The Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) has released the Endow Iowa Grant Program 2008 Competitive Application and Review Information for community foundations/affiliates in Iowa. The Endow Iowa Grant Program is administered by the ICoF in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). To download copies of the Grant Application as well as Review Information, please click here.
GOVERNOR CULVER ANNOUNCES $6.6 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
Funds Distributed to 85 Community Foundations Across the State to Encourage Charitable Giving
September 11, 2007 (Des Moines) Today, Governor Chet Culver joined officials from the Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) to announce the recipients of the 2007 County Endowment Fund Program. Over $6.6 million will be distributed this month to 85 community foundations and/or their affiliate organizations in almost every area of the state.
Each recipient will receive approximately $77,000. In 2006, community foundations were each awarded approximately $67,000 each. The community foundation organizations (governed by local community members) will grant 75 percent of those funds to charitable projects within their counties (impacting areas such as arts/culture, education, environment, health, human service, community development and more) and place the remaining 25 percent in a permanent endowment fund, which is intended to attract other donations and provide a source of permanent funding for charitable projects within the county.
"To keep our economy moving forward, we must continue to work together to build great communities," said Governor Culver. "Well into the future, these community foundations will improve quality-of-life in these communities, making them even more attractive to businesses and employees."
The source of funding for the program is state gambling revenues, of which one half of one percent was designated for distribution to a community foundation located in counties without a state gaming license. Fourteen (14) counties were not eligible for the funding because state-licensed gaming facilities are located in those counties. "These are key investments that empower Iowa communities to prepare for their futures," said IDED Director Michael Tramontina.
IDED works closely with ICoF to coordinate the program and determine the community foundation recipients of the funding. ICOF is a membership organization of grantmaking foundations across Iowa (community/public, corporate, and private) with a mission of promoting philanthropy and effective grant making within the state.
"Philanthropic investment is an important component to a vibrant community. Through the County Endowment Fund program, community foundations across our state have increased resources to not only support charitable causes but also to build endowment funds that will grow and encourage additional investments for the counties' futures," said Angela Dethlefs-Trettin, director of ICoF. "This program serves as a catalyst for promoting effective philanthropy in Iowa and we are proud of the impact it has made and the opportunities it presents for the future of Iowa communities."
The IDED and ICoF Web sites will have the official listing of the community foundations and/or their affiliate organizations named as the recipients of the County Endowment Fund Program dollars along with contact information. The information can be found at the following sites:
IDED- http://www.iowalifechanging.com/endowiowa
ICoF- http://www.IowaCouncilofFoundations.org
County Endowment Fund Program Recipients - 2007 - to view the complete list of recipients, please click here.
Governor Culver, ICoF & IDED Announce Endow Iowa Matching Grant Awards
Iowa Communities Grow through Endowments in Community Foundations
July 10, 2007 (Des Moines, Iowa) –Governor Chet Culver joined the Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) today to announce the recipients of the 2007 Endow Iowa Grant Awards. Recipients for 2007 include:
- the Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation
- the Kossuth County Community Foundation
- the Community Foundation of Greater Story County
“Iowa’s strategy for economic development has two focuses: creating great new jobs and building great communities,” said IDED Director Michael Tramontina. “Well into the future, these long-term endowment foundations will improve quality-of-life in these communities, making them even more attractive to businesses and employees.”
Endow Iowa provides an incentive to encourage individuals, businesses and organizations to invest in their region. Each recipient receives a grant to build their community foundation’s unrestricted endowment fund. “The Community Foundation movement in Iowa is certainly creating long-term opportunities for community betterment in every corner of the state,” said ICoF Director Angela Dethlefs-Trettin. “Through programs such as Endow Iowa, we are building upon that spirit of philanthropy which will continue to benefit charitable projects and programs that are so important. By helping to build strong community foundations, so much is being done for Iowa communities – for good and forever.”
The goal of the Endow Iowa Grant Program is to enhance the quality of life for Iowans by providing support to community foundations that will aid nonprofit projects and programs. The grant program is administered by the Iowa Council of Foundations in collaboration with IDED. Now in its third year, the Endow Iowa Grant Program in total has leveraged nearly $1.1 million in local contributions, creating sustainable, philanthropic vehicles for charitable impact in communities across the state.