Foundation launches Vision for Tomorrow campaign

Imagine the impact an additional $20,000 in grants for local organizations can have on Clayton County communities. That’s the vision behind a new campaign to raise nearly half a million dollars that will benefit local towns and residents forever.

With matching funds from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, the Clayton County Foundation for the Future has begun a campaign to add $450,000 to its endowment, leading to an additional $20,000 in annual grants to organizations building a thriving future for the county.

The campaign, Clayton County Vision for Tomorrow, was approved for a Small-town Dreams Initiative Challenge Grant. This funding is available to high-performing, self-determined communities in the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque’s seven-county region, which includes Clayton County. The initiative is funded by an anonymous donor and successful entrepreneur who grew up in a small town in eastern Iowa. 

The initial “quiet phase” of the initiative began early this year and has been completed. Current and past Foundation board members challenged local leaders to raise $150,000, which unlocked an additional $75,000 in matching funds. 

In the second “community phase,” which is beginning now, businesses, organizations and families will be challenged to match the first phase’s $225,000 and reach the $450,000 goal. 

Furthermore, as the campaign reaches its fundraising milestones, it will earn $25,000 in cash that can be granted out to spark projects that would not otherwise be possible. The Foundation has elected to use the $15,000 cash from the phase one milestone to support the Clayton County Imagination Library as well as area nonprofit child care providers.

“Through our recent countywide child care assessment, we learned of many challenges and opportunities to support providers,” says Emily Sadewasser, the Foundation’s executive director. “We are excited to be able to provide immediate funding to support their important work.” 

The Foundation awarded eight $1,500 grants to day care centers across the county, including: 

• Elkader Child Care and Learning Center to purchase training credits for staff members to attain the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification.
• Kinderwood Child Care Center for a new playground.
• Postville Child Care Services to fund Iowa Quality For Kids training for staff.
• Kids Kampus to support an expanded outdoor reading/educational area, including raised flower beds, outdoor seating and gardening material.
• Garnavillo Community Day Care Center for phase 2 of its building update, which will provide more classroom and play space.
• Little Bulldog Childcare to fund recruitment and retention bonuses and staff training.
• Dr. Clifford C. Smith Childcare to fund recruitment and retention bonuses.
• Berry Tender Childcare to support a renovation project, which includes improvements to its 2-year-old, 3- to 4-year-old, and school age rooms.

The Foundation’s existing endowment provides about $5,000 in annual grants for nonprofits in Clayton County. Needs regularly outpace that amount, and donors with their own family endowments have generously supported additional grantmaking each spring. “As we celebrate our 20^th anniversary in 2024, we’re grateful to be able to match the anonymous donor’s gifts with those from local leaders to build our endowment and make more grants to improve quality of life in Clayton County,” says Sadewasser.

To learn more or make a charitable gift to the Vision for Tomorrow Endowment, visit dbqfoundation.org/vft or contact Sadewasser at ccff@dbqfoundation.org. Gifts can be made with cash, check or credit card. Complex gifts like grain, appreciated stock, timber, life insurance, real estate, and individual retirement account charitable rollovers can also be accepted. Gifts of $50 or more are eligible for the 25% Endow Iowa State Tax Credit.

“The Foundation is here to inspire giving and build stronger communities,” says Sadewasser. “We are so excited to be a Small-Town Dreams community and capture these matching dollars for a brighter tomorrow.”

The Foundation offers many opportunities to improve quality of life by addressing an array of local issues. To learn more about how you can establish a fund or make a gift that impacts your community, contact Sadewasser at 563-880-6044.