Kari McCann Boutell, President, Iowa Council of Foundations

The Iowa Council of Foundations Board of Directors recently awarded nine community foundation capacity building grants. The purpose of this grant program is to support opportunities for qualified community foundations and their affiliates to engage in activities that enhances their ability for sustainable endowment growth/building. Capacity building includes a wide variety of activities. I wanted to highlight a few of this year’s grants to get you thinking about opportunities for your foundation in the future:

• The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation received funding to support the development of new marketing materials. They will focus their efforts this year on their Business Partners in Philanthropy program, which is designed to engage business partners in funding GPCF operations and investing in the organization’s mission. We liked this proposal because it seeks to increase their donor base by targeting a specific group of donors  – businesses.
• The Okoboji Community Foundation received funding to support marketing and planning efforts for their Emerging Leaders Program. The Emerging Leaders seeks to engage people age 25-40 in the community foundation and broader nonprofit community in the Okoboji area. They anticipate this group will bring innovative ideas and energy to connect other potential volunteers/board members/donors in their age range to new and existing philanthropic initiatives. We liked this proposal because it grows the human capital and capacity of the community foundation by bringing more people into their mission and engaging this unique population in philanthropic priorities in their region.
• The Story County Community Foundation received funding to support their efforts in hiring their first, full-time executive director this year. The Story County Community Foundation has effectively used capacity building grant funding in the past to grow their staff capacity through professional development, community outreach opportunities, and now they are ready to take the next step. We liked this proposal because it seeks to grow their staff capacity while simultaneously strengthening their development efforts and endowment building.

As a reminder, we will host a fall Capacity Building Grant Program cycle in October this year, which will give you another opportunity to apply for this type of funding. This grant program requires a 50% match for every dollar you receive in grant funding. I encourage you to begin thinking of ways these dollars can help grow your community foundation’s capacity and accelerate your endowment growth. If you have any questions or would like some coaching on your proposal, please contact us.

MJ Smith, Director of Affiliate Foundations, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque

Recently we were approached by an attorney who served clients with a bold philanthropic vision. The More Moments More Memories fund was the idea of Christi Shaw and Shelley Shaw, sisters who grew up in Clayton County. Their mission, to support individuals’ travel to cancer clinical trials, is inspired by both their late mother, Karen, and their other sister, Sherry, who has experienced the significant hardships of cancer. Christi and Shelley deeply understand, personally and professionally, the ongoing needs of cancer patients and the sad reality that those with financial means are better able to access quality solutions.

Karen Shaw, died of breast cancer in 1996. At the time, the sisters, growing up in Clayton County, Iowa, were told there was nothing more anyone could do to save their mother’s life. She suffered through chemotherapy, radiation, and bravely fought to stay alive. What the sisters did not know was that there were clinical trials available at the time in other parts of the country. If they had known, and their mother had been given the option to take advantage of those trials, she might have lived to see her youngest daughter graduate from college on Mothers’ Day and attend the funerals of her parents, who instead had to endure the loss of their child.

Sadly, cancer touched these three sisters’ lives again when Sherry was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Currently, as a high-risk patient, she is running out of options and must travel many states away to gain access to new solutions to save her life.

Fortunately, her sisters were able to put their careers on hold to support Sherry through a clinical trial and other innovative treatments.

Christi was President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the U.S. and Shelley was Senior Director – Global Marketing at Baxalta. As pharmaceutical industry executives, they had both the institutional knowledge and experience to become effective patient caregivers and advocates for their sister. As they navigated through the healthcare system, it became clear to them that most families in similar situations do not have their unique experience or ability.

The Shaw sisters are passionate about their belief that lack of financial resources or lack of awareness about potential solutions should never stand in the way of creating More Moments and More Memories for families.

We were inspired by these sisters and their dedication to helping others in similar situations.  Donors and their passions come in many forms, and as community foundation advisors, we are lucky to get to help guide them on their path to making a difference through philanthropy.

