Giving:

To voluntarily give time and money to organizations dedicated to bettering one’s community is a long-standing American tradition, noted even by De Toqueville in his survey of American life two hundred years ago. Community foundations serve as a means for people to share their assets with generations to come. The Community Foundation of Johnson County enables individuals, families, businesses, and non-profit agencies to establish lasting legacies, easily and effectively, while receiving maximum tax advantages. As with any tax deductible consideration, please consult your tax advisor for the most current advice on the deductibility of any gift(s) to the Community Foundation of Johnson County.

Donors will receive an annual letter disclosing the most current balances within their fund(s). Additional fund information can be obtained by calling the Community Foundation office at 319-337-0483 during office hours.

Your gifts make a lasting difference to the community. We’d like to share with you a story of one of our donors; check back again for other profiles, and contact the Executive Director by e-mail [Mike Stoffregen] or at the Foundation’s office if you would like to be profiled here.

Healthy initiative benefits local kids

The vision of the Emerging Philanthropists Society of United Way of Johnson County (UWJC) is helping establish healthcare for area children. Last year, their $37,500 contribution launched a series of gifts and an initiative to care for Iowa City area school-aged children. Emerging Philanthropist Jan Jensen, a University of Iowa Associate Head Coach, said the goal of excellent health care for all is attainable with support and commitment. "We are thrilled our goal to assist children has received wide-spread support from the local community."

In 2007, Mercy Iowa City announced a series of five annual gifts of $100,000 for a total of $500,000 to endow the Healthy Kids Community Care. Mercy Iowa City CEO Ronald R. Reed said the program benefits the entire community. "Healthy children come to school ready to learn and miss fewer school days. This not only benefits children, but also their parents and employers."

United Way of Johnson County, Community Foundation of Johnson County and the Iowa City Community School District Foundation are uniting to raise funds to establish school-based health clinics to serve all students with unmet medical needs.

The Community Foundation of Johnson County will become the designated manager of the donor-advised endowment program. Annually, the first funds, equaling 5 percent of the endowment, will become available to fund clinic operations.

ICCSD Superintendent Lane Plugge said, "Community support is a wonderful step to help those least able to help themselves. Our students will benefit greatly from this generous contribution."

Numerous Healthy Kids Community Care partners united to overcome a barrier to learning in the Johnson County area include: Iowa City Community School District, United Way of Johnson County, Mercy Iowa City, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, UI College of Medicine, UI College of Nursing, UI College of Dentistry, Free Medical Clinic, Johnson County Public Health, Pediatric Associates, School Children's Aid, Visiting Nurse Association and local pharmacies. (Story posted July 2008)

Iowa City Hospice looks to the future

For several years, Iowa City Hospice planned strategically to create an endowment fund, a savings account for permanently restricted gifts the nonprofit organization received from grateful families.

Last year, the not-for-profit provider of hospice care and grief support services in the Iowa City area and surrounding seven-counties set aside $500,000 creating the endowed fund through the Community Foundation of Johnson County.

Iowa City Hospice Executive Director Maggie Elliott says the organization's board of directors will determine how income from the endowment will be used each year. Establishing the fund through the Community Foundation of Johnson County qualifies contributors to receive a 20 percent tax credit through the renewed Endow Iowa bill. Elliott says, "The endowment fund ensures compassionate hospice care and grief support services will be available to the greater Iowa City community and beyond for generations to come."

Iowa City Hospice received two significant leadership gifts from individuals who were critical to the development and continued strength of Iowa City Hospice. Longtime Iowa City Hospice supporters Ina and Jerry Loewenberg and Richard and Judith Hurtig contributed to the endowment fund. Ina Loewenberg served on the Iowa City Hospice Board of Directors and she continues to volunteer. "Both endowment funds and annual giving are critical to nonprofit organizations. An endowment is an investment in the future and annual giving serves daily operations."

Richard Hurtig says, "Contributing to the Hospice endowment was a way of insuring the community's future needs would continue to be met." Richard says, "There is a 'joy of giving' when you know your gift will have a positive impact on the quality of hospice care in our community. Making it possible for good people to do good things for people at a critical time of need is immensely rewarding. A gift to an endowment allows your gift to continue to have a positive impact year after year." (Story posted July 2008)

Profile: Dick Schwab and Katherine Burford

Dick Schwab and Katherine Burford share a commitment to the community. In December of 2000 they shaped that commitment into a generous gift that became the cornerstone of the Community Foundation of Johnson County. The couple donated a large gift of securities to the newly formed Foundation, which in turn invested those funds and distributed the investment earnings according to the directions of the donor. Schwab and Burford designated a portion of their donation as a Founder’s Gift, designed to defray the Foundation’s operating expenses during its early years. The balance of the gift went into an endowment fund, which has provided grants in five areas of concern they designated: arts and culture, health and human services, local philanthropy, education, and elderly services. Schwab also donates his time to the Foundation as a member of the board of directors. (Story posted April, 2003)