Published: November 06, 2009 09:30 am      

River Bluff will observe Community Foundation Week

CLINTON — River Bluff Community Foundation will join more than 130 community foundations/affiliate community foundations across Iowa in celebrating charitable giving during Community Foundation Week from Nov. 12 to 18.

Iowa Community Foundations are nonprofit organizations established to meet the current and future needs in communities including those related to arts/culture, education, health, human services, environmental protection, community development and more. Community foundations across Iowa share many of the same features and all share the same goal — to build permanent endowments for Iowa charitable causes.

Locally, River Bluff Community Foundation has sponsored quarterly meetings of area nonprofits to discuss topics ranging from grant writing, strategic planning and volunteer retention. River Bluff has also established funds for local educational organizations, art project funds and general charitable endowments. River Bluff was also the first area affiliate to have one of its “Acorn Funds” grow into a permanent endowment fund. Outreach and educational efforts on charitable giving opportunities have been hosted for area tax and estate planners on the most recent gifting and funding techniques.

“Community foundations are at the heart of our cities and towns. We know the places of need in our area, and we can direct resources to create solutions,” said David Helscher, current chairman of River Bluff. “And, in Iowa, giving through a local community foundation is rewarding - in more ways than one. The Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program provides a great incentive for Iowa taxpayers to invest in permanent community endowments at qualified community foundations.”

“Iowa’s community foundation infrastructure exists to not only support and enable important change in our communities, but also to build endowments through the generous support of a variety of donors with a variety of means,” said Iowa Council of Foundations Director Angela Dethiefs-Trettin. “Through programs such as the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program and the County Endowment Fund Program, we continue to build upon a spirit of philanthropy that ultimately benefits charitable projects and programs essential to the well-being of our Iowa communities, Iowa community foundations ensure that resources are available — for good, forever. It takes local community partners to make that vision a reality;”

To learn more about Iowa Community Foundations, the County Endowment Fund Program and the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program, visit www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org. For more information on River Bluff Community Foundation, visit www.cfgrb.org/river.bluff/ or at Box 1152, Clinton IA, 52732.

Community Foundation Week began in 1989 with a proclamation from former President George H.W. Bush and a congressional briefing about community foundation activities.

The observance has made donors seeking to maximize their philanthropic dollars aware of community foundations' charitable activities and services.