MAKE IT HAPPEN

"Make it Happen" is a learning cohort designed to examine ways nonprofit organizations can grow and better serve our community through philanthropy. Funded by a generous gift from D.A. Davidson, and facilitated by the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, "Make it Happen" is an 18-month learning program focused on all aspects of development within nonprofit organizations including: annual fund, boards and committees, volunteers, donors and stakeholders, individual strengths within the workplace, and more. The program consists of six-monthly meetings from January to June, and then moves to quarterly “Continuing to Make It Happen” sessions where participants are able to learn from subject matter experts based on their personal feedback and needs. Participants are selected through an application process.

Make It Happen | 2023 Graduation

On Thursday, June 22, nine nonprofit organizations graduated from our "Make It Happen" nonprofit fundraising academy -- a series designed to help area nonprofits grow and better serve our western Iowa communities.


Congratulations to the following nonprofit organizations:


A special thank you D A Davidson Companies for generously sponsoring this year's cohort, and to the following experts for collaborating with us these last six months!

- Dr. Jenni Frumer, retired CEO of Alpert Jewish Family Services

- Alex Watters, Certified Gallup Strengths Coach

- Clover Frederick - Fundraiser and Marketer on a Mission

- Ryan Strawhecker, Strawhecker Nonprofit Services

- Tom Kerfoot, Children's Hospital & Medical Center

- Pete Tulipana, Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact

Community Foundation Kicks Off Nonprofit Training

The Community Foundation for Western Iowa launched an 18-month training program Thursday to help nonprofit organizations build their capacity by developing their endowments.

The program, called “Make It Happen,” includes six monthly meetings followed by quarterly “Continuing to Make It Happen” sessions where participants learn from subject matter experts based on their personal feedback and needs.

“The training program not only helps ensure long-term viability and strength of our region’s nonprofit organizations through fund development, but also strives to create a widespread culture of philanthropy throughout the Community Foundation’s western Iowa service area,” a description from the foundation stated.

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Community Foundation Announces 2023 Make It Happen Cohort

The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is delighted to announce this year’s participants for “Make It Happen” – the Foundation’s exclusive 18-month training program sponsored by D.A. Davidson.

The following nonprofit organizations applied and were selected for the 2023 cohort: Avenue Scholars of Southwest Iowa; Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus; Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs; Historical Society of Pottawattamie County; Learning for All; Lewis Central Education Foundation; New Visions Homeless Services; Southwest Iowa Families, Inc.; and Wings of Hope.

Two representatives from each nonprofit organization attended the January 26 kick-off session that included a conversation around Fundraising and the Science of Giving from guest presenter and expert, Dr. Jenni Frumer, nonprofit consultant and former CEO of Alpert Jewish Family Service of West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Make It Happen” is designed to support nonprofit partners by increasing their ability to put a comprehensive plan in place that focuses on the benefits of a strong, endowed funding stream. The training program will not only ensure a nonprofit organization’s long-term viability and strength, but will also effectively create a widespread culture of philanthropy throughout the Community Foundation’s western Iowa service area. The program consists of six-monthly meetings from January to June, and then moves to quarterly “Continuing to Make It Happen” sessions where participants are able to learn from subject matter experts based on their personal feedback and needs.

Community Foundation Announces Application for 2022 Make It Happen Cohort;
D.A. Davidson to Sponsor 18-Month Training Series

The Community Foundation is delighted to announce that D.A. Davidson is generously sponsoring the 2023 “Make It Happen” training program that will support nonprofit partners by increasing their ability to put a comprehensive plan in place that focuses on the benefits of a strong, endowed funding stream and will not only ensure the organization’s long-term viability and strength, but will also effectively create a widespread culture of philanthropy throughout the Community Foundation’s western Iowa service area.

“Supporting the communities in which we live and work is one of D.A. Davidson’s core values and we are pleased to support the Community Foundation’s “Make It Happen” initiative, which will ultimately benefit the communities of western Iowa,” said Larry Martinez, Chief Executive Officer of D.A. Davidson Companies. “As someone who was raised in Council Bluffs, it is particularly gratifying to support the community that means so much to me as well as many of my colleagues.”

The partnership with D.A. Davidson will enable the Community Foundation to deliver this comprehensive, full-service fund development learning program to western Iowa nonprofit and community partners in a cohort format, spanning an 18-month period starting in January 2023 at no-cost to the selected participants. The “Make It Happen” training program consists of six-monthly meetings from January to June, and then moves to quarterly “Continuing to Make It Happen” sessions where participants are able to learn from subject matter experts based on their personal feedback and needs.

“Thanks to the amazing generosity and kindness of our partners at D.A. Davidson, we are excited to offer this high-impact learning cohort to the nonprofit organizations of our southwest Iowa region," said Donna Dostal, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. "This will be our second offering of the cohort, with newly-added guest speakers and exclusive learning based on the research of Dr. Jenni Frumer, Ph.D, retired CEO of Alpert Jewish Family Services and The Levine Jewish Residential and Family Services of West Palm Beach Florida. Make It Happen is another way we feel the Community Foundation can help build knowledge and sustainability within our nonprofit community.”