Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

06/12/2026

We had a great conversation at Big Brothers Big Sisters during this week’s DonorConnect: Protecting Potential: Keeping Youth Safe and Thriving.

Together we explored the Safe & Thriving Youth Plan, a collaborative, community-informed effort to reduce youth violence in Greater Des Moines. We looked at emerging priorities, heard insights from individuals instrumental in informing the plan and built a clearer understanding of what it will take to create long-term, sustainable change that will impact generations to come.

Thank you to these leaders for sharing their insight and helping move the conversation forward:

Bridget Cravens-Neely, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
Tone Roddy, Project Manager, Safe and Thriving Youth, United Way of Central Iowa
Kimberly Graham, Attorney, Polk County

06/12/2026

A clear, thoughtful budget is one of the most powerful tools a nonprofit has, but for many, it can feel overwhelming or overly technical. Join us June 24 for a session designed to demystify the basics and build confidence in creating and managing a budget that supports your organization’s mission. Whether you’re new to budgeting or looking for a refresher, this session will provide a solid foundation you can immediately put into practice.

Register here: https://buff.ly/6YlxJ2e

Key Takeaways:

💡 Understand the essential components of a nonprofit budget
📊 Learn how to align your budget with your strategic priorities
📈 Explore practical tools for tracking revenue and expenses
👍 Gain confidence in making informed financial decisions
📉 Identify common budgeting pitfalls and how to avoid them

06/11/2026

A simple reminder: focus less on what you can't do, and more on what you still can.

On this week’s episode of Legacy Leavers, we are honored to sit down with a leader whose career has been defined by service, advocacy and a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for others - Sally Pederson.

Hear Sally’s story and catch up on past episodes at desmoinesfoundation.org/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts!

06/10/2026

What's next in your leadership journey?

If you're a nonprofit professional looking to grow your influence, build meaningful connections and invest in your development, For Impact Leaders may be for you. The program is designed for full-time employees in the nonprofit sector who hold a current or future area of influence in their organization and are committed to their own professional leadership journey.

Join us for a virtual information session Tuesday, July 14 from 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. to learn more about the program, hear from current participants and find out how you can be part of the experience. Register here: https://buff.ly/HGmDL10

06/10/2026

As the days become warm and sunny, our community turns to all the fun summer festivals and events happening in Greater Des Moines. One we look forward to each year is the Principal Charity Classic. What many don’t know is that each year, the proceeds of the Principal Charity Classic impact the lives of more than 130,000 youth in our region, and The Legacy Project is a signature element of the Principal Charity Classic.

Kristi stopped by the Greater Des Moines Partnership recently to learn more about The Legacy Project: Career Ready Collective, and all the ways the program helps youth prepare for the workforce. Check it out in this edition of Connections!

06/09/2026

Colleague Connect creates a dedicated time and space to learn from your peers in the nonprofit community. The content of the meeting can include round table discussions, idea sharing or a speaker.

Current Colleague Connect groups include:

💼 Executive Directors
🤝 Managers
🎤 Marketing & Communications
📈 Development
📊 Financial Stewards

Colleague Connect creates space for peer groups to share resources, discuss insights and troubleshoot challenges.

Learn more about Colleague Connect here: https://buff.ly/qF4EVrU

06/08/2026

Together, through collective action, we can drive progress toward ensuring that one day, everyone in our community has a safe place to call home. Read more here: https://buff.ly/6UU6eH2

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines improves quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about and providing leadership on important community issues…we’re simply better together.

06/04/2026

As workplaces become increasingly multigenerational, understanding different perspectives has never been more important. Join us June 17 with guest Dr. Jennifer Murnane-Rainey to learn how personal experiences and biases shape interactions and how individuals can recognize opportunities to improve communication, build trust and effectively leverage the strengths of a multigenerational workforce.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to:

👤 Explain how personal experiences shape perception, intuition and bias
🤝 Recognize how assumptions influence workplace communication and trust
📈 Identify strategies for improving collaboration in a multigenerational workforce

Register here: https://buff.ly/cZAz1t6

06/03/2026

We're hiring a Charitable Giving Coordinator! This position ensures current and prospective fund holders receive a personal approach to philanthropy through outstanding customer service. See the full job description and learn more by clicking here: https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/about-us/careers

06/01/2026

Walking a path together is central to the way Benson Wealth Management approaches its work. When the Ankeny-based financial services firm was introduced to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, they recognized an opportunity to be supported in bringing philanthropic conversations to life across their client base. Read more about the ways we work together here:

When Benson Wealth Management was introduced to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, they recognized an opportunity to be supported in bringing philanthropic conversations to life across their client base.