At the heart of the Friends of Black Hawk County Conservation Fund is a simple but powerful idea: quality of life matters—and it starts with access to nature. This endowed fund, established through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, supports conservation work that enhances the outdoor spaces people cherish and depend on. Whether it’s creating opportunities for youth to connect with nature or preserving land for future generations, the fund is growing a legacy of environmental stewardship that supports the vitality of the region.

As the retired executive director of the Black Hawk County Conservation Board, Vern Fish is passionate about conserving and expanding Iowa’s outdoor spaces. But he’s even more devoted to ensuring that outdoor opportunities are available for young Iowans, believing that access to nature plays a key role in keeping youth connected to their communities. After the unexpected death of his daughter, Vern made a lead gift to establish the Friends of Black Hawk County Conservation Fund, transforming personal tragedy into a powerful investment in the future of the region.

“Quality of life is a big deal,” Vern says. “If we want to keep young people in Iowa or attract new residents, we need good jobs, strong communities, and places people want to live—including public lands for recreation.” With less than 2% of Iowa’s landscape in public space, maximizing and protecting what we have is essential.

Vern’s vision for the endowed fund is that it becomes a tool to help the Conservation Board leverage big projects—from land acquisition to trail expansions—by matching and attracting additional public and private funding.

“I want to see young people be exposed to the outdoors, have those opportunities, and for our community to grow and build on that,” Vern says. “And with the Community Foundation managing and promoting the fund, we know we’re building something that lasts.”

With long-term growth, the fund can help secure Iowa’s outdoor legacy—and play a vital role in attracting and retaining people by making communities more vibrant, livable, and connected to the natural world.