Community Foundation Celebrates Generosity of Iowans in 2022

Feb 14, 2023

More than $67.6 million was distributed to nonprofit organizations from charitable giving funds held at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines in 2022. Over 3,500 charities received support as fund holders responded to community needs and opportunities. Thanks to the generosity and leadership of Iowans, a record-breaking $108 million in gifts were made by donors to charitable giving funds to support our communities now and into the future. Learn about 2022 highlights by reading below and watching this video.

2022 Achievements

  • $67.6 million in grants were made in 2022 from charitable giving funds held at the Community Foundation.
  • $108 million in gifts were made by donors to Community Foundation charitable giving funds in 2022, the highest level of giving to charitable giving funds in the organization’s history. This includes the Community Foundation’s network of 46 affiliate community foundations served across the state.
  • 145 new charitable giving funds were established with the Community Foundation.
  • More than 400 people attended DonorConnect events to learn about community needs and opportunities.
  • The Community Foundation facilitated trainings and conversations for more than 560 nonprofit staff and board members.
  • The Community Foundation served 31 Nonprofit Accounting Service clients in 2022.
  • Established For Impact Leaders to develop the next generation of nonprofit staff leadership.
  • Work began on the Community Foundation Campus and C3 Center: a community hub that will serve the entire nonprofit and charitable giving sectors.

“The generosity of our Greater Des Moines community continues to inspire and embolden us to dream big dreams for the future of our region,” said Kristi Knous, Community Foundation president. “All that was achieved in 2022 is thanks to Community Foundation fund holders and our strong charitable sector. They inspire us every day through their generosity and commitment to collaboration as they create ripples of change throughout our state.”

“The Community Foundation is uniquely positioned to provide best in class charitable tools, alongside local knowledge, to make the greatest impact,” said Franklin Codel, board chair. “The success of the organization in 2022 speaks to the generosity of those who call our communities home and the trust and value they place in the Community Foundation as a partner in meeting their giving goals.”

Better Together Fund Impact

Thanks to generous support of the Better Together Fund, $850,500 in grants from the Community Foundation supported nonprofits and community projects creating transformational change in Greater Des Moines in 2022.

This includes five Leadership Grants totaling $600,000 to support the following projects:

Center at Sixth

A $150,000 Leadership Grant is supporting the development of Center at Sixth—a mixed-use commercial space in Des Moines’ most ethnically diverse neighborhood. The Community Foundation’s grant supported the creation of a nonprofit Black and Brown main street business incubator within this 12,000 square feet facility to strengthen and serve small business owners of color who will, in turn, make Greater Des Moines greater.

Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) 50314 On-Demand Pilot

A $20,000 Leadership Grant is supporting DART in piloting a new on-demand service within the 50314 zip code. The 50314 on-demand pilot will test a micro-transit solution for community members experiencing barriers to transportation. This innovative program seeks to respond to the community’s expressed needs by offering affordable transportation opportunities to improve individuals’ financial stability and wellness.

Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (IHYC) 6th Avenue Flats Mental Health Services

An $80,000 Leadership Grant is supporting IHYC's 6th Avenue Flats, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Central Iowa, embedding mental health support into an affordable housing setting. A Community Foundation grant supported the addition of on-site mental health services for residents of the 42-apartment complex and the broader community. This unique project will transform how the community delivers place-based mental health services to those in need of support.

North Side Community Recreation Center

A $250,000 Leadership Grant to the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Foundation will support the construction of a new North Side Community Recreation Center. The 40,000-square-foot facility will feature spaces supporting STEAM-oriented activities for youth, an interior NBA-sized gym and a family-oriented indoor aquatic facility. When completed, this community center will positively impact the residents of Des Moines for generations to come.

WesleyLife Meals on Wheels Expansion

A $100,000 Leadership Grant is supporting WesleyLife’s renovation of an existing University Avenue building to provide a sustainable home for Meals on Wheels and triple its capacity to serve, provide meals and offer wellness checks for those who need them most. The Community Foundation’s grant will support the renovation and expansion as Meals on Wheels seeks to reach its goal of serving 700,000 meals annually in Greater Des Moines.

 

The Community Foundation invites you to learn more about these projects and the impact you're making through the Better Together Fund at our upcoming DonorConnect: Better Together Fund Grantees Spotlight Series!