WOMEN'S FUND
OF SOUTHWEST IOWA

The way to create positive, durable change is to connect the solution with the need. The Women’s Fund of Southwest Iowa is a combination of both endowed and expendable funding within the Community Foundation. Established in 2018, this fund serves the following counties in Iowa: Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby. 

2023 IMPACT FOR WOMEN SUMMIT

September 28, 2023 | Rachel George, The Daily Nonpareil

The second-ever Impact for Women Summit was held Tuesday, Sept. 26, 20223 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.

After the first hybrid-style event in 2021, this year's summit saw attendance more than double, with more than 450 women (and a few men) in attendance.

The biennial summit is an effort of the Women's Fund of Southwest Iowa, created by the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, to impact challenges facing area women in the fields of education, childcare, safety and well-being, and aging in place.

"This is an amazing opportunity for you to see the impact and be the change to lift up women in our community," said Donna Dostal, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. Dostal shared her vision to "invest in women and make our community strong," calling on audience members to come together "as women in western Iowa" to make it a better place for future generations.

Four speakers shared their stories, each highlighting a different touchstone of what drives the Women's Fund.  Read the entire story here.

The Women’s Fund of Southwest Iowa Steering Committee, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, was recognized by the State of Iowa for its outstanding commitment and service. The committee accepted the volunteer award on June 21 at a ceremony where more than 100 individuals and groups were honored by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

In 2018, and after purposeful planning and a collaborative needs-assessment within the communities that make up southwest Iowa, the Community Foundation created the Women’s Fund of Southwest Iowa – an endowed Fund to support nonprofit organizations with a goal to improve the quality of life and well-being of women and their families. The ongoing work to lead the strategy, provide community-based insights and fund development is managed by a steering committee of 16 devoted individuals who are committed to bringing awareness to critical needs in southwest Iowa where poverty, lack of childcare, and issues around women’s safety and health are at a stage of crisis. Members include Kim Armstrong, Jerry Banks, Connie Casson, Kate Cutler, Heather Davis, Judy Davis, Donna Dostal, Michelle Franks, Heidi Hough, Lucy Hough, Ashley Jankowski, Alison Johnson, Suzanne Kotula, Darlene Pilling, Nancy Schulze, Inez Summy, Lana White, and Janet Whitson.

The Community Foundation and its Board are thankful for the efforts the Women’s Fund of Southwest Iowa Steering Committee puts forth each and every day and are proud to share that the Fund to-date has awarded nearly $125,000 in grant dollars across southwest Iowa.