Over 200 nonprofit representatives, philanthropists, business leaders and government officials gathered for the second annual Celebration of Community on Thursday, November 13, 2014 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial to celebrate and recognize the critical role of nonprofit organizations in making our community a better place to live.

“We are continually inspired by the programs and services of nonprofit organizations and the commitment and passion of nonprofit professionals in carrying out their missions,” said Les Garner, President & CEO of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. “It is through the excellent work of nonprofit organizations

that donors, volunteers and the community can have an impact on the lives of citizens in our community.”

The program featured inspiring stories of nonprofits making a difference in our community through a series of dialogue and videos. The nonprofits featured included Theatre Cedar Rapids, Foundation 2 and Neighborhood Transportation Services.

Four nonprofit excellence awards were also presented to nonprofit professionals who go above and beyond to support the mission of their organizations.

The Nonprofit Leadership Excellence Award recognizes the leadership and

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CommunityGREATER CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WINTER 2014

Steve and Joanne Carfrae

Nonprofit Award Winners

Introducing Susan Willey

Foundation News

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Nonprofit professionals gathered at the second annual Celebration of Community event. (Back row left to right) Mike Barnhart, Neighborhood Transportation Service; Casey Prince, Theatre Cedar Rapids; Audrey Meyer, Foundation 2; Laura Semprini, Horizons; Robert Massey, Orchestra Iowa; John Bright, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity; Joe Lock, Four Oaks; Devon van Holsteijn, Orchestra Iowa. (Front row left to right) Karl Cassell, Horizons; Maxine Webb, Girl Scouts; Jenny Schulz, Kids First Law Center; Jim Kringlen, Iowa Legal Aid; Jeff Capps, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity; and Deanna Clemens-Pedersen, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

Celebration Recognizes Nonprofits Making Our Community a Better Place to Live

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accomplishments of the chief executive officer of a Linn County nonprofit organization who offers exceptional leadership and creates a lasting impact on their organization and the community. This award was presented to John Garringer, Executive Director at the Area Substance Council.

The Minnie Rubek Staff Excellence Award recognizes a nonprofit staff member who has gone “above and beyond” in their support of the organization’s mission and has greatly enhanced the overall effectiveness of the organization through his/her work. The

Community Foundation presented three Minnie Rubeck Staff Excellence Awards to: J. David Carey, Finance and Administrative Director at Theatre Cedar Rapids; Kay Fisk, Director of Development at Neighborhood Transportation Services; and Kandy Sands, Office Manager at Kids First Law Center.

In addition to an award, each recipient received a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation designated for staff development at the honoree’s organization.honoree’s organization.

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Steve and Joanne Carfrae aren’t the type of people that like to be in the limelight. They do, however, enjoy giving back to their community.

And so over the last twenty five years, the Carfraes have worked through the Greater Cedar Rapids

Community Foundation to support local nonprofit organizations.

The Carfraes began giving through the Community Foundation in 1991. Since then they have humbly made yearly contributions to about 13 to 15 local

Steve and Joanne Carfrae support local organizations through a donor-advised fund.

Endow Iowa allows taxpayers to receive a 25% Iowa state income tax credit for certain charitable gifts made to an endowed fund at a qualified community foundation in Iowa. As of December 3, 2014, according to the Iowa Economic Development Administration, there are approximately $1.4 million in Endow Iowa Tax Credits remaining for calendar year 2014.

Endow Iowa Tax Credits Still Remaining for 2014

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organizations through their donor-advised fund.

“We used to sit down at the end of the year and write out checks to a number of different organizations,” recalls Steve. Now that their annual gifts are facilitated through the Community Foundation,

the process of giving has been streamlined. “We have centralized it, so now we can easily donate from our appreciated stocks and assets. It is a better process.”

“The Foundation makes it flow so easily,” Joanne added, noting that the process is manageable for them as well as the small nonprofit organizations they work with.The Carfraes support a wide variety of local organizations, from faith-based and community needs organizations to the arts, including St. Matthew Catholic Church, Greene Square Meals, Willis Dady Emergency Shelter, Catherine McAuley Center and Tanager Place to name a few.

“Our giving is mostly needs based,” said Joanne. “The needs in the community are always there. The nonprofit organizations we give to reach a lot of people and run good programs. And we feel really good that we can give like this.”

The couple has lived in the Cedar Rapids area all their life and said that giving back is part of how they were raised. Steve’s family, for example, owned a meat processing plant in town for 50 years. “Why wouldn’t we want to give back,”

asked Steve. “We are giving back to the community that supported us all those years.”

Beyond their annual giving, the Carfraes are also members of the William Quarton Heritage Society, having made plans to support the community in perpetuity by giving life insurance plans to the Community Foundation.

“It was an easy choice to do that,” said Joanne. Steve agreed. “It is just the right thing to do. And hopefully we are making a small difference.”

“The needs in the community are always

there. The nonprofit organizations we

give to reach a lot of people and run good programs. And we feel really good that we can

give like this.”

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John joined ASAC in 1984 and has served as Executive Director since 1987. During the course of his thirty-year career, John’s leadership has helped grow the ASAC program from an $800,000 budget to today’s budget of over $11 million dollars.

Under John’s leadership, ASAC created the Heart of Iowa Mother and Child Recovery Center, one of the state’s first residential treatment programs for pregnant women and women with children. In addition, John was instrumental in establishing the Transitional House Revolving Loan Fund at the Iowa Finance Authority. This funding source helped ASAC build The Way Home, a transitional housing program that provides safe, affordable housing to low-income families in recovery from substance abuse.

Throughout his career, John has collaborated with other local nonprofit organizations to develop programs to meet client needs.

Beyond his work at ASAC, John has served as the Chair of the Iowa Substance Abuse Director’s Association, and served on numerous committees to improve the treatment of persons suffering from substance abuse.

Over the last 30 years, John’s leadership, vision, integrity, and compassion have made a difference in the Cedar Rapids area and within the ASAC family.

Nonprofit Leadership Excellence AwardJohn Garringer, Executive Director, Area Substance Abuse Council

EVENT PHOTOS

For more photos of the Celebration of Community event, go to facebook.com/GCRCF.

Celebration of Community event continued...

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Throughout his 25 years at Theatre Cedar Rapids (TCR), J. David has worked in several leadership roles within the organization. His institutional knowledge, coupled with his artistic background and business acumen, is a unique asset to TCR. J. David’s perspective on what has worked in the past, and what has not worked, has been invaluable to TCR through the years and has strengthened the organization. He has helped lead TCR through many changes including financial hardships, organizational leadership, and the devastating flood of 2008. He has been selfless during these changes and always has the best interest of TCR at heart. His passion for the theatre was instilled in him as a child and continues to this day. Because of his loyalty and dedication in TCR, J. David continually inspires and motivates his peers.

Kay started her work as Development Director for the Neighborhood Transportation Service (NTS) in 2006. At that time, the organization was providing 25,000 rides to and from work and educational classes. Through the years, Kay has worked diligently to secure additional funding to support growth. This year, NTS provided almost 47,000 rides. Kay is a tireless advocate for public transit and her determination is making a lasting impact for people in our community. She has built a broad-based coalition of transit agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and legislators to lobby for funding throughout the state of Iowa. This resulted in funding from the Department of Economic Development to provide support for thousands of people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get to work and support their families.

Kandy Sands joined Kids First in 2007, and she has transformed the organization in every way. Kids First runs smoothly thanks to Kandy’s work and skills. Kandy’s responsibilities cover all aspects of the organization. She set up a case management software system which tracks all of Kids First’s cases and outcomes. She opened the trust account and keeps track of all of the payments from parents under the sliding fee system. She set up and manages the organization’s donor database and assists with donor recognition. Over 400 children attend divorce workshops each year, and Kandy is responsible for handling the registrations, scheduling volunteers, and gathering feedback about each workshop. Kandy is often taking on tasks that fall outside her responsibilities, with cheerfulness and ease. She never drops the ball in an organization where the ball is always moving.

J. David Carey, Finance and Administrative Director, Theatre Cedar Rapids

Minnie Rubek Staff Excellence Award

Kay Fisk, Director of Development, Neighborhood Transportation Service

Kandy Sands, Office Manager, Kids First Law Center

To watch the videos shared at the event, visit the Events page at gcrcf.org.

Susan Willey Joins Community Foundation as Director of Planned Giving

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Susan Willey as Director of Planned Giving.

As a key member of the development team at the Community Foundation, Ms. Willey will meet with current fund holders and will also identify, cultivate and solicit planned gifts from potential donors. She will also serve professional advisors by providing information about giving through the Community Foundation for their clients.

Ms. Willey most recently served as an attorney, specializing in tax, business, and estate planning, at Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman. She has also worked in the National Tax Group at McGladrey and was on the Senate Finance Committee of Senator Grassley’s Tax Council.

Ms. Willey is actively involved in volunteer roles with Matthew 25 and Christ Episcopal Church. She will also serve as the incoming chair of the Tax Section of the Iowa State Bar Association.

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Susan WilleyDirector of Planned Giving319.366.2862susan.willey@gcrcf.org

The Community Foundation recently redesigned its website at www.gcrcf.org. The new site offers enhanced functionality and resources for donors, nonprofits and professional advisors.

The rental rates for the Solstead property, managed by the Community Foundation, have been reduced for 2015. The property, located in rural Iowa County, is a day retreat and learning center that includes a house, barn, and pond surrounded by 80 acres of rolling hills and prairie grasses. It is a

space that is in direct connection with nature to facilitate meetings or daytime retreats. The property is available from April – October to any organization or group. For more information visit www.solstead.com or to rent the space, contact Jean Brenneman, Chief Financial Officer, at 774-2368 or jean.brenneman@gcrcf.org.

Solstead Property Available for Community Use

New Website Offers Enhanced Functionality

for all reservations made before January 1, 2015

OFF 20%

Community Foundation’s across the United States are celebrating 2014 as the centennial year of the founding of the first Community Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914. Cleveland was the location of the Fall Conference for Community Foundations on October 19-22, 2014. Four representatives from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation attended the conference to learn, network and exchange ideas and information with Community Foundations across the United States. Attendees included (left to right): Rochelle Naylor, Program Officer; Michelle Beisker, Vice President of Development; Karla Twedt-Ball, Senior Vice President; and Elizabeth Cwik, Program Officer (not pictured).

On Thursday, October 16, representatives from CliftonLarsonAllen led roundtable discussions with over 35 nonprofit professionals at the chief financial officer peer group. Peer groups are hosted by the Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Network to provide a point of connection and resources to help strengthen nonprofit organizations and professionals. Four peer groups are offered for executive directors, chief financial officers, development professionals, and marketing professionals. These free sessions offer support and idea sharing in an informal and confidential setting. For more information, contact Carrie Walker, Nonprofit Network Coordinator at 319.774.2375 or carrie.walker@gcrcf.org.

Fall Conference Celebrates the Centennial Year of Community Foundations

Nonprofit Network Peer Groups Offer Learning and Support

On October 23, 2014, Emmy Ball, Controller at the Community Foundation, was recognized as one of forty leaders under the age of 40 who are making a difference in our community at the Corridor Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 event. Emmy was nominated for her outstanding leadership in helping to provide accurate and timely financial information to donors and nonprofits. She also provides leadership for the Community Foundation’s database system as the primary liaison with the provider.

On October 2, 2014, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation hosted a Professional Advisor Breakfast featuring guest speaker, Ken Nopar, of Nopar Consulting in Chicago, Illinois. Ken has worked with attorneys, accountants, and wealth advisors throughout the country to help them feel comfortable and confident in engaging their clients in the charitable planning discussion. Ken shared how the charitable conversation benefits professional advisors, clients and Linn County.

Professional Advisor Breakfast with Consultant

Emmy Ball Honored as Forty Under 40

Susan WilleyDirector of Planned Giving319.366.2862susan.willey@gcrcf.org

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324 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401-1841319.366.2862 / gcrcf.org

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BOARD OF DIRECTORSLoren L. Coppock, ChairChris Skogman, Chair ElectCheryle W. Mitvalsky, Past ChairKatie Oberbroeckling, TreasurerKevin Welu, SecretaryGary BartlettLydia BrownKarl CassellJohn ChaimovTerri ChristoffersenBrent CobbChris DeWolfGreg DunnTiffany Ann EarlSara B. FisetteMaureen KenneyThomas Moore

John OsakoElizabeth SchottOather TaylorFred Timko

CHAIR EMERITANancy G. McHugh

PRESIDENT & CEOLes Garner

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation proudly serves affiliate foundations in the Keokuk area and Wapello County.

OUR MISSION: The Community Foundation is a public foundation whose mission is to help donors give in meaningful ways, to strengthen nonprofits, and to provide leadership that supports a vibrant community.