Endow Iowa

Endow Iowa was created to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of this state through increased philanthropic activity by encouraging new investments to existing community foundations and facilitating the creation of new community foundations. The program includes two components:

1. Tax credits to donors
2. Grants to newly formed community foundations(or affiliates)

Information regarding the total amount of tax credits available through Endow Iowa, credits awarded to date, and credits available in the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program up through the latest month can be found in the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Report.

County Endowment Fund

HF 2302 from the 2004 Session, separate from the Endow Iowa legislation, created a County Endowment Fund program.

• County Endowment Fund Recipient Contacts [www.iowacounciloffoundations.org]

County Endow Fund Documents

Application Review Process — [www.iowacounciloffoundations.org ~ PDF: 15k]
Application Form — [www.iowacounciloffoundations.org ~ PDF: 17k]

See the County Endowment Funds brochure for additional information. Or, see the frequently asked questions for additional information.

Tax Credits

The major component of the Endow Iowa Program is a state tax credit equal to 20% of a qualifying gift to a community foundation. The gift must be to an endowment fund within the qualified foundation or community affiliate organization. The tax credits can be claimed by individuals, businesses, or financial institutions.

The most recent legislation relating to the tax credits provides for more than $2 million in tax credits each year. The program is administered by the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Administrative Rules [PDF: 52k] [MS Word: 32k]

Legislation [PDF: 52k] [MS Word: 32k]

2005 - House File 868 [PDF: 40k] [MS Word: 26k]

Application:

Tax Credit Instructions — [PDF: 16k] [MS Word: 39k]
Tax Credit Application — [PDF: 18k] [MS Word: 56k]

Affiliate Organizations

Affiliating with a qualified Community Foundation may be a desirable alternative for many new or smaller foundations. View the benefits of affiliating with an established qualified Community Foundation.

• County Endowment Fund Recipient Contacts [www.iowacounciloffoundations.org]
• Endow Iowa Qualified Community Foundations and their Affiliates

Reports

• 2008 Report to the Legislature and Governor on Endow Iowa and the County Endowment Fund [PDF: 393k].
• Building Iowa's Communities Through Philanthropy: A Snapshot of the 2005-2006 County Endowment Fund Program [www.iowacounciloffoundations.org]

Wealth Transfer Study

A report was prepared by Iowa State University providing data on anticipated "Wealth Transfer" in Iowa over the next fifty years, by county. View the Wealth Transfer Study.

Additional Resources

• Iowa State University (ISU) Extension's Community Vitality Center [www.cvcia.org]
• Iowa Non-Profit Resource Center [nonprofit.law.uiowa.edu]
• Iowa Council of Foundations [www.iowacounciloffoundations.org]
• Iowa Community Foundations [www.iowacommunityfoundations.org]
• Iowa Council of Foundations Newsletter [www.iowacounciloffoundations.org/newsletter.htm]
• National Council on Foundations [www.cof.org]

To Learn More:

Phone: 515.242.4807
E-mail: endowiowa@iowalifechanging.com