Highlights from DonorConnect: The Power of Partnerships

Nov 6, 2025

Thank you to all who were able to join us for our recent DonorConnect – The Power of Partnerships. Much appreciation to our panelists for guiding us in this insightful conversation:

In times of change, missions matter more than ever, and our nonprofits are finding sustainable solutions that keep us moving forward together. By aligning operations, sharing resources and deepening partnerships, organizations have the opportunity to create a stronger, more sustainable nonprofit ecosystem. Through the leadership of our panelists, we learned how partnerships come in all shapes, sizes and formats to create a stronger community for all of us.

Insights from Panelists

Partnership for Impact

To address coming challenges, there is rarely a one-size fits all solution, and that is true when it comes to developing partnerships that extend beyond the scope of any single organization. Because these issues are deeply interconnected, our responses must be too. Aligning missions allows us to drive collective impact and lasting change. 

  • IMPACT Community Action Partnership created a co-location in Ankeny, the Community Resource Connection (CRC), in partnership with the Ankeny Service Center. The CRC is a collaboration of local, community-based organizations helping individuals and families achieve meaningful outcomes. When individuals and families face poverty, it can be challenging to knit together resources to meet all needs efficiently and effectively. Recognizing this gap, IMPACT Community Action Partnership set out to reduce barriers and strengthen collaboration. The centralized location brings services together to better serve neighbors in need.
  • The Great Outdoors Foundation provides essential back-office support — such as human resources, accounting, and administrative services — allowing multiple conservation organizations to focus on their missions. Many mission-driven nonprofits deliver outstanding programs but lack the infrastructure to sustain and scale their work. By offering shared administrative solutions, the Great Outdoors Foundation helps organizations thrive and expand their collective impact across the conservation sector.
  • The Rooted Model emphasizes deep connections within local communities to foster long-term growth and success. Project Iowa implemented this framework by partnering with other nonprofits, placing their employees at the scene – to meet people where they already were. By leveraging the specialized expertise of these employees, programming has been strengthened, enabling individuals to better achieve outcomes.
  • A shared, steadfast commitment to serving youth and families inspired former organizations YESS and Youth Homes Mid-America to identify gaps in services for children in the foster care system in the early 2020s. Together, they explored the possibility of a merger, which led to the creation of Ellipsis. This union created a stronger organization, enabling comprehensive, full-service care and amplifying programming to achieve greater results.

Weaving Support

Many nonprofits are designed—and funded—to meet needs in a specific area. Yet the individuals and families they serve often face challenges that reach beyond any one organization’s scope. By working together, nonprofits can braid and stack their services, creating a more seamless and comprehensive network of support for those who need it most. 

In spring 2024, United Way of Central Iowa, Bravo Greater Des Moines and the Community Foundation partnered to survey nonprofits across Polk, Warren and Dallas counties. More than 100 organizations responded, revealing a sector that is deeply committed yet stretched thin. The findings underscored what many already know: lasting progress requires shared effort. Building a stronger, more resilient central Iowa will take collaboration not only among nonprofits, but also across business, government, and the broader community. 

How to Support Partnerships 

For nonprofits to facilitate successful partnerships, they need support from donors, their boards, staff and volunteers. According to our panelists, some of the ways you can support nonprofit partnerships include: 

  • Nonprofits are evolving to meet the changing needs of our community. Your openness to new strategies and approaches helps them continue to serve effectively.  
  • Strong partnerships require time. Allow nonprofits to pause, reflect and explore new ideas without expecting immediate action.  
  • Be patient with outcomes measured by data — some results take time to emerge. 

Community Foundation Resources

GIVEdsm is an online resource that makes giving simple. Learn about the pressing needs and promising opportunities of area nonprofits and support local organizations that match your passions. Start giving today at GIVEdsm.org.

DonorConnect is part of a free conversation series designed to bring our community together to learn about and discuss our region’s most pressing issues and promising opportunities. Look for future events by visiting DesMoinesFoundation.org/Events.

As always, our team is here to simplify your giving to the causes you care about. Whether considering ways to maximize your giving today, involving your family in charitable conversations or planning how to leave a legacy for generations to come – we are here to create a personalized giving plan for you. Contact our team to learn more about customized giving solutions that enable you to give back in the ways that meet your unique goals. We are better together.