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Clayton County Foundation for the Future Fund

At a Glance

  • Serving the needs of Clayton County
  • Your gift keeps helping others
  • Awarded $320,083 in grants & scholarships in 2021

About Us

Clayton County Foundation for the Future was created to inspire giving and build stronger communities in Clayton County. We act as a bridge connecting important community needs and resources. CCFF works with donors, nonprofits, and community partners to improve quality of life for the 17,000+ residents of Clayton County and ensure a strong future for our area.

We make annual grants from our endowed fund to units of government, schools, churches, and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to support important work happening in Clayton County. We award grants in the areas of: health and human services, education, neighborhood and community development, our environment, art and culture, and children, youth, and families.

Your gift builds our endowment and grant-making capacity so we can support more Clayton County nonprofits each year.

Mission

To inspire giving and build stronger communities.

Basic Information

Phone

563.880.6044

Address

700 Locust St. Ste. 195 Dubuque, Iowa 52001

Director

Emily Sadewasser

Director Email

ccff@dbqfoundation.org

Success Story

After a successful career in agricultural sustainability in Houston, Craig Watson and his wife, LeAnn, retired in Clayton County to be closer to their four grandchildren and their childhood home.

“We both grew up on farms within Clayton County, so I indeed grew up with that connection to the farm.” he says. “The connection to Northeast Iowa always stuck with us and reminded us of where we came from.”

After years of charitable giving, the Watsons learned about the benefits of using a donor-advised fund to create a private foundation at the Clayton County Foundation for the Future. They established the Watson-Rugland Endowment in 2011 to honor their parents and their lives on the farm.

“Being able to name the Foundation was particularly important to me to not only honor our parents and their life on farms here in Northeast Iowa, but also the names of our family before them,” says LeAnn. “We want our children to continue to have a connection to Clayton County.”

In 2017, their family endowment supported the Clayton County Energy District, a local nonprofit organization focused on developing local clean energy options. The organization led home energy assessments for Clayton County residents, which will help residents improve appliance combustion safety, home comfort and shrink their energy bills.

“It is important to provide more information, so in turn people in small communities can make more informed decisions,” says Craig. “In a small way, these people can impact not only the expenditures for their home, but also contribute to some type of small benefit to the environment.”

LeAnn adds that the personal connection is what set the Foundation apart.

“Rather than just writing a check, we’ve had personal connections with the people we’ve impacted,” she says. “It’s that human connection—even a small amount can be the spark that a group needs to get going and to realize that somebody really does care.”

Read more stories about the impact we’re making in Clayton County by visiting www.dbqfoundation.org/CCFF.

Fund Details

Fund Name

Clayton County Foundation for the Future Fund

Year Founded

2004

Here for you. Molly Moser Affiliate Communications Manager molly@dbqfoundation.org 563-588-2700

Support This Fund

Clayton County Foundation for the Future Fund