Foundation for the Future of Delaware County Celebrates 10 Years
Leaders from the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County (FFDC) celebrated endowment growth, grant impact and a thriving philanthropic spirit at their 10-year anniversary celebration on Tuesday, May 3 at the Franklin Street Brewery.
More than 50 local donors, funders, nonprofit leaders, and community advocates gathered to share stories and celebrate a successful 10 years.
“Delaware County is a very rural community, and sometimes these small areas get overlooked,” said Donor Connections Coordinator Nancy Preussner. “That’s why I think the Foundation is great because it touches our rural areas and our rural communities.”
The FFDC was created in 2005 following passage of the Endow Iowa State Tax Credit legislation. Following that time, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Director of Affiliates MJ Smith traveled from Dubuque to Manchester to educate volunteers about a new model of community development that could help shape their community’s future.
“I’m really excited about community leaders coming together to chart their own future,” said Smith. “It’s hard to imagine 10 years ago, people coming together with this new idea; people from Edgewood, Manchester, Delhi, Ryan, Hopkinton to really work on a new concept about endowments and grants. Here we are a decade later and we’re celebrating.”
Together with the CFGD and donors with a vision for the future, these leaders demonstrated that effort, hope, and a model for efficient effective philanthropy would grow into the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County.
“We’ve put about $950,000 out into the county over the last 10 years,” said FFDC Board President Jerry Burke. “When you start thinking about all the good that that has done in these communities, it would not have been possible without the Foundation and the ability for people to do that in the county.”
Since 2005, the FFDC has grown 35 charitable funds and $3.7 million in assets. This year, FFDC endowments paid out $70,000 to support local nonprofits. These dollars have supported projects over 300 projects including new welding equipment at West Delaware High School, Christmas for Kids at Ed-Co School, new playgrounds, career planning, more.
“There are good people here [in Delaware County], and they like to help each other,” said FFDC Executive Secretary Bev Rahe. “That is why I like it here, and I think that’s why people decide to leave their funds here, so the future can be bright for our children and our children’s children.”
The FFDC Board Members are: Jerry Burke, Manchester, Keith Kramer, Hopkinton; Cindy Vorwald, Edgewood; Jill Buschmann, Greeley, Jim Fisher, Manchester; Joy Jager, Ryan; Glen Puffett, Dundee; Jackie Johnson, Edgewood; and Larry Gritton, Manchester.
To learn more about the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County, call Nancy Preussner at 563.920.5590 or visit www.dbqfoundation.org/FFDC.