term and bring people and organizations together, convening diverse voices to address local issues and opportunities. The business is building communities. They invest in community's nonprofit leadership to develop, mobilize and increase capacity for nonprofits working throughout the region. 

Nonprofit Support 

Iowa's community foundations monitor Iowa community's emerging needs and listen for new opportunities. They connect donors with important community causes and provide professional training and development opportunities to strengthen nonprofit boards and organizations. Options are provided for nonprofits that support endowment management and accounting services to increase efficiency. 

Training and Education 

To ensure that nonprofits are equipped to do their best work and improve communities, the foundations provide programming throughout the year to train and educate nonprofit staff and board members on fundraising best practices and effective board governance. In addition to these unique training opportunities, depending on the region, foundations may provide core curriculum trainings in their centers and at local nonprofits. Many foundations provide books and publications on various topics regarding nonprofits that are available to borrow for educational resources.

What is the Iowa Community Foundations Initiative?

Iowa Community Foundations Initiative supports the network of community foundations and affiliate community foundations across the state. For more information and to locate your local community foundation, visit: www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org. 

Quick Guide to Qualified Community Foundations in Iowa

Find Your Local Community Foundation

Click Here to Find Your Local Community Foundation