Starting in August 2002, the Community Vitality Center (CVC) Executive Committee initiated a process to develop a similar Iowa Community Foundation Initiative. The CVC Board continues to consult with the Nebraska Community Foundation and developed a five step plan to nurture a similar statewide community foundation initiative in Iowa. The CVC Board – more... committed $50,000 in first year seed funds to develop and initiate a plan. Collaborators include the Iowa Area Development Group, University of Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center and Institute of Public Affairs, Iowa State University Extension, UNI Institute for Decision-Making, the Grow Iowa Foundation initiated by the Southwest Iowa Coalition, and of course the CVC statewide board of leaders with diverse community interests.
The first phase of the plan is being carried out in 2003 and involves conducting (1) a county by county transfer of wealth study that can be used to show how much wealth will transfer during the next few decades, (2) an inventory of Iowa foundations and their barriers to philanthropy, (3) an assessment of structures and incentives used in selected states, and (4) a fall conference on status and future of philanthropy in Iowa. The transfer of wealth study was identified to be a critical element in Nebraska and Minnesota for generating discussions with community leaders concerning the status and opportunity for philanthropy in their respective communities.
The CVC initially was to seek development of an Iowa version of the Nebraska Legacy Challenge, where private sector funded matching grants would be provided to assist communities in organizing community foundation affiliates. Local affiliates would receive technical assistance to organize and manage local philanthropic campaigns and their own local projects for improving community vitality. At this time, the CVC is open to a range of alternatives, including but not limited to working with and/or affiliating with existing foundations, foundation networks in Iowa, and others in neighboring states, and/or creating a new specialized single purpose entity that focuses on addressing and overcoming the unique rural community barriers in rural Iowa. If the statewide initiative in Iowa is as successful as the Nebraska Community Foundation, the staff should be self-supported within a few years.
As the CVC Community Foundation Initiative Task Force conducted its work, it has become aware of legislative proposals to use public funds for matching grant incentives, and tax credit incentives for permanent endowments. The CVC Task Force has sought to understand and analyze the concepts to ascertain the implications for rural Iowa philanthropy and for existing networks of community and other foundations in non-metropolitan areas. It is with this objective in mind, that the CVC Planning Committee undertook and developed this Rural Policy Checklist and Briefing Report. There was a desire among members to evaluate the alternative Endow Iowa provisions and concepts included in HSB 137 and SB 225 to assist in making more informed decisions.
Regardless of the outcomes of the policy debate regarding the use of philanthropic incentives-whether publicly funded or privately funded-the CVC Community Foundation Initiative Task Force remains committed to moving a statewide philanthropic initiative forward. Such an initiative would potentially cultivate and encourage citizens and former residents to give something back and contribute to the community vitality in their hometowns and the state where they grew up. This project is envisioned to contribute immensely to Iowa's economic and social vitality, particularly in non-metro areas of the state where the predicted philanthropic opportunity will be more pronounced and shorter lived during the next two decades. – less – More from ZoomInfo »
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