Pillars of Philanthropy 2025

Local nonprofit leaders are driven to solve challenges, provide services and create cultural opportunities. As one of the leaders point out in this publication, 501 (c)(3) is simply a tax designation, but nonprofits are as sophisticated and robust as private businesses. Yet, nonprofits often have a certain kind of nimbleness and innovative spirit that matches their mission-based work. They are also particularly vulnerable to economic and political changes that affect government funding, individual donations and corporate philanthropy.

Several nonprofits leaders gave us a peek into navigating some of these changes, their hopes for the sector and trends they hope funders will pick up on in this year’s Pillars of Philanthropy magazine.

In this year’s publication, we again partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines’ For Impact Leaders program to hear from participants about current challenges their organizations face and what excites them about the nonprofit sector. We also invited four nonprofit leaders to write about trends they’re seeing in philanthropy and volunteer engagement. Through their lessons, we hope you can better understand where the sector is heading, the challenges the community faces and how you help nonprofits focus on the issues you’re passionate about.

The leaders included are just a sampling of the many organizations that make a difference in Central Iowa. We’ve also included a directory of nonprofits and foundations in the area that also appears in our Book of Lists publication.

This magazine is dedicated to celebrating the work of our nonprofit leaders who work tirelessly to serve the community.

Enjoy,

Emily Barske Wood, Business Record special projects editor