For Mark Bohner, Iowa’s natural places are part of what makes its communities worth calling home. Protecting those places is a responsibility he hopes more people will share.

Conservation is an opportunity close to his heart. Mark recognizes the value of Iowa’s productive farmland alongside the need to preserve its remaining wild places. He points to the work of conservation organizations and county conservation boards, whose efforts often depend on charitable support beyond public funding. 

In 2025, Mark started a donor advised fund with the Bremer County Community Foundation, a local affiliate of CFNEIA. He sees community foundations as important partners in connecting generosity with local opportunities.

“Community foundations are a big part of doing things in the community,” Mark said.

That support can help protect natural areas, improve outdoor spaces and make projects such as campgrounds possible. For Mark, these investments contribute to a larger goal: caring for the places people enjoy today and the legacy they leave for others.

“We want to keep Iowa a vibrant and a wonderful place to live.”

His perspective offers a starting point for year-end giving: What do you love about your community, and what do you want to help sustain?

A donor advised fund is one way to put those interests into action. With CFNEIA as your partner, you can recommend grants to eligible nonprofits working on the causes that matter to you.