Growing in Giving

Sep 23, 2025

‘Blessed.’ That’s the word Joseph reflects on, as he shares the experiences and journey from Shreveport, Louisiana, to the Midwest. Raised alongside his sister by hard-working parents in the manufacturing industry, Joseph grew up in a household that was deeply rooted in church and tithing. Beyond Sunday rituals, Joseph poured himself into clubs and organizations that gave back to the community, spending countless hours providing tutoring assistance, serving at soup kitchens and driving neighbors to medical appointments.

“When I was younger, my energy and gifts of time was how I engaged in giving back,” said Joseph. “But that morphed to financial support, in response to the needs of the nonprofit organizations. Whether hands-on or financial – the joy of giving has always stayed with me.”

Joseph’s education took him across the country – from New York to New Orleans – before completing a Master’s and Ph.D. at Drake University in Des Moines. But beyond his academic experience and public service, what sets Joseph apart is his community leadership. In 2005, while still new to the Des Moines area, he launched a young professional’s philanthropy group. Together, they organized giving, pooled resources and granted to local nonprofits – which not only educated him on the needs of the community, but also the generous people who call it home.

This passion project, and the people involved, introduced him to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. Where he discovered a team of experts that would tailor solutions to meet his giving goals and align them with his passions. He soon opened a seed fund – starting small, but with the confidence that his charitable giving dollars could grow over time, while refining his personalized giving strategy.

“I have always felt connected to meeting essential needs, like food, shelter and education,” Joseph shares. “But working with the Community Foundation allowed me to amplify my efforts. With my career experience, I am interested in giving locally, nationally and even internationally in ways that truly make a difference.”

For Joseph, giving is more than generosity – it’s a way of connecting to the world and being part of something bigger. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue creating long-term impact through his charitable giving fund at the Community Foundation, and he encourages others to begin their own journeys.

“Start now. It doesn’t have to be a large sum of money – you don’t need to be a millionaire to make an impact,” he urges. “Think about how you can give back in our community and to those that need us most. Change only happens when we all do our part.”