Kari McCann Boutell, President
Kari McCann Boutell joined the Iowa Council of Foundations as President in 2015. Kari works directly with the Board of Directors and oversees organizational activities including program development and management, membership recruitment and retention, as well as education and outreach for the purpose of strengthening and growing philanthropy in Iowa. An Iowa native, Kari brings her lived, rural experience, passion for place-based leadership, and collaborative spirit to the network each day.
Kari has a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of Northern Iowa and a graduate degree in philanthropic studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Prior to joining the ICoF, Kari was the Director of Nonprofit Partnerships & Grantmaking at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
Kari serves on the Creative Adventure Lab Board of Directors, University of Northern Iowa Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Advisory Board, University of Northern Iowa Leisure, Youth and Human Services Advisory Council, and is a Co-Chair of a United Philanthropy Forum Peer Community. Kari is a Jr. Achievement classroom volunteer and participates in a local Women’s Giving Circle, where she participates on the Grantmaking Committee. Kari also provides consulting services for nonprofits and supports youth philanthropy across the state and nationally.
Kari lives in Dubuque with her husband and daughter. Her earliest memory of formal philanthropy dates back to eighth grade when she joined her local youth philanthropy group.
Laura Riordan Berardi, Administrative and Communications Coordinator
Laura Riordan Berardi joined the Iowa Council of Foundations as Administrative and Communications Coordinator in September 2020. Laura assists the ICoF President with logistics for ICoF events, supporting day-to-day operations, producing communications pieces and corresponding with ICoF members and partners.
Laura is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa (B.A., Communication/Linguistics) and Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa (Master’s degree, Public Administration). She has spent her career in the public and nonprofit sectors working for state government, a grant-funded nonprofit, academia, and a religious organization. Laura has also served on various boards of directors, most recently for the Unitarian Universalist Association of Membership Professionals.
Laura lives in Des Moines with her husband and two children. Her earliest memory of personal philanthropy is donating the entire contents of her piggy bank to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty when she was in Kindergarten.
