The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines received a record-breaking $55 million in charitable donations last year, up from $51 million in 2012. It closed 2013 with more than $321 million in net assets, which Community Foundation President Kristi Knous said helps ensure that current and future community needs will be met.
Continuing its mission to connect donors with causes they care about and provide leadership on important community issues, the foundation created 202 charitable funds in 2013, bringing the total to 1,270. It gave more than $21 million in grants, including eight Leadership Grants totaling $435,000 to local nonprofits through the Better Together Fund.
Foundation leaders credited the increase in donations to several factors, including generous donors committed to improving the quality of life in Central Iowa, strong relationships with professional financial advisers, the Endow Iowa tax credit and a broad scope of giving opportunities. The foundation’s year-end report also noted that 2013 portfolio returns reached as high as 13.5 percent.
