Across the country, women are playing an increasingly powerful role in shaping philanthropy and driving change in their communities. Over the past decade, research has shown that women are not only giving more frequently, but also leading charitable conversations in their households, workplaces, and communities.

A 2025 literature review from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy highlights just how much women’s philanthropy has evolved. The report found that women’s giving is becoming more visible, values-driven, and responsive to the social and political issues shaping our communities. Women are supporting a wider range of causes than ever before, with particular focus on health, justice, and inclusive opportunities for all.

Women are also increasingly engaging in philanthropy beyond writing checks. As donors, volunteers, and leaders, women are using their voices and resources to advocate for solutions and support organizations creating meaningful change.

One growing trend is the rise of collaborative giving models, such as giving circles. These groups bring people together to learn about community needs, pool their resources, and collectively decide where to invest their charitable dollars. Research shows these models help donors feel more connected to the impact of their giving and deepen their engagement with the causes they care about.

In Black Hawk County, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s Women for Good program is an example of this collaborative approach in action. Women for Good brings together local women who care about the well-being of women and girls in our community and want to make a meaningful difference.

Through the program, members learn about the issues facing women and girls locally and support nonprofits working toward solutions. Their collective giving has already made a significant impact. Since the Women’s Fund was established through a generous gift from local philanthropist Pauline Barrett, Women for Good members have recommended more than $250,000 in grants to organizations serving women and girls in Black Hawk County.

Most recently, in 2025, Women for Good members recommended $50,000 in grants from the Women’s Fund to support organizations in Black Hawk County serving women and girls.

Programs like Women for Good demonstrate the power of women coming together around shared values. By pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and amplifying one another’s voices, women are strengthening nonprofit organizations and investing in solutions that create opportunity for future generations.

Women’s and girls’ issues remain a barrier in our local communities. According to recent American Community Survey data, females ages 18–24 represent the largest demographic living in poverty in Black Hawk County, highlighting the continued challenges facing young women as they transition into adulthood.

Research continues to show that when women engage in philanthropy, they often bring a collaborative, community-focused perspective that prioritizes long-term impact. As women’s leadership and influence in philanthropy grows, so does the potential to address complex challenges and improve the well-being of communities.

The continued success of women’s funds and giving groups reflects a simple but powerful idea: when women support women, communities grow stronger.

Women across the country, and right here in Northeast Iowa, are stepping forward as philanthropists, leaders, and advocates. Through initiatives like Women for Good, they are demonstrating how collective generosity can create lasting change for women, girls, and families throughout our region.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is excited to welcome Derek Kimball to our staff as the Director of Charitable Impact. Derek will focus on connecting people to the causes they care about most, in turn increasing the impact of the Community Foundation. His experience with the nonprofit community gives him knowledge of community needs and allows him to help identify philanthropic opportunities for those who want to give back to their community. Derek will primarily work with fundholders and donors in Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy, and Tama counties, and the Ackley community.

“I am very excited to be part of the incredible mission of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa," says Derek. "I truly believe in making our communities stronger, more equitable places, and I look forward to working with generous people who want to be part of enriching communities across Iowa.”

Derek joins CFNEIA after serving over five years as the Executive Director of Cedar Valley Angels, a nonprofit focused on the foster care community. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a teaching emphasis from the University of Northern Iowa. Derek lives in Waterloo with his wife, Kristen, and their five children.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is excited to announce that Sherita Jenkins has joined the organization as its Director of Community Impact!

Sherita brings over 15 years of nonprofit experience including extensive community and volunteer engagement. She most recently served as the Director of Community Volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association, Iowa Chapter, and her resume also includes the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, and Horizons, a family service alliance in Cedar Rapids.

As Director of Community Impact, Sherita will oversee all grantmaking activities of the Foundation, with a focus on Black Hawk County, and will serve as a key leader in CFNEIA’s impact model in which asset development, grantmaking, and nonprofit relations are integrated to maximize our organization’s impact in our communities.

