For 70 years, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa has helped communities turn generosity into lasting impact—connecting people, resources, and ideas to strengthen the places they call home.

Founded on May 26, 1956, as the Waterloo Civic Foundation, the organization began with a simple belief: local people should help shape the future of their community. That commitment to local leadership continues to define the Community Foundation’s work today.

“Waterloo and Black Hawk County are where this work began, and that community spirit continues to guide us,” said Kaye Englin, President and CEO. “What has grown over 70 years is not just our reach, but our ability to bring people together to create meaningful, lasting change.”

In 2015, the Community Foundation expanded to serve a 20-county region, building a model that strengthens communities through local leadership and shared resources. While its reach has grown, its focus remains grounded in the Cedar Valley, where its history, and many of its strongest partnerships, continue to shape its work.

Today, the Community Foundation works alongside more than 250 volunteers, nonprofit partners, donors, and community leaders to guide local decision-making and respond to community needs across the region.

That approach has led to measurable impact. In 2025 alone, the Community Foundation distributed more than $8.5 million in grants through over 1,500 grants, supporting organizations that expand opportunity, strengthen health and safety, build vibrant communities, and empower youth. Since its founding, the organization has granted more than $150 million back into the communities it serves.

But the Community Foundation’s role extends beyond grantmaking.

As a connector and convener, the organization brings partners together to address complex challenges and create shared solutions, from workforce development and child care to public safety, education, and arts and culture. By aligning resources and relationships, it helps communities move from individual efforts to collective impact.

“Our work has always been about more than funding,” Englin said. “It’s about building partnerships, strengthening nonprofits, and helping communities create opportunities that last.”

This work is guided by four interconnected impact priorities: Opportunity and Access, Health and Safety, Vibrant Communities, and Youth Empowerment, which reflect the long-term outcomes communities are working toward together.

The 70th anniversary comes at a time of continued momentum. In 2025, the Community Foundation launched a new strategic plan shaped by input from more than 500 individuals across the region, reinforcing its commitment to collaboration, equity, leadership, and trust.

As it looks ahead, the Community Foundation sees this milestone as both a reflection and a responsibility.

“Every generation has an opportunity to strengthen the communities they care about,” Englin said. “We’re proud of what has been built together over the past 70 years—and we’re committed to continuing that work to make more possible in the years ahead.”

Throughout 2026, the Community Foundation will mark its anniversary through storytelling, community engagement, grantmaking, and partnerships that highlight the people and organizations shaping northeast Iowa and beyond.