The Iowa Nonprofit Alliance, a statewide association representing Iowa’s 23,000 nonprofit organizations, has hired its first full-time executive director, Alex Rice.

Rice is a seventh-generation Iowan and West Des Moines native with experience in nonprofit leadership, international service, and youth programming. Her early career took her from France to West Africa, where she served in the Peace Corps. After returning to the United States, she worked in nonprofits, serving as a YMCA youth program director and later as a nonprofit consultant.

In 2021, she became the executive director of Willkie House, a historic Des Moines-based nonprofit focused on youth and family services.

Rice holds a master’s degree in public management from Carnegie Mellon University.

“Nonprofits are the backbone of our state, providing essential services, fostering community and advocating for equity and opportunity. I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place and working with partners across the state to amplify the voice and impact of Iowa’s nonprofit sector,” Rice said in a press release.

Since its founding in 2022, the goal of the Iowa Nonprofit Alliance has been to strengthen the collective impact of Iowa’s nonprofit community. Under the leadership of outgoing Director Bethany Snyder, INA has grown significantly in membership, programming and visibility, according to the group.

During the last three years, Snyder has guided INA through an “era of both opportunity and adversity,” the release said, including navigating executive orders, funding freezes and cuts, and increased scrutiny of the nonprofit sector.

“Bethany has been a tireless advocate for the sector,” INA board chair Jordan DeGree said. “Her leadership, vision and deep commitment to Iowa’s nonprofits have positioned INA for long-term success. We are grateful for her service and the legacy she leaves behind and are excited about INA’s next chapter with Alex.”

Snyder will support the transition over the coming weeks before continuing her work as a nonprofit advocacy consultant for organizations across the country.

Image courtesy of Iowa Nonprofit Alliance