The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines saw a record-breaking year for charitable giving in 2019 with over $51.4 million in grants made to more than 2,160 charitable causes. 

The historic success bodes well for what’s to come in 2020. 

“It was just an incredible year for the economy. … A lot of people did well personally and this was the year they decided to invest,” said Kristi Knous, Community Foundation president. “We saw more money coming in the door, but that means we also saw more going out.”

By the numbers
– A record-record breaking total of more than $51.4 million in grants were made in 2019 from charitable giving funds held at the Community Foundation and through the Community Foundation’s Better Together Fund.  
– More than $78.7 million in gifts were made by donors to Community Foundation charitable giving funds in 2019, the highest level of giving to charitable giving funds in the organization’s 50-year history. This includes the Community Foundation’s network of 39 affiliate community foundations served across the state who facilitated more than $17.4 million in gifts and a record-breaking $8.9 million in grants.
– The Community Foundation’s assets under administration grew to more than $658 million as of Dec. 31.
– One hundred forty-two new charitable funds were established with the Community Foundation for a total of 2,038 funds under administration.
– The Community Foundation invested a record-breaking $650,000 in initiatives and opportunities strengthening Greater Des Moines through six Leadership Grants supported by the Community Foundation’s Better Together Fund. Initiatives supported in 2019 were:

• Blank Park Zoo Foundation – Supported the construction of the ZooPlex Multipurpose Event Center.
• By Degrees Foundation – Extended the Dreamer Academy model to North High School.
• Community Youth Concepts – Developed a high and low ropes course.
• Easterseals Iowa – Supported the building of a new, enhanced Child Development Center.
• Great Outdoors Foundation – Supported the Central Iowa Water Trails project.
• Orchard Place – Supported development of Reach Out Youth: Mental Health Crisis Solutions for Kids.

– Over 530 individuals attended a Community Foundation training session in 2019 for nonprofit staff or board members.
– The Community Foundation served a record 30 Nonprofit Accounting Service clients in 2019. 

Knous said the investments in charitable giving funds were “a testament to the charitable spirit of Iowans and their ongoing commitment to improving quality of life in our state.”

The efforts mean there will be more money to be given away in 2020. Knous said the Community Foundation consistently ranks in the top 50 among some 800 community foundations in the country with its giving efforts. She said she’s excited to see where they land after last year’s numbers.  

“Investments in the Community Foundation are investments in the continued success of our community,” Dr. Richard Deming, board chair, said in a statement. “This makes the successes of the organization in 2019 all the more significant. Each gift and grant represents an investment in critical issues, initiatives and needs for generations to come.”

Beyond the financial numbers in 2019, the foundation produced a series of illustrated videos as resources to nonprofits, particularly board member training. More will be released this year. 

Knous said the goals for this year include getting people to engage with the GiveDSM platform, which connects people with the needs in the community. She said the foundation will continue to provide leadership with Capital Crossroads, water trails, transportation-related gaps and disaster recovery funds.