Sherita is a long-time resident of Cedar Rapids. She and her two young sons recently moved to Waterloo and are excited to dive into the community.

“I am incredibly excited to join the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa team and to be a resident of the Cedar Valley,” said Sherita. “I can’t wait to get to know my new community in-depth. I know the best way to do that is by having conversations with the people living and working here. As Director of Community Impact, I want to learn as much as possible to understand how the Foundation can partner to create the greatest impact.”

Please join us in welcoming Sherita to the CFNEIA team and our community!

 

The Iowa House of Representatives unanimously passed House File 710 and is on its way to the Senate floor for debate. This bill includes positive increases and benefits to both Endow Iowa and the County Endowment Fund Program and grantmaking through accredited Iowa community foundations. 

Share Your Voice: Help increase grant dollars for Iowa communities and keep Endow Iowa working for generous Iowans making an impact where they live.

Contact your local Senate representative to let them know the importance of these charitable programs and what they mean to you and your community.  You can find contact information for your Senator here. Below you will find information from CFNEIA and the Iowa Council of Foundations to help you share your message of how the Endow Iowa 25% state tax credit has impacted your giving and your community.

• CFNEIA & Iowa Council of Foundation legislative facts sheet
• Sample email message

We hope you will join us by sharing your voice and experience to create more charitable support for our communities through these two unique philanthropic programs.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa exists to inspire people and connect resources to enrich our communities. While our work has been a catalyst for positive impacts since 1956, throughout our history we have evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of our region. Historic events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a renewed focus on long-overlooked systemic inequities, provided an opportunity to not only take responsive action but to reflect on who we are and who we want to be.

Through self-examination, meaningful conversations, and authentic listening, we unearthed essential ideas to help lead our understanding, thinking, and actions. From these core beliefs, a new set of values was established to define who we are as an organization and to serve as a guide to fulfilling our mission for the people and places we serve.

Our Values

We believe the most innovative ideas for addressing the community’s challenges come from within the community. We will develop deep connections with the communities we serve to create impacts leading to transformational change.

We believe everyone must have an equitable opportunity to thrive. We will work to dismantle barriers to equity with an intentional focus on advancing racial equity to create an inclusive and just society for all people.

We believe we must boldly take the lead on important community issues. We will ensure the resources entrusted to us support changemaking organizations and that we champion ideas and actions to make our communities better for all people.

We believe we have a responsibility to address the power dynamics and inequities present in philanthropy. We will earn the trust of our community by taking actions rooted in authentic listening, clear communication, fiscal integrity and sustainability, and a commitment to transparency.

Moving forward, we intend every action we take to be an extension of our values. We know the challenges of the future can only be addressed when we embrace the lessons of the past. We embrace that bold action can only be taken when we first listen and learn. We understand that work toward an equitable society can only happen when we lead and follow with trust. As we evolve, we continue to expect more from ourselves as an organization and set increasingly higher standards.

You inspire us to do more for our communities and these values unite us in our work. Together, we are here for good.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA) has announced that Shanda Hansen is joining the organization as the director of affiliate impact. Hansen will serve as CFNEIA’s first director of affiliate impact, a new position that will work to advance the organization’s community impact model by engaging volunteers and nonprofit organizations and leading grantmaking activities in CFNEIA’s affiliate community foundations across its 20-county region. Hansen most recently served as the community-based center director at Francis Lauer Youth Services, a program of YSS, in Mason City. Her first day with the Foundation was January 31.

“Shanda is a proven leader and has spent her entire professional career in the nonprofit community,” said Kaye Englin, president and CEO of CFNEIA. “Shanda brings expertise in community building and volunteer engagement and her role is critical to growing our impact across our affiliate region.”

Hansen holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from the Upper Iowa University. She lives in Rockwell, Iowa with her wife and two children.

“Joining the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and helping carry out their mission to enrich communities aligns not only with my professional experience but it is something I have aspired to do throughout my career,” said Hansen. “I am especially passionate about creating thriving rural communities and working to enhance our relationship with our affiliate community foundations will create local and regional impacts.”