Allamakee County Community Foundation

Sharing community leadership experiences often leads to strong friendships. So it is with Matt Erickson and Brian Houlihan.

Matt is an attorney in Postville and Brian owns a manufacturing business in Lansing but they come together to advocate for and lead Allamakee County through their service on the Allamakee County Community Foundation board. Both have taken turns in the president’s chair, overseeing the annual grantmaking program. They also both serve on the board of directors for TASC, a Waukon agency that serves individuals with developmental disabilities.

This past year, Matt and Brian made personal gifts to begin an agency endowment for TASC. Their shared philanthropic leadership sparked gifts from other board members and the fund has already reached the $10,000 threshold for annual 5% payouts to begin. “Our community foundation endowment will be a nice cushion for operations and a funding source for grant match,” says TASC Executive Director Mary Ament. “It will also spark signature projects within our program and facility.”

The Allamakee County Community Foundation hosts 16 charitable funds to benefit the nonprofits and urgent charitable needs in this far northeastern corner of Iowa. This affiliate foundation owes its strong growth to the leadership of Matt, Brian and their other friends from places like Harpers Ferry and Waterville who share a unique and satisfying community leadership experience as foundation board members.