The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA) is celebrating a remarkable year of impact and a milestone anniversary. In 2025, CFNEIA and its network of local community foundations granted more than $8.4 million to nonprofits and charitable causes across the region, while total assets grew to more than $190 million.

As the organization enters 2026, CFNEIA proudly marks 70 years of inspiring generosity, connecting donors to causes they care about, and creating stronger communities across its 20-county region.

Since its founding in 1956, CFNEIA and its local community foundations have distributed more than $151 million in grants, supporting nonprofits, community initiatives and charitable projects that improve quality of life.

70 Years Strong

“For 70 years, generous people in Northeast Iowa have chosen to invest in their communities through the Community Foundation,” said Kaye Englin, President & CEO of CFNEIA. “We are proud to work alongside donors, volunteers and nonprofit partners to address today’s needs and build permanent resources for tomorrow.”

CFNEIA’s mission is to inspire people and connect resources to enrich our communities. Guided by its core values of collaboration, equity, leadership and trust, the Foundation empowers local people to make local decisions about charitable investments in their communities.

Focused on Impact

For seven decades, CFNEIA has done more than write grant checks. The Foundation strengthens the nonprofit sector through strategic grantmaking, leadership development and community collaboration. By investing in nonprofit capacity, convening partners around critical issues and aligning funding with long-term priorities, CFNEIA helps organizations grow stronger, more sustainable and more effective. This approach ensures that charitable dollars create measurable impact today while building the leadership and infrastructure needed for tomorrow.

Through its strategic impact priorities, CFNEIA works to create measurable, lasting change in four key areas:

• Opportunity & Access – Expanding opportunities to thrive through workforce readiness, financial empowerment and equity initiatives.
• Health & Safety – Supporting physical, mental and community well-being.
• Vibrant Communities – Enhancing the places we live through arts, culture, recreation and economic vitality.
• Youth Empowerment – Investing in young people as leaders, learners and changemakers.

Grants and scholarships awarded reflect these priorities, strengthening nonprofits and initiatives that address critical needs and open doors to opportunity across Iowa’s towns and counties.

The Foundation also partners with over 250 local leaders who volunteer to drive change in their communities. These volunteers ensure that grantmaking decisions reflect each community’s unique strengths and needs, as well as provide guidance to CFNEIA and our local community foundations.

Building Impact Now and Forever

CFNEIA offers flexible and personalized charitable giving options designed to meet donors where they are and support the causes they care about most. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can establish a variety of fund types that allow them to balance immediate community impact with long-term sustainability. Permanent endowed funds create lasting resources that will support communities forever. Quasi-endowed funds offer long-term investment with added flexibility. Expendable funds provide maximum responsiveness to address current and emerging needs. This flexibility allows donors to design a charitable strategy that aligns with their goals, values and vision for impact.

Through these options, CFNEIA helps donors build impact now and forever, ensuring that generosity continues to strengthen communities for generations to come.

Get Involved

As CFNEIA celebrates 70 years strong, community members are invited to be part of the next chapter of impact. Ways to get involved include:

• Establishing a charitable fund to support causes you care about.
• Contributing to an existing fund that addresses local needs or impact priorities.
• Including the Community Foundation in your estate plans to create a lasting legacy.
• Serving as a volunteer with CFNEIA or on a local foundation committee.
• Applying for grants or scholarships available through CFNEIA and its affiliates.

Together, generous people and strong nonprofits continue to shape a vibrant future for Iowa.

To learn more about the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa or how to get involved, visit www.cfneia.org or contact the Foundation at 319-287-9106.