Aligning for Good

May 4, 2026

In times of change, being guided by purpose matters more than ever. Across Greater Des Moines, nonprofits are finding pathways for powerful partnerships that move our community forward together. By aligning operations, sharing resources and deepening partnerships, organizations are building a stronger, more resilient nonprofit ecosystem — designed to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. 

The Community Foundation’s Strategic Alignment Grant program, supported by the Better Together Fund, creates space and funding for this work to happen. These grants empower organizations to step back, ask hard questions and explore what partnership makes possible — building capacity, strengthening leadership, refining strategy and positioning the work for long-term success. Working collectively, nonprofits are braiding and stacking services to create a seamless, comprehensive network of support that meets people where they are.

When individuals and families experience poverty, knitting together resources can feel overwhelming. Recognizing this gap, IMPACT Community Action Partnership and the Ankeny Service Center’s combined work resulted in the launch of the Community Resource Connection. The centralized co-location space in Ankeny brings services together under one roof to better serve neighbors in need.

“Being in the community together naturally encourages collaboration, and we want to ensure families get what they need as efficiently as possible,” shares Anne Bacon, CEO of IMPACT Community Action Partnership. “With Strategic Alignment Grant funding, we engaged a consultant to explore a shared space and partnership model, which ultimately enabled us to cost-share and put more money toward our missions.” 

 Collaboration also takes shape through Project Iowa’s Rooted Model, an approach designed to strengthen community infrastructure by deepening local partnerships. By embedding staff within community spaces and working alongside other nonprofits, Project Iowa enhances programming and improves outcomes. 

 “Support from the Community Foundation gave us the space to step back from day-to-day program work and focus on strengthening the systems, strategies and partnerships that allow our work to be sustainable long-term,” shares Gaby Cox, director of programs for Project Iowa. “That investment helped bring together organizations whose work intersects with workforce development, allowing us to collaborate more intentionally around shared goals.” 

This type of steadfast commitment is what inspired former organizations, YESS and Youth Homes of Mid-America, to identify gaps in services for children in the foster care system. The result was Ellipsis, a unified organization offering comprehensive, full-service care. By combining strengths, programming was expanded and impact was amplified. 

“Mission — and ultimately purpose — needed to come first,” shares Chris Koepplin, who previously served as CEO of Ellipsis. “Working with the Community Foundation gave several organizations the space and facilitative support to explore how our ecosystem could be enhanced, without rushing the process. The grant allowed us to hire a facilitator to consider the possibilities, consult with legal expertise and to mobilize community support. The Community Foundation was with us on every step of the journey, and it made all the difference in building a stronger collective and positioning current leadership to best serve children and families.” 

Strategic Alignment Grants help organizations plan wisely, work together and build lasting impact in our community. 

When nonprofits have the support and space to reflect, align and grow, our entire region benefits. We are tackling the tough questions and weaving together a Greater Des Moines that is stronger, more connected and resilient because we choose to work Better Together.