History

2006

2005

 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1969


2006

 

In 2006, the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation reached more than $156 million in assets under management; a single-year growth of more than 50%.  At the same time our number of relationships grew to 416 funds.  In 2006, the Community Foundation’s endowment portfolio earned 12%, moving the 10-year rate-of-return average to 10%.  As part of the Community Foundation’s focus on donor services, it invested in a secure online fund management system.  DonorCentral allows Community Foundation donors to access fund balances, view grant history and make grant recommendations online.  As a strategic grantmaker, the Community Foundation provides leadership and critical funding to address community issues, gaps, needs and opportunities.  In 2006, the Community Foundation distributed more than $20 million in grants – a new record.  Community Foundation Leadership Grants included seed funding to Restoration Ingersoll, which in turn raised more than $1 million in private contributions and additional grants to restore this historic retail and residential district near downtown Des Moines.  A Leadership Grant to Primary Health Care equipped dental exam rooms to serve local families who would not otherwise have access to dental care.  The Great Outdoors Fund received a Leadership Grant to finance research and design options for Greenwood Park and the former Science Center of Iowa site.  The Des Moines Public Library received a Leadership Grant to create a teen center at the Central Library.  The Community Foundation’s Grantmaking Committee also planted a seed for community betterment by providing a Leadership Grant to the Chinese Cultural Center for the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens.  BoardLaunch, the series of workshops offered through the Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund, continues to meet the needs of the nonprofit sector by training volunteer board members to meet their legal and fiduciary responsibilities.  More than 525 nonprofit board and staff members have participated in BoardLaunch training since its inception in the fall of 2005.  As a neutral third party, the Community Foundation played the role of convener when Des Moines faced the challenge of where to relocate the area’s largest homeless shelter.  A Community Foundation grant funded a professional facilitator to bring together homeless advocates, downtown business leaders and city officials to identify the most viable relocation options for Central Iowa Shelter & Services (formerly Churches United).  Membership in the LifeTown Legacy Society increased to 112 donors who will leave their legacies to the Greater Des Moines community through their planned giving commitments.  Through the generosity of premier philanthropists, the Community Foundation established the Leadership Circle Fund.  The founders of the Leadership Circle have contributed and pledged a total of $20 million.  Members of the Leadership Circle will participate in leveraging their giving to make significant and strategic grants to improve the quality of life in Greater Des Moines.  Greater Des Moines Community Foundation donors received more than $887,000 in 2006 Endow Iowa Tax Credits by creating or contributing to Endow Iowa-qualified funds totaling $4,435,000.  The 2005 Columbus Foundation Annual Survey of more than 640 community foundations ranked the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation in the Top 100 Foundations for grants made, gifts received and assets under management.  Des Moines ranked 40th for gifts received, 50th for grants made and 99th for market value.  The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation Board Chair Maddie Levitt became the first Iowan selected to receive the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service and philanthropist John Pappajohn became the first Iowan selected to receive the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship.  Community leaders and philanthropists Michele and Barry Griswell received the prestigious Des Moines Register Iowa Star Award for their contributions toward making Iowa shine brighter.  Michele serves on the Community Foundation Board of Directors and its Marketing & Development Committee.  Business and community leaders G. David Hurd and Robert G. Riley joined the Community Foundation Board of Directors and Fred W. Weitz rejoined the Board.  The Community Foundation Board of Directors engaged in a strategic planning process that produced measurable goals for 2007-2001 and outlined key strategies to achieve each goal.

