Here at the Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF), our calling is pretty simple.
OUR MISSION: The ICoF strengthens, guides, and grows philanthropy in Iowa.
OUR VISION: A vibrant philanthropic ecosystem contributing to a thriving, equitable Iowa.
OUR VALUES:
Equity & Justice: We value building a society that upholds equity and justice for all and seek to be leaders in creating equity and justice in philanthropy.
Integrity & Accountability: We value holding one another to the highest levels of integrity and accountability in our field, cultivating a reputation of honesty and reliability, thereby earning respect and trust from our grantees, our peers, and the public.
Learning & Action: We value continuous learning to advance our work as individuals, organizations, and a sector, and mobilizing our ongoing education into impactful action for a better Iowa.
People & Community: We value keeping people and communities at the center of all we do, and we value their expertise and insight into what they need to build stronger, more joyful places for Iowans to call home.
OUR ROLE:
Guide: We bring leading practices and emerging trends to our members, with an ongoing commitment to equity and justice, and encourage our membership in their adoption of promising practices.
Connect: We foster connections among our members, between member organizations and regional and national experts and resources, and we leverage funding and resources to fuel philanthropy in Iowa.
Advocate: We raise awareness of philanthropy and charitable giving in Iowa, are a leading voice on behalf of philanthropy at state and federal levels, and mobilize our members to engage in policy advocacy.
Collaborate: We convene members around shared priorities, listen and learn from nonprofit and BIPOC leaders, and work together with other philanthropy-serving organizations and philanthropic leaders.
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: Our work is guided by the four strategic priorities outlined below.
- Increase philanthropic AWARENESS in Iowa
- Increase philanthropic IMPACT through ICoF members
- Increase philanthropic RESOURCES connected to ICoF
- Advance racial EQUITY & JUSTICE in philanthropy in Iowa
You can learn more about how we deliver on these strategies through the ICoF annual reports.
How We Serve Our Members
The Iowa Council of Foundations is the place where grantmakers come together to access information, build skills and develop relationships to enhance philanthropy in Iowa.
Access to Information
Having all of the facts is essential. Through membership meetings, special topical sessions/briefings, and newsletters/updates, the Iowa Council of Foundations keeps its members informed of important information related to our collective work.
Building Skills through Continuing Education
Philanthropy is ever changing, so continuing education is key. Professional development is offered through the Iowa Council of Foundations’ various educational sessions to help members develop and refine skills in a variety of areas. These include everything from grantmaking processes to leading effective meetings.
Developing Relationships by Networking
In philanthropy, as in life, communication is key. The Iowa Council of Foundations offers programs that provide members with the opportunity to get to know their colleagues in other grantmaking organizations, to share information about programs and priorities, and to build cooperative relationships.
Our work and programs focus on improving philanthropy and effective grantmaking in Iowa. We engage nationally with colleague organizations as a member of the United Philanthropy Forum, connecting our state to new ideas, funding opportunities and partnerships.
Updated May 2023.
