Celebrating 25 Years of Philanthropy

We are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year! Since 1999, the Community Foundation has been a partner in philanthropy working to unite people, ideas, and resources to address community challenges and create opportunities.

Dick Maeglin brought the idea to our community, and under the initial direction of Elaine Terrill, who was instrumental in its development, along with founders John Beckey, Hal Green, Mike Johannsen, Rosa Mendoza, Jim Nepple, Paul Ostrem, Mark Patton, Rick Simpson, Mike Spangler, Jim Trosen, and Katrina Wisniewski, the Community Foundation was poised to play an essential role in the vitality of our community and has grown to what we now know today.

Together, with generous donors and the collaboration of partners, we have:

• Granted more than $47 million to support vital charitable programs and projects locally, nationally, and internationally.

• Awarded more than $4 million in scholarships to help ensure the future success of students.

• Managed over 260 funds for individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to invest in our community and support the causes they care about.

• Forged community partnerships to collaboratively address our county’s most pressing issues such as housing, health, education, and racial justice.  

L to R: Past Board chairs Keith Porter, Diana Gradert, William Koellner, Jim Nepple, John Beckey, and Bob Jensen (2016)

“Our founders’ vision set the Community Foundation on a path to serve as a catalyst for community-building. We are grateful to the Board members who have provided leadership, volunteers who have carved time and offered guidance, and donors who have invested their personal and corporate resources to strengthen our community in countless moments and ways,” said Charla Schafer, President, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. “We are excited and poised to watch this community partnership continue to unfold, growing in impact and further strengthening our community, neighbors, and children.”

To commemorate this milestone, we are collecting stories to recognize those who have made a significant impact and contributed to the success throughout our history. To share a story or memory and learn more about our history, visit www.givinggreater.org/25years.