Good News

FA L L 2 0 0 9

Community Foundation Celebrates Community: Welcomes 200 guests to the Sky Event Centre in Waterloo - page 3

Local charities still feeling the pinch - page 5

Spotlight on a grantee - page 6

Helping knock down barriers

- page 4

Non-Profit US Postage PaidWaterloo, IAPermit #707

Helping you help your community. v www.cfneia.org

425 Cedar Street, Suite 310PO Box 1176Waterloo, IA 50704www.cfneia.org

Established in Waterloo/Cedar Falls in 1956

FOU N DATION

COMMUNITY

For ever.

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For god.

of Northeast Iowa

www.cfneia.org Please clip this form and mail it with your check to: PO BOX 1176, WATERLOO, IA 50704

Make a gift to your community by giving to any of our funds online at www.cfneia.org,

or please fill out this form:

Name:

Address: City, State, Zip:

Phone: Email:

Donation Amount: $ Please make check payable to name of fund.

For ever.

o

For god .

FOUNDATIONCOMMUNITY

of Northeast IowaEstablished in Waterloo/Cedar Falls in 1956

What is your passion?

YES! I would like to help my community by making a gift to the BLACK HAWK COUNTY*:General Community Fund

Cedar Falls Community Fund

Waterloo Community Fund

Arts and Culture Fund

Health and Human Services Fund

Youth and Education Fund

I would like to learn more about CFNEIA & other giving options.

PLEASE CONTACT ME.

#

*For a complete list of our CFNEIA funds and affiliate county and community funds, please visit us online at www.cfneia.org.

Return service requested

Parker leaves $75,913 to support broad community needsThe Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is proud to announce Jean Parker left a $75,913 gift to the community by naming the Foundation as the beneficiary of a charitable remainder trust. As a result, the Jean and Clair Parker Fund has been established at the Foundation as a permanent, unrestricted endowment in memory of her and her husband, Clair. Parker died on June 30, 2009.

Parker was born and raised in Waterloo and had several local charitable interests including First Presbyterian Church, the YWCA, Grout Museum, University of Dubuque, Presbyterian Home of Ackley Foundation, Blackhawk Broadcasting Company (AFLAC), Chapter Z of PEO, Women in Philanthropy and the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. In 2007, Parker was awarded the YWCA Cedar Valley Women of Persimmon Award.

The Jean and Clair Parker Fund at the Community Foundation is a permanent, unrestricted endowment. By leaving the gift unrestricted, Parker was able to benefit the broad range of her community interests - as income from the fund will be added to the pool of discretionary grants made to nonprofits

in Black Hawk County based on the needs as they arise over the years.

“Jean’s gift to the Community Foundation is a continuation of the support and caring for this community that she always demonstrated throughout the time I knew her,” said Mary Ann Burk, president and CEO of the Community Foundation.

“As her interests were many, it is not surprising that she decided to make her gift unrestricted to allow the Foundation the discretion to meet the greatest areas of needs as they arise.”

Donations to the fund are tax deductible. In addition, because the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa meets national

standards, gifts to the fund are also eligible for an additional 20% state tax credit.

Donations are being accepted online at www.cfneia.org. Checks can be sent to Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, c/o Jean and Clair Parker Fund at PO Box 1176, Waterloo, Iowa 50704.v

“As her interests were many, it is not surprising that [Jean] decided

to make her gift unrestricted to allow the Foundation the

discretion to meet the greatest areas of needs as they arise.”

~ Mary Ann Burk

www.cfneia.org

November has just ended, but as we reflect on the month, it is arguable that November is one of the most important months of the year as we celebrate Thanksgiving and our nation’s beginnings. Between those two meaningful occasions is a third event that is equally American in spirit and equally deserving of attention, albeit less universally recognized—Community Foundations Week.

Community foundations, like Thanksgiving, are the backbone of our society. They identify and address problems that afflict our communities by supporting activities of non-profit organizations that improve the lives of community residents. During this economic crisis, community foundations have been on the front line, helping those most in need in communities across America. Like communities themselves, programs supported by community foundations are varied and diverse, targeting health and human services, the environment, the arts, education, and disaster relief.

