Your Impact in 2021

Feb. 16, 2022

More than $51.9 million was distributed to nonprofit organizations from charitable giving funds held at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines in 2021. Over 2,500 charitable causes received support as fund holders responded to community needs and opportunities. Thanks to the generosity and leadership of Iowans, a record-breaking $92.4 million in gifts were made by donors to charitable giving funds to support our communities now and into the future. 

“The generosity of our community continues to shine as a beacon of strength and hope for the future of our state,” shares Kristi Knous, Community Foundation president. “The charitable impact achieved by Community Foundation fund holders in 2021 is inspirational and serves as a poignant example of all that can be achieved when we invest in the communities and organizations we care about today for the tomorrows to come.” 

2021 Achievements 

  • $51.9 million in grants were made in 2021 from charitable giving funds held at the Community Foundation. 
  • $92.4 million in gifts were made by donors to Community Foundation charitable giving funds in 2021, the highest level of giving to charitable giving funds in the organization’s history. o This includes the Community Foundation’s network of 46 affiliate community foundations served across the state. 
  • The Community Foundation’s assets under administration grew to over $875 million as of December 31, 2021. 
  • 242 new charitable giving funds were established with the Community Foundation for a total of 2,362 funds under administration. 
  • 436 people attended DonorConnect events to learn about community needs and opportunities. 
  • The Community Foundation facilitated trainings and conversations for nearly 1,000 nonprofit staff and board members. 
  • Groups were convened to address pressing community issues. The Community Foundation continued to partner on Capital Crossroads and its latest critical work in creating DSM USA 4 Equity Collective . 
  • The Community Foundation served 30 Nonprofit Accounting Service clients in 2021. 

“The Community Foundation is honored to serve as a trusted partner in giving with the tools and local knowledge to make the greatest impact,” said Franklin Codel, board chair. “The generosity of Community Foundation fund holders lays the foundation for the strength of our community for generations to come.” 

Adds Knous, “At the Community Foundation we believe that through both charitable giving and building community we are truly better together. The success of 2021 speaks to the power of collaboration and the ripples of change it makes throughout our state.”