Donor Resources

Designed especially for Community Foundation donors, this section contains a wealth of continuously updated information to inform your giving and assure effective grantmaking.

Local Resources

Better Money Project - Information System (BMP-IS)
BMP-IS has been developed for use by funders, strategic planners, health and human service providers and others interested in the effective allocation of resources for health and human service programs in Polk County.

The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation encourages donors and nonprofit organizations to learn more about federal, state, and local sources of funding for health and human services and the way in which these funds are aligned to community priorities.  To access the Better Money Project - Information System, click here.


NOTE: URL is http://bettermoneymis.org

Central Iowa Funders Forum
The Central Iowa Funder’s Forum (CIFF) was created to meet an expressed need for a forum in which colleagues in organized philanthropy could share common interests, concerns and lessons learned. Membership is comprised of key representatives from private foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations and corporate giving programs, grant making public charities, bank trust departments and significant individual donors. For more information, contact Kathy Matthews at the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation at (515)883.2626.

Iowa Council of Foundations
The Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) was founded in 1998 by representatives from Iowa foundations and corporate giving programs.  The ICOF plays a leadership role in advocation for philanthropy. It strives to help elected and appointed officials, the media and the general public understand the benefits of charitable giving.  In addition to its members, the ICoF serves the larger nonprofit community by linking agencies to grant-making opportunities and the public, which is served by these grant recipients and their efforts toward enhancing various aspects of Iowa communities. The ICoF also serves the donors who generously contribute to the various foundations or funds in Iowa.

Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center
The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center is a University of Iowa interdisciplinary collaboration to make more accessible educational and service programs focused on strengthening the operational capacity of Iowa nonprofit organizations. The center works collaboratively with government agencies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. The center creates new knowledge through activities and provides information and training resources to help nonprofit organizations and interested persons throughout Iowa. 

Other Resources

Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability were developed to assist donors in making sound giving decisions and to foster public confidence in charitable organizations.  The standards seek to encourage fair and honest solicitations practices, to promote ethical conduct by charitable organizations and to advance support of philanthropy.

Foundation Center
Estimated giving by the nation's 707 Community Foundations rose to a record $3.6 billion in 2006, according to Key Facts on Community Foundations, a report released by the Foundation Center.  The full report can be downloaded by clicking on the link listed below in archived articles:

Guidestar
Guidestar encourages nonprofits to share information about their organizations openly and completely. Any nonprofit in their database can update its report with information about its mission, programs, leaders, goals, accomplishments, and needs—for free. Guidestar combines the information that nonprofits supply with data from several other sources.

Archived Articles   National Insights and Trends  
Archived Articles ARCHIVES >
Key Facts on Community Foundations

09.27.2007 ...


National Insights and Trends ARCHIVES >
Effectively Focusing Your MBA Toward Social Change

You’ve got valuable business skills that have enabled you to succeed brilliantly in the ...


Philanthrocapitalism: The Myths and Realities

A new book entitled by Mike Edwards, "Just Another Emperor: the Myths and Realities of ...


Low-Profit, Limited Liability Corporations Advanced by States

Michigan, North Carolina, Vermont, and Montana are advancing state legislation that would allow for ...


TED Prize Winners Advance Ideas for Change

This year's TED Prize winners made big wishes at TED2008. Dave Eggers' talks about his efforts to ...


Issues That Matter ARCHIVES >
Overcoming Board Inertia

Board members who say things like “…it’s never been done that way before,” ...


Focus Your MBA On Creating Change?

You’ve got valuable business skills that have enabled you to succeed brilliantly in the ...


Food Illuminates the Chasms Between US Citizens

It was more than ten years ago when my close friend Adriana Ballen, who also happened to be both ...


Communities Do, In Fact, Differ From Dollar Bills

In his book, The Fiefdom Syndrome (The Turf Battles That Undermine Careers and Companies - And How ...


Arresting Global Climate Change for $800 Million A Year?

With its recent report on how foundations can help fight global climate change, Taking Action ...


Public Schools at a Crossroads

Editors Note: While Bobby's entry refers to specifics of Richmond Public Schools, it also touches ...


Head or Heart When Appealing to Donors? (Part Two-The Head)

A ‘Heady’ Approach Another school of thought is that donors are really more like ...


Head or Heart When Appealing to Donors? (Part One-The Heart)

There is no doubt that attracting and retaining donors is front of mind for all nonprofits, ...


GOOD Magazine Appears to Be...

GOOD. In case you don't, know, GOOD Magazine is "for people who give a damn. It's an ...


Frightening New Data on the Global Smoking Crisis

The new data on global smoking from a global survey, known as MPOWER, funded by Bloomberg ...


General Election Elevating Youth Civic Engagement

New research from the Girl Scout Leadership Institute (GSLI) demonstrates the extent to which the ...


Globalization Cuts Both Ways When It's About Anti-Poverty

Improving poverty and income inequality is a shared objective globally, so it is fitting that ...


A Nonprofit-For Profit "Mashup"

Highlighting the continuing mashup between the nonprofit and for profit sectors, an article in the ...


VIDEO -- Latinos Advance Healthy Living

In this episode of "Dialogue for Donors," PhilanthroMedia travels to Trenton, NJ to CYO ...


Giving -- A Less Taxing Alternative? (Part 2)

No, I do not believe that people give to avoid taxes. I hear donors in their 80’s and ...


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