The dedicated staff of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa works tirelessly to monitor local issues and identify the most qualified resources to tackle the issues that threaten or harm the well being of our residents. In the past year in Black Hawk County and across Northeast Iowa, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa has made grants to a number of organizations, working in arts and culture, health, human services, youth and education, historic preservation, environment education and protection, and community affairs and development totaling nearly $5 million. Among major efforts receiving grants from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa are the

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra; Cedar Falls Women’s Club; Operation Threshold; Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanical Gardens; Boys and Girls Club of Black Hawk County; ASPIRE-TRP, Inc; From the Heart: Waterloo Home Enhancement Project; and Hawkeye Community College Family Literacy Program.

The beauty of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, and all community foundations, is that virtually no one is excluded from contributing to a community’s betterment. You need not be wealthy to have the satisfaction of knowing you are making a positive difference in the lives of people in your town. And, the Community Foundation makes it easy for you to support your particular area of interest. Almost any type of asset—cash, stock, real estate, retirement plans, insurance policies—can be contributed to a community foundation. And, you can choose from a variety of giving vehicles—including donor advised funds, unrestricted funds, scholarship funds, and designated funds. The Community Foundation can advise you on how best to maximize your contribution, no matter its size.

So as we move into December and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, let us enjoy the richness of our American heritage—give thanks, and support the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, so we can help you help your community.

Happy Holiday Season!

FOUNDATION STAFFMary Ann BurkPresident and CEO

Stacy PaulDirector of Finance andOperations

Carolynn SweenProgram Director

Alison ParrishDirector of Communications

Mindy GressDirector of Outreach

Julie SchaeferProject Specialist

Nicole StuartAdministrative Assistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORSDee VandeventerChair

Chuck ShireyFirst Vice Chair

Gary BertchSecond Vice Chair

Tom PorthTreasurer

Katy WilliamsSecretary

Mark BaldwinPast Chair

Dennis ClarkDawn DuvenJohn C. LarsenBarb OpheimLois Rupkey-CohrtKyle ChristiasonLori JohnsonJohn Monaghan

AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVESSue NelsonRob Robinson

EX OFFICIOGreater Cedar Valley Chambers, Chair

Greater Cedar Valley Chambers, Vice-Chair

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Junior League, President

Teen Trust Representative

Confirmed in Compliance with

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations

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Give for less through Endow IowaGiving through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa to the causes and community you care about is rewarding—in more ways than one. Your gift creates lasting good in the community, and the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program offers you generous tax incentives for giving.

Through Endow Iowa, Iowans can give for less. Those who give to endowed funds at qualified community foundations, like the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, are eligible to receive 20% tax credits for their contributions. Endow Iowa gifts also are currently eligible for state and federal tax deductions.

“In Iowa, we have a strong tradition of people caring for one another and for the communities in which they live,” said Mary Ann Burk, Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa President/CEO. “Endow Iowa builds on this tradition of neighbors helping

neighbors by encouraging gifts to community foundations, which serve as trusted stewards and local partners in philanthropy.”

Since 2003, more than $50 million has been invested in community foundations through Endow Iowa, improving lives and strengthening communities. By supporting endowed funds, Iowans are ensuring that their gifts will be at work well into the future.

For more information on the charitable giving opportunity available through Endow Iowa, please contact the Community Foundation at (319) 287-9106 or visit our website at www.cfneia.org. v

NOTE: Individuals 70 1/2 and older may roll over, federal tax free, up to $100,000 of their IRA to an endowment fund at the Foundation and receive the 20% tax credit. This opportunity ends Dec. 31, 2009.

A Time to Give ThanksMary Ann Burk

Community Foundation Celebrates CommunityThe Community Foundation kicked off National Community Foundation Week with a “Celebrating Community” event on November 12 at Sky Event Centre in downtown Waterloo. Guests included 200 of Northeast Iowa’s most prominent philanthropists, business leaders, nonprofit agency staff members and city officials.

In spite of the recent economic downturn, the Foundation invested more than $5 million to nonprofit organizations in 2008.

“When times are tough it’s time for us to dig deep and make a difference in

the lives of those who need us most,” explained CFNEIA board president Dee Vandeventer.