Kari McCann Boutell, President, Iowa Council of Foundations

Last Tuesday I joined 25 Grade Level Reading (GLR) Leaders from across Iowa at the Capitol for our lunchtime GLR Day on the Hill. We used this fact sheet to help tell the story of 12 Iowa communities that are working to support third grade reading efforts across the state. As I watched clerks and pages collect slices of pizza for their respective legislators, I stood wondering “is this really the best way to make sure our voice is heard?” I am not sure it was and we are already planning for other ways to share our important work next session; however, I do think it is the  combination of each of our efforts that make a difference in public policy work.

As we prepare for our Community Foundation Legislative Breakfast later this month, know that you can be actively engaged in advocacy efforts before, during and after the event to make sure your voice is heard. Here are some ideas:

• Attend a Town Hall meeting or Legislative Breakfast in your community when your legislators are in your community.
• Write an Op-Ed in your local newspaper explaining how the County Endowment Fund and Endow Iowa programs have benefited your communities and county. Let me know if you’d like ICoF to guest author!
• Visit the Capitol for face-to-face interactions. 10-15 minutes can be the best way to communicate with your representatives.
• Make a call to your representatives. This can be an effective way to be engaged around issues that are important to you professionally as well as personally.

However you choose to advocate, please engage. Your local voice, perspective and opinions are important to our state and federal legislators. As we seek to protect and preserve policy that helps philanthropy do its best work in Iowa and around the country, we are asking you, our valued partners and members, to join us.

Nicole Brua-Behrens, Executive Director, Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation

For those of us working to change our communities for the better, meeting with state and national legislators is so important!  I know this, yet it is one of those activities that makes me break out in a cold sweat.  I recently discovered that preparation and a “posse” makes the task bearable, even enjoyable!

Last October, Representative Guy Vander Linden accepted an invitation to meet with a small group including two Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation board members, Kari McCann Boutell, President of Iowa Council of Foundations and me.  The goal of the meeting was to discuss the impact of the state’s Endow Iowa Tax Credit program on our little slice of heaven-Poweshiek County.   My nerves where calmed during the meeting because Representative Vander Linden was very engaged and asked great questions, but also because the posse was there around the table supporting one another.  Kari provided state level historical and current information about the program, the foundation board members described why they support endowed funds, and I rounded out the conversation with examples of endowments and how they affect Poweshiek County communities, making them better places to live for all ages.  We provided data and anecdotal information and answered questions.  The meeting lasted no more than an hour and Representative Vander Linden thanked the group and reiterated the importance of speaking with legislators face to face-really making a connection and providing information about the impact of their decisions at the local level.

Your organization needs you to connect with those who will affect funding and legislators need you to tell them how the programs and funding impact our counties and communities.  If you are planning a visit with a legislator to talk about a community foundation issue I would recommend reaching out to Kari McCann Boutell for coaching and guidance and gathering together a few board members or community members to reiterate your message. Creating your own posse will ease your fears and also make the meeting more worthwhile for your legislator.

Kari McCann Boutell, President, Iowa Council of Foundations

Happy new year! Many of us are making resolutions and setting personal goals for 2017. Now is also a good time to begin laying plans and setting goals for your affiliate and community foundations as well. One thing I do each year is create a calendar with important activities for my staff and one for my board. This helps give us a look at our activities for the full year and makes things manageable by breaking them down into monthly tasks.

If you don’t already use a tool like this, it is easy to create your own. I will help you get started by sharing some important dates and activities that ICoF has planned for you in 2017!

January: Capacity Building Grant Webinar (17th)
February: Capacity Building Grant Idea Submissions Due (17th); Peer-Learning Call (15th)
March: Community Foundations Legislative Breakfast (28th); Peer-Learning Call (15th)
April: Capacity Building Grant Proposals Due (1st)
May: CF Boot Camp (15-16, West Des Moines and 18-19, Cedar Rapids)
June: Capacity Building Grants Awarded; Peer-Learning Call
July: CF Assets Reports Due
August: County Endowment Fund Reports Due (15th); Peer-Learning Call
September: CONNECT Conference (13th)
October: Idea Implementation Grant Proposals Due; Capacity Building Grant Applications Due (1st); Peer-Learning Call
November: Idea Implementation Grants Awarded; Capacity Building Grants Due (15th); Peer-Learning Call
December: Endow Iowa Resolutions and Accreditation Notifications Due (Host and standalone CFs only)