The time is always right to invest in your community. Ask a nonprofit leader the source of their organization’s most valuable support and they will tell you: local donors. Grants or federal funding may flow in from outside Iowa, but contributions from and relationships with the community they serve are critical. We must invest in our local nonprofits to sustain them, and a smart way to do that is by utilizing the Endow Iowa tax credit.
The Endow Iowa program began in 2004 with a vision to capture a percentage of the state’s transfer of wealth that could support Iowa communities now and in the future. Endow Iowa tax credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to donors who make a gift to a permanent endowment fund, established for the benefit of an Iowa charitable cause, at a qualified community foundation in Iowa. Qualified community foundations are those accredited by National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. The program is utilized by a wide range of donors, including individuals and businesses, with most donations coming in under $1,000.
Since Endow Iowa’s inception, Iowa community foundations have leveraged more than $435 million in permanent endowment fund gifts made through more than 53,000 donations. These dollars will continue to grow in perpetuity, improving lives for Iowans today and generations to come.
At the Community Foundation for Western Iowa (givewesterniowa.org), donors have invested more than $44 Million through the Endow Iowa program. A percentage is granted every year for important projects and programs, with an assurance that funds will be available forever. To learn more and “Give Where We Live,” please visit: givewesterniowa.org.