Mary Ann Burk, President and CEO of the Foundation since 1993, has seen many changes in charitable giving. Today, people are getting creative with their giving - many choosing to give during their lifetimes and not just through a bequest in their Will. More and more young families are also establishing family funds to teach their children the importance of giving.v

Gifts That Give BackWith Endow Iowa, donations to community foundations cost donors less. For example, a $10,000 gift could cost just $3,800.*

Gift: $10,000

Tax Credit: $2,000

Net Federal and StateDeduction: $10,000

Federal and State TaxSavings: $4,200

Total Tax Savings: $6,200

Total Cost of Gift: $3,800

From left, Myra Boots, Dr. Doug Duven, Dawn Duven and Ray Boots. Dawn is on the CFNEIA board of directors.

Enjoying the delicious chicken satay appetizers midst the glow of the Sky Event Centre are, from left, Nancy and Steve Showers, and Dottie Plager.

From left, Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley, and Maureen and Tom Porth who established the Thomas and Maureen Porth Family Fund to improve the community’s quality of life.

CFNEIA board chair Dee Vandeventer, left, greets Sue Grosboll, Kay Thuesen and Mary Alfrey. During her remarks Dee quoted Cliff Wilson of Conrad, Iowa, who relishes the gift of giving: “I’m living while I’m giving so I’m knowing where it’s going.”

*Photos and captions provided by Susie Heaton, WCF Courier Correspondent.

New 3rd Quarter Partners in PhilanthropyThe Community Foundation is committed to cultivating strong communities across Northeast Iowa and beyond by growing our permanent endowment. We are pleased to announce the following funds were established July 1 - September 30, 2009 in support of this mission:

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iJAG grant helps students knock down barriers to successIn January 2009, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa awarded over $243,000 in grants to 20 Black Hawk County non-profit organizations. One of the grants was given to Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) to support its “Gear Up” program for 8th grade students at George Washington Carver Academy (formerly Logan Middle School). The primary objective of the program is to significantly increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

With the grant from the Community Foundation, iJAG “Gear Up” program will help students stay in school all the way through to high school graduation, all the while helping them learn more about

themselves and their interests and how to pursue them.

For over 10 years, iJAG has helped students knock down barriers by unlocking student potential. iJAG programs teach performance competencies that are needed for students to succeed in school, thrive in the workplace, and lead productive and fulfilling lives.

iJAG provides students with life skills and job attainment as well as academic support, assistance with postsecondary transition, and leadership development. iJAG helps students identify interests and achievable career plans through job shadowing, part-time jobs, community service projects, skills competitions and

service learning. They also follow the students for one year after graduation in order to assist them in overcoming any barriers that might delay on their continued success.

During the 2010-2011 school year, iJAG has plans to grow the “Gear Up” program and serve 9th and 10th graders as a channel for them to transition into the current iJAG program at Waterloo East High School. v

DONNA M. KOWEIL FUNDThis fund was established by Donna Koweil. Income from the fund will go to support the charitable activities of Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo, and the C and W Shelter in Nashua.

FFE WENDELL KOCH WEST HIGHSCHOLARSHIP FUNDThis fund was established by bequest of the late Wendell Koch. Income will be used to provide scholarships to graduates of Waterloo West High School.

MURIEL G. MOE MEMORIALSCHOLARSHIP FUNDThis fund was established in memory of Muriel G. Moe. Income will be used to provide scholarships to eligible

Wartburg College students pursuing a degree in business or education.

ROSS AND ARLENE PINKERTONEDUCATION FUNDThis fund was established in honor of Ross and Arlene Pinkerton. Income from the endowment fund will be granted to Iowa State University to provide scholarships for students entering the engineering field to pursue a career in conservation. (E.g. Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, or Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering.

Support the causes you care about by starting a fund or making a gift to one of our established funds at the Community Foundation. For more information, call (319) 287-9106 or visit us at www.cfneia.org!

Survey: Local charities still feeling the pinchOutlook for future improvingWhile pundits are saying that the recession is nearing its end, many charities do not yet feel the reality of that proclamation.

According to a recent survey by the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, local not for profit organizations are still feeling the pinch: over 80% of respondents feel financially vulnerable, and 25% have experienced negative cash flow in the past six months.

These results are consistent with national surveys of non-profits as well. The Atlanta-based job listing service Opportunity Knocks just released a study which shows that more than half of charities responding made staff cutbacks in 2009.

Additional concerns for local non-profits include communicating with clients, retaining donors, using technology effectively, and employee benefit costs.

November is national Philanthropy Month, but according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, U.S. charities expect donations to decline in 2009 for the second year in a row. And USA Today reported that “while people have continued to give to charity during the recession, they’re giving smaller amounts. That’s significant, because donations from individuals account for about 75% of all charitable giving.”

In the Cedar Valley, the Community Foundation issued a survey of not for profit organizations in March of this year, and reissued the survey again in October. The Foundation’s intent was to measure the impact of the recession over time, and highlight any red flags related to the vitality and stability of our charitable sector.

Key findings include: nearly half of charities surveyed have cut their professional development and/or travel budgets in 2009, up from 15% in the spring survey, and two-thirds struggle to afford employee benefits/retirement packages. 30% have

reduced or adjusted health and retirement benefits to date, although 92% of respondents say they have not reduced salaries in 2009.

Generally speaking, the fall 2009 survey does not find local charities to be in significantly more dire situations than they were in the spring. In fact, 60% of surveyed organizations have not been forced to consider any new collaborations, partnerships or mergers as a result of economic pressures. Furthermore, there have been some positive shifts in what they consider to be the most challenging aspects of their work. Meeting the needs of current clients is a struggle for 60% of respondents in October, compared to 80% in March, and this fall, half as many organizations stated that they had less than one month of cash reserves available than had indicated such in March.

The Third Sector (a leading UK publication for the voluntary and not-for-profit sector) estimates that charities are yet to feel the full reality of the recession. If that is true, the relative peace experienced by Cedar Valley agencies may yet be shaken. The good news is that many local charities seem to be taking the advice of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, an online news and opinion source for nonprofits and foundations, which recently published a list of tips to “Outrun the Recession”. Protecting core services, operational improvements and board involvement are among the editors’ key recommendations for enduring the marathon of our current economic recession.

The Community Foundation plans to issue their economic impact survey again in the first and third quarters of 2010. The Foundation also intends to announce new grant opportunities for non-profit capacity building needs in 2010 (training, professional development, technical assistance), in direct response to the 2009 survey results. v

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Legacy Society UpdateAs of November 1, 2009

Anonymous NamesPauline BarrettBerdena BeachLouis Beecher Al BernardDr. Lawrence and Jacqueline BettsHarry and Evelyn BoardsenDr. Louis and Gwen BrayRobert and Judith BrownPete and Mary Ann BurkDr. Ross and Patricia ChristensenJohn and Sharon Hackenmiller CowinChuck and Betty DaltonDarrell R. and Lynda K. Jobman TrustRamona (Donal*) Dawson Dr. William DrierAlbert DuroeAnn EllsworthAnn EnderlineGene EnderlineLouis FettketterJack and Shirley GeistGary Grace

Jan GuthrieJoel and Linda HaackDavid HappelDonna HarmanLarry & Gracia HerbertDonna HickmanJerri Jenner KarrBobbi (Gregorio*) Kazenelson Eleanor KearnsAl KlingerDon KnissFred KochDonna M. KoweilRobert F. & Mary L. LichtyKen and Amy LockardWendell and Arlyne LockardSusan (George A. “Tony”*) Loveall Marguerite LybbertTimothy and Genevieve ManattValentina K. MartinFred and Elaine (Driver) MastBetty (Robert*) McCoy Kathy McCoy

Dr. Richard and Donna McKayNeil MullenDonna NelsonGeorge PaulDorothy PlagerLee (Dean*) Platt Lou PorterWallace and Mona ReedJohn RodecapLorene RohlfJohn and Joan SchullerJames SlifeDavid and Andrea SparksRay (Stuart*) Stitchman Thomas TaiberDon and Michelle TemeyerNancy (Rose*) Unger Wanda Van DuynCharles WalkerMark Whaley

* Name in parenthesis is a deceased Legacy Society Member.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s Legacy Society is composed of caring individuals and families who have made formal plans to leave a gift to the Community Foundation. These gifts may take the form of bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of life insurance or one of the many other types of charitable planned gifts.

By committing a portion of your estate to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, you can guarantee an investment that will continue to pay dividends to disadvantaged citizens of our community for many generations to come.

To join the Legacy Society or to learn more call us at (319) 287-9106 or email Mary Ann Burk at mburk@cfneia.org.

In January 2009, the Community Foundation awarded a grant to Iowa Legal aid to support their Cedar Valley Children and Youth Advocacy Project. The objective of this project was to improve the quality of life for children living in poverty by protecting their legal rights and advocating for them and their families. This was to be accomplished by providing direct legal assistance, legal education, and referrals to Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Q. What were your achievements as they relate to the goals and objectives of the project?