2005 The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation reached its targeted $100 million milestone for assets under management.  The Community Foundation’s endowment portfolio earned more than 7.6%, moving the 10-year rate-of-return average to 10.5%.  The Community Foundation distributed more than $16 million in grants, more than double the dollars invested a year ago.  The Community Foundation served as the founding sponsor for the World Food Festival.  The Des Moines Art Center’s “To All Gates” project received a significant Community Enhancement Grant and the Community Foundation provided key funding to the Des Moines Science Center for innovative programming.  Through the Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund, the Community Foundation created BoardLaunch to enhance the management and leadership skills of local nonprofit board members with technical and leadership instruction in fundraising, finance and governance.  More than 150 community volunteers took advantage of this first-of-its-kind training.  Select nonprofit leaders received executive coaching from Right Management Consultants as part of the Executive Leadership Development Program.  More than 100 community stakeholders became founding members of the LifeTown legacy Society.  Business and community leaders Roger Brooks, Michele Griswell, Doug Reichardt and Ted Townsend joined the Community Foundation Board of Directors and Charles C. Edwards, Jr. rejoined the Board.  More than $1 million in Endow Iowa Tax Credits were awarded to Community Foundation donor, leveraging $5.6 million in charitable giving for central Iowa.  More than 100 of the 120 Endow Iowa related funds were established by first time donors to the Community Foundation.  Thirty of the Community Foundation’s newest affiliates received more than $60,000 each for community betterment. 
2004 The Community Foundation’s assets exceeded $84 million in 2004.  The endowment portfolio earned more than 12%, moving the 10-year average to 10%.  Business and community leaders Patricia J. Crawford and Kurt Rasmussen joined the Community Foundations Board of Directors and Margo Blumenthal re-joined the Board.  The LifeTown Legacy Society was introduced, which encourages community stakeholders to create or support endowments as a way to give back to the community in which they have raised families, formed friendships and built successful careers.  31 donors – including 22 new ones – received Endow Iowa tax credits by creating qualified funds with the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.  The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation and the Iowa Area Development Group Community Foundation collaborated to form the Iowa Community Affiliate Network (Iowa C.A.N.).  This effort increases community-based philanthropy to help communities and counties take advantage on new state philanthropy incentives.  Nearly $7 million in grants were distributed from Community Foundation funds and invested in a wide variety of causes and community betterment projects.  The Community Foundation implemented its new grantmaking Leadership Agenda that focuses on long-range community outcomes.  Nearly $1 million of discretionary funds were invested in programs, projects and organizations that enhance the quality of life in Greater Des Moines.  The Community Foundation provided the resources to help fund the successful rebirth and expansion of the Cultural Alliance into Bravo Greater Des Moines.  We completed and celebrated the successful transition of Des Moines’ public art program into the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.
2003 The Community Foundation’s assets exceeded $60 million, with the endowment portfolio earning an impressive 25 percent return on investment.  The Charitable Gift Annuity program was introduced in 2003, providing lifetime income to the donor and leaving the remainder to charity.  The Community Foundation bid farewell to ten-year Board members Chuck Betts, Bob Dee, and Margo Blumenthal, and welcomed Bob Burnett, Allison Fleming, Mary Middleton, Mark Oman and Tom Press as new Board members.  The Iowa Council of Foundations shepherded Endow Iowa legislation through the Iowa General Assembly in 2003.  The Philanthropic Resource Center welcomed the Number 1 Question: Is it Good for the Kids; the Annie E. Casey Foundation; and Iowans for a Better Future as new tenants.  A record amount of $315,000 was invested to build capacity and efficiency in local nonprofit organizations through the Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund.
2002 The Community Foundation’s assets reached $49 million in March 2002.  The Community Foundation co-sponsored the Women in Public Policy luncheon featuring Lt. Governor of Missouri, Harriet Woods.  M. Ann Abbe, a national development consultant, spoke to an audience of agency executive directors and staff, fundraisers and volunteers on motivating and educating women philanthropists.  Linda Koehn, Janis Ruan, Stan Reynolds and Dawn Taylor accepted positions on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.  Kristi Knous joined the Community Foundation as the Director of Donor Relations and Programs.
2001  As of July 31, 2001, the Foundation’s assets exceeded $41,000.  Professional advisor relations program began.  The Community Innovation Fund grant program was fully implemented and #1 Question was funded as a special initiative of the Foundation.  
2000 During 2000, the Foundation achieved an asset level over $35 million. Grants made and facilitated exceeded $5,000,000.  Foundation staff and philanthropic services were expanded and a new grantmaking process implemented. Patty and Jim Cownie moved their family foundation to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation.  Collaboration and projects included the #1 Question Campaign – Is it Good For the Kids?, the Grays Lake Renovation project and the Latino Snapshot project.
1999 In January, the Foundation received a $2 million human services challenge grant from the Hubbell Family.  The challenge provides for a one-to-one match over a three-year period and stipulates that funds be donated to the Foundation’s United Way Fund or any other Foundation endowment fund restricted to human services.  The Foundation adopted its first strategic plan.
1998 Grants exceeded $900,000, including $400,000 in funds from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.  Monroe Colston retired as President.  Johnny Danos was elected President effective Jan. 1, 1999.  Foundation assets totaled $19 million.
1997 Grants made by the Foundation totaled $700,000.  Foundation assets totaled $15.5 million.
1996 The Hawley Foundation, a private foundation formed in 1927, merged with Greater Des Moines Foundation, bringing with it a history of supporting human service causes, assets of $2.9 million and significant new board members.  The $1 million goal for the “Success” program was reached.  The first organized prospective donor contact program was initiated.  Board and staff members made 84 contacts.  The Foundation was named one of three agencies to receive and distribute funds from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.  Foundation assets totaled $12.5 million.
1995  The Foundation invested $600,000 in grants to 101 organizations in Greater Des Moines and received $1 million in donations.  Foundation assets totaled $7.3 million.
1994 The Foundation’s merger with the United Way Foundation brought additional funds and community leadership into the organization.  John R. & Zelda Grubb made a $1 million gift to the Foundation, unrestricted after the first $250,000 of income goes to Children & Families of Iowa.  The Foundation published its first annual report.  Foundation assets totaled $6.8 million.
1993 The Foundation assumed a leadership role in the “Success by Six and Beyond” Program by leading a $1 million fund drive to support what has become a highly acclaimed program.  “Success” provides school and home based services for families with children from conception through elementary school.  Foundation assets totaled $5.6 million.
1992 The Foundation hired its first full-time employee, Monroe Colston, as President and began Recruitment of additional community leaders to a revitalized Board.  Foundation assets totaled $4 million.   1969-1992       The Foundation was “housed” in and administered by the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.
1969  The Des Moines Community Foundation was formed by a small group of citizens as “an enduring method for preserving our area’s quality of life and extending its benefits to the entire community.”
1915 Grand Avenue ~ Des Moines, IA 50309 ~ PH 515.883.2626
Email: info@desmoinesfoundation.org ~ http://www.desmoinesfoundation.org
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