Staff and Committees of the Community Foundation

Johnny Danos, President   |   Email
Johnny Danos serves as the President of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation providing leadership, vision and strategic direction.  He joined the Community Foundation in1998. Prior to that, Johnny served as the managing partner of KPMG's Des Moines office.


Danos Biography
Leisha Barcus, Director of Strategic Initiatives   |   Email

Leisha Barcus provides cross-departmental leadership and support including assisting with the implementation of development initiatives, new and innovative donor relations programs and marketing strategies, and manages and supports special projects of the Foundation. Leisha also manages the administrative operations of Bravo Greater Des Moines.  Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Barcus was self employed providing project management and marketing expertise to a number of major Greater Des Moines clients and served as Executive Director of Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation.


Barcus Biography
Sally Boeckholt, Bookkeeper   |   Email
Sally Boeckholt joined the Community Foundation as a bookkeeper in 2006.  In this role, she supports the Director of Finance & Administration in the daily activities of the Finance Department.  Sally studied business administration at Simpson College and brings 16 years of nonprofit experience to the Community Foundation.


Boeckholt Biography
Jessica Brown, Marketing Associate   |   Email

Jessica drives the Community Foundation’s comprehensive strategic marketing plan through all forms of marketing, advertising and public relations initiatives.  She communicates the Community Foundation’s message and mission to further establish the organization as a leader in philanthropy.  



Brown Biography
Ashley Canney, Director of Affiliates  |   Email 
Ashley serves as the Community Foundation’s Director of Affiliates working primarily with members of the Iowa Community Affiliate Network (Iowa C.A.N.). Iowa C.A.N. promotes philanthropy in communities that do not have gaming licenses. Ashley serves as a resource to member affiliates, builds new relationships with communities and counties and implements the Endow Iowa program.


Canney Biography
Monroe Colston, Consultant
Monroe J. Colston, consultant to the Greater Des Moines Foundation, served as President of the Community Foundation from 1992 until his retirement in 1998.  


Colston Biography
Karla Jones-Weber, Director of Finance and Administration  |   Email
Karla Jones-Weber provides finance, accounting, and administration management and expertise to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation. Karla received her accounting degree from Drake University and brings over 10 years of business experience to the Foundation.  Earlier in her career, Karla worked at MidAmerican Energy and then owned and managed The Accounting Source.  Karla joined the Foundation in the fall of 2001.


Jones-Weber Biography
Kristi Knous, Vice President, Donor Relations & Community Investment  |   Email
Kristi Knous has worked with the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation in facilitating the grantmaking and community investment programs since 2002. Kristi also coordinates the donor relations work of the Foundation, assisting donors with their charitable objectives. Kristi has also served as the Child Advocate at Blank Children's Hospital and is an advocate and volunteer for children's issues.
  

Knous Biography
Kaye Lozier, Director of Development  |   Email
Lozier brings a wealth of business and community service experience to the role including her work with the President of the Iowa Senate, Blank Children's Hospital, and the Chrysalis Foundation. Lozier is a Past Board Chair of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines.  


Lozier Biography
Kathy Matthews, Administrative Assistant/Receptionist  |   Email

Kathy Matthews provides secretarial and administrative support to the Community Foundation in carrying out its mission and goals. She serves as the first point of contact for the general public and Community Foundation constituents referring requests for information to the appropriate staff.


Matthews Biography
Kris Pete, Senior Accountant  |   Email

Kris is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the Community Foundation’s financial and investment systems.  She also assists the Director of Finance with accounting, financial and operational reporting and fund and fundholder reporting.


Pete Biography
Dan Raedeker, Community Investment Associate   |   Email
In 2007, Dan joined the Community Foundation as a Community Investment Associate.  He supports the Vice President of Donor Relations and Community Investment in administering the Community Foundation's grantmaking and grant seeking activities.  Dan assists with planning, marketing and implementing the Nonprofit Technical Assistance Program, as well as support other Community Foundation managed community betterment activities.

Raedeker Biography

Community Foundation Consultants

· 3R PR & Marketing, Inc., Erin E. Smidt, Consultant
· Belin Lamson McCormick Zumbach Flynn, 
  Wayne Reames & Steven E. Zumbach,
  General Counsel
· Monroe J. Colston  
Consultant
· Hammond Associates, Milton P. Wilkins, Jr., 
  Investment Consultant
· David Jacobsen, C.P.A.  Internal Audit Services
· KPMG, 
Auditors
· Nancy Mossman, Tax Services
· J. Edward Power  Planned Giving Consultant

Community Foundation Committees

Executive Committee

· Roger Brooks · Johnny Danos · Allison Fleming 
· Mell Meredith Frazier  · G. David Hurd  · Kyle Krause 
· Mary O'Keefe · Fred W. Weitz


Nominating Committee
· Kyle Krause - Nominating Chair
· Johnny Danos · Allison Fleming
· Mell Meredith Frazier · Mary O'Keefe


Audit Committee

· Fred W. Weitz - Audit Chair
· Teri Button*, Principal Financial Group
· Allison Fleming · Mary Middleton · Ed Power


Grantmaking Committee

· Allison Fleming - Grantmaking Chair 
· Kathy Bradley,* Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
· Teree Caldwell-Johnson
· Ann Cownie** 
· Johnny Danos
· Dave Discher,*
· Fred Hubbell,
· G. David Hurd
· Libby Jacobs*, Principal
· Linda Koehn
· Janis Ruan 
· Steve Schaaf,* Pioneer Hi-Bred International
· Dawn Taylor
· Ted Townsend
· Maureen Wolf,* United Way of Central Iowa
· Kristi Knous, Staff Professional
· Dan Raedeker, Staff Professional

Investment Committee

· Roger Brooks - Investment Chair 
· Johnny Danos 
· Charlie Edwards
· Mike Finnegan*
· Mary Gottschalk,* MCG Strategic Services
· Roger Grefe*
· Brian Hart*
· Paul Hayes*
· James Hubbell, Jr.**
· Don Lamberti** 
· Mark Oman
· Ed Power**
· Fred W. Weitz
· Milton P. Wilkins, Jr., Hammond Associates, Inc
  Investment Consultant
· Karla Jones-Weber, Staff Professional

Marketing & Development Committee

· Mary O'Keefe - Marketing/Development Chair 
· Margo Blumenthal  
· Bob Burnett
· Ann Cownie** 
· Patricia J. Crawford 
· Johnny Danos 
· Mell Meredith Frazier
· Bill Friedman** 
· Michele Griswell 
· Linda Koehn
· Kyle Krause
· Jim Luhrs** 
· Mary Middleton 
· Tom Press
· Kurt Rasmussen
· Doug Reichardt 
· Stan Reynolds 
· Robert G. Riley, Jr.
· Larry Stelter*, The Stelter Company
· Kaye Lozier, Staff Professional

Emeritus

· Charles H. Betts · Monroe J. Colston · Ann Cownie 
· James S. Cownie · Robert A. Dee · William Friedman, Jr. 
· James W. Hubbell, Jr. · Ted M. Hutchinson 
· William Knapp · Donald F. Lamberti · James E. Luhrs  
· Marvin Pomerantz · J. Edward Power

* non-board members  **emeritus members
Learn More

Community Foundation Committees

1915 Grand Avenue ~ Des Moines, IA 50309 ~ PH 515.883.2626
Email: info@desmoinesfoundation.org ~ http://www.desmoinesfoundation.org
Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations