Fifteen years ago is when Wright County embarked on establishing a charitable foundation to enhance the lives of county residents. To date, nearly 600 non-profit grants have been funded, totaling about $1.23 million. Another nearly $3/4 million has been given to worthy causes by the 37 private endowments held by the Wright County Charitable Foundation (WCCF).
From the beginning
According to Duane Asbe, first president of WCCF, the first gathering of community leaders took place in December 2004. “It was then we began to develop plans to begin a county foundation.”
Dennis Bowman was the Wright County Economic Development Director at the time. “The supervisors made us aware of the gaming funds which could be given to each county that didn’t have a casino and had a qualified foundation,” he said. “We were charged with putting together a tax-exempt foundation for receiving these funds annually.” Bowman began to invite two people from each of the seven towns to represent the county.
Asbe said, “We met for a year to get ourselves organized to accept those funds. Rather than try to get our own 501c3 established, we chose to participate with the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines as our ‘host’ foundation to give us the administration and support we needed to be effective. We began to build our bylaws and elect our officers. It was in the spring of 2006 when we were ready to review grants and give funds to county non-profit groups.”
The purpose of each county foundation is two-fold: give 75% of the total gaming monies received annually to qualified non-profits; establish a permanent endowment with the other 25%. “In addition, it was a goal of the legislation for each county to work to develop other endowments under the WCCF umbrella as well,” added Asbe.
Both Asbe and Bowman marveled at how well that first ‘team’ worked together to make this unknown project work. “We were amazed at the variety of skills we had to make things work well,” said Asbe.
Moving ahead
WCCF chose to give monies away in two grant cycles each year. A plan which continues today. “We are considering going to one grant cycle annually like most counties do,” noted Asbe, “but this year we are still making two cycles possible.” (Extended time due to COVID-19 with grants coming for spring in a few weeks). Bowman said Wright County is one of the few counties where youth are involved in the grant selection process. “We are attempting to make young people more aware of the philanthropy possibilities.” The WCCF continues to work hand-and-glove with the Wright County Economic Development office.
Board members continue to come from across the county. Each board member can serve two three-year terms before they move off the board. Members can return for another term after being off a period of time. Bowman served following his employment with the county and now serves in an advisory capacity at times. Asbe served his terms and now has been hired by the WCCF serving as its Endowment Development Director.
With lots of people rolling up their sleeves, WCCF has granted more than $1,250,000 to 578 county non-profit projects from the 75% of gaming funds coming to Wright County in that time period. “Many projects may not have been accomplished by these groups or organizations had it not been for the WCCF grants,” said Asbe. In 15 years, completed projects have totaled nearly $6 million.
Today
While the monies from gaming continue to come to counties without casinos (85 today, with each non-gaming county receiving the same amount of money regardless of population), it is the building of the county endowment where Wright County shines. “Today we have 37 separate endowments under our umbrella,” said Asbe, “totaling over $7 million.” Each endowment can choose where their individual proceeds can be given (5% of each permanent endowment can be granted annually). Another nearly $750,000 has been given from those accounts to charitable causes.
“There are incentives through Endow Iowa tax credits,” emphasized Asbe, “giving donors even more of a purpose to start an endowment or add to an existing one.” The state has given $6 million in tax credits for this year and is allocating the same amount for 2021.
County Supervisor Dean Kluss said, “It is rewarding to see the way that people and organizations are taking care of things in our communities and county. Many times, it is funds that aren’t able to go through normal channels. People are willing to give to it.” He said in his time with the Wright County Fair he saw the effects of the WCCF. “The fair was the recipient of some of the grants,” he said, “and the county fair set up its own endowment under the WCCF.”
Looking toward the future
Current WCCF president Lennea Groom said, “People remain excited about the county foundation. Grant applications for monies remain strong.” She said before COVID-19 shut things down, last fall a local team began meeting with Joe Sorenson and Rebecca Murphy from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines for strategic planning, looking ahead for three years into the future. “While we have been slowed, we are looking at ways to continue building our endowments. We want to look at ways to attract new board members, getting them more involved in our efforts. We are doing a good job, but we can do even better.”
Asbe reiterated Groom’s comments, “We are continually looking for people to serve on our board of directors as we rotate people off the board as terms expire. If people have suggestions on who might be good candidates to serve or if some person, family, or organization might like to learn about starting an individual endowment fund, don’t hesitate to contact me – 1-515-571-3378.
“I am still enjoying being involved with the county foundation,” said Asbe. “It is gratifying to help make potential things happen across the county which will benefit others as a result of the grants and the philanthropic purpose of our foundation.”
