Kari McCann Boutell, President
Kari McCann Boutell (she/her/hers) joined the Iowa Council of Foundations as President in 2015. Kari works directly with the Board of Directors and oversees the implementation of ICoF’s strategic framework through program development and management, membership recruitment and retention, as well as education and outreach for the purpose of strengthening, guiding 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 United Philanthropy Forum Board of Directors and University of Northern Iowa Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Advisory Board. 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.
Kari lives in the Dubuque metro with her husband and two children. Her earliest memory of formal philanthropy dates back to eighth grade when she joined her local youth philanthropy group.
Laura Riordan Berardi, Member Services Coordinator
Laura Riordan Berardi (she/her/hers) joined the Iowa Council of Foundations as Administrative and Communications Coordinator in September 2020. In the spring of 2022 we decided “Member Services Coordinator” better reflected the work of this position. Laura manages the ICoF member database, membership renewals, colleague inquiries, the member newsletter and ICoF’s social media channels. She also assists the ICoF President with logistics for ICoF events, supports day-to-day operations, as well as other communications and correspondence needs.
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, higher ed, and a religious organization. Laura has also volunteered on various boards of directors, and currently leads her church’s lay Pastoral Care Team.
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.