A. During the first six months of 2009, Iowa Legal Aid closed 32 cases in Black Hawk County, which affected 33 adults and 44 children. In four of those closed cases, clients were referred to Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Project (only one client’s case was accepted for representation).

These cases involved child support, custody/visitation and guardianship of a minor child. The remaining cases involved adoption, child support, consumer, dissolution of marriage, domestic violence, education, federal subsidized housing, guardianship of a minor, Medicaid, termination of parental rights, paternity, Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income and TANF/FIP.

In 6 of the closed cases, children under the age of 18 were the primary clients. These cases involved Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability benefits; paternity; and guardianship of a minor. In one case, Iowa Legal Aid was successful in working with a local school district to develop a new Individualized Education Program

(IEP) for a 14-year-old boy who was having academic, behavioral and social problems at school. This young man suffered a brain injury when he was small, has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and has an I.Q. of 80. Iowa Legal Aid attended an IEP meeting on behalf of the 14-year-old where a new program was developed. As a result, the young man is experiencing fewer problems with teachers and fellow classmates, and is in a better learning environment.

Iowa Legal Aid staff conducted two community legal education events at the EXPO High School. Both events were held in May of 2009 and focused on teen dating violence. There were 15 students in attendance at each event.

Q. How has this project impacted “larger” community issues (poverty, youth, health, etc.)?

A. Legal assistance can strike at the systemic causes of poverty, removing the roadblocks that keep individuals and families from lifting themselves from the cycle of poverty and building a brighter future for themselves and their families, while making a stronger contribution to the community. By ensuring that low-income children receive an appropriate education, they are more likely to become productive adults in the community. By ensuring that families are living in safe, habitable housing, they will have fewer health problems and will be less likely to face homelessness and be dependent upon the community for emergency shelter or other basic necessities. By ensuring safety, victims of domestic violence can move on to a life free from abuse where they can become productive members of society.

Q. Do you plan to continue the project?

A. So long as there are children andtheir families who need the assistance of an attorney to help them meet their most basic needs, fundamental rights or safety, Iowa Legal Aid will continue to try meet that need to the best of its ability.There are many people who seek civil legal assistance from Iowa Legal Aid that are turned away simply because there is not enough resources available to help everyone who needs it - whether they meet Iowa Legal Aid’s eligibility guidelines or not. A 2005 Legal Services Corporation (LSC) study entitledDocumenting the Justice Gap in America - The Current Unmet Civil Legal Needs for Low-Income Americans found that for every client served by an LSC-funded program, at least one person was turnedaway because of insufficient resources and that only a very small percentage of the legal problems experienced by low-income persons (one in five or less) were addressed with the assistance of a private attorney or a legal aid lawyer. Iowa Legal Aid conducted its own unmet need study from March 16 to May 15, 2009. That study revealed that, statewide, Iowa Legal Aid is unable to serve 5,346 persons annually, and is unable to fully serve 11,820 persons annually.

Iowa Legal Aid, and attorneys who participate in Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, are the only source of free civil legal assistance in Black Hawk County. v

Spotlight on a Grant Recipient:Iowa Legal Aid

Calendar of Events

DECEMBER

Dec. 9 - Executive Committee Meeting2:15-3:00pmPhilanthropy Center Conference Room

Dec. 9 - Board of Directors Meeting3:00-5:00pmPhilanthropy Center Conference Room

Dec. 15 - Women in Philanthropy Luncheon11:30-1:00pmAt the home of Pat Allen

Dec. 17 - CFNEIA Board Orientation12:00pm - New board members onlyPhilanthropy Center Conference Room

JANUARY

Jan. 9 - Chickasaw County CFGrant application deadline

Jan. 13 - Kossuth County CFGrant application deadline

Jan. 15 - Winneshiek County CFGrant application deadline

Jan. 21 - Grant Awards Ceremony10:00amBlack Hawk CO. Fall ‘09 Discretionary Grants

Jan. 21 - Grant Awards Ceremony5:00pmFloyd County CF 2010 Grants

Jan. 27 - Poweshiek County AllianceGrant application deadline

Jan. 27 - Investment Committee Meeting3:00pmPhilanthropy Center Conference Room

Jan. 29 - Butler County CFGrant application deadline