The Granting Committee is reviewing the applications submitted through July 30, 2010. Their recommendations will go to the Board of Directors and all applicants will be notified the week of August 23.

The West Liberty Area Arts Council
Proudly Presents…

The 2010 West Liberty
Summer in the Park Concert Series!



Friday July 30 - Fry Daddies

Friday August 6 – Kevin Burt & The Instigators

Friday August 13 – West Liberty Youth Group Band / Gusto Norteńo

Friday August 20 – Mutiny in the Parlor

Friday August 27 – Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50’s Band


Ron De Voo Park 3rd Street
Downtown West Liberty, IA
6:00pm to 9pm FREE and open to the public!
Rain or shine – Inclement weather location is the fairgrounds Midway Pavilion

The West Liberty Area Arts Council Charitable fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine.

The Community Foundation wishes to thank SSAB for their support of our programs and event. We are pleased to have them as our Partner in Philanthropy!

What would our communities be like without volunteers like Shirley Jean Drake! Shirley Jean, and many unsung heroes, have helped to make life better in the greater Muscatine area. We think it’s time to sing their praises!

The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine is establishing the Great Initiatives program. At the heart of the program will be an annual award to foster volunteerism and recognize those who spark meaningful, lasting initiatives benefiting Muscatine County.

The inaugural award went to Shirley Jean Drake at our annual Community Foundation Celebration! She helped to spawn many lasting initiatives. She was often among the first to step forward for groups like the Community Foundation, Flickinger Learning Center and the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra. Pastor Phillips from Pearl City Outreach said Shirley Jean supported and encouraged her and the initial concept even when others thought it wouldn’t work. Today they feed those in need with nine meals a week and provide many children’s programs for at–risk youth. “Even with a broken hip, Shirley Jean came to the kid’s Christmas dinner and played the piano for the party.”

Annual recipients who follow Shirley Jean must exemplify the best of what she brings to the charitable community. To spark new initiatives and ensure continued success of existing programs, the award included a $1,000 stipend that Shirley Jean directed to the Muscatine Art Center and Musser Museum. All recipients who follow, can direct their stipend to the charitable initiative of their choosing.

We want to create a lasting recognition program for Great Initiatives and need your support. Gifts are still being accepted in honor of Shirley Jean Drake as well as our Partners in Philanthropy program. If you have ideas as to how this program can expand to foster and recognize volunteerism in Muscatine County, please email cfgm@machlink.com.

Students at Franklin Elementary School gathered their spare change and donated to the Pennies for Peace Project. Pennies for Peace is a humanitarian campaign started by Greg Mortensen in which he has dedicated his life to promote education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Students are partnering with the Rotary Club of Muscatine on this local effort. The Franklin Student Council presented $677.54 to the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine towards this educational project which was deposited into the Rotary Club of Muscatine's Project Fund. Others interested in this important cause may also contribute. Just send your check to the Community Foundation and include a memo: Pennies for Peace or call us to make a credit card gift.



Pictured are Student Council Members Chase Bear, Victoria Martinez, Ashlee Hayes, Leslee Rios and Linda Bachus, Finance & Office Manager at the CFGM.

The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine awarded 17 charitable groups with grants in the amount of $34,114. The grants were given to groups in Muscatine, Wilton and West Liberty through the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine's County Endowment Re-granting Program. One grant for $200 was awarded from the Lois M. Walter Endowment Fund.



Grants awarded by the Community Foundation from the Muscatine County Endowment Fund in August:

Wilton Library Foundation - $5000 to buy shelving for the new facility
West Liberty Dream Catchers - $5000 for the scholarship and mentoring program
Friends of Pine Creek Grist Mill - $3500 for promoting mill visits, restoration, newsletters, website and Heritage Day shuttles
Downtown Action Alliance - $3160 to hire a part-time downtown manager
Wilton Daycare - $2000 to develop an outside play area for the baby room and to renovate the current playground
Friends of Pine Creek Grist Mill - $2000 to support the 2010 historical interpretation program for area schools
Partners 4 Success - $2000 to buy athletic shoes for about 80 children
MHS - Fine Arts Dept. - $1753 to purchase needs for the graphic arts computer lab
WMS - Green Team - $1500 to purchase benches, rain barrels, bird feeds and table for outdoor classroom
Friends of the Old Stone Church - $1500 to purchase flooring material - floor joist, CDX plywood and laminate
Senior Resources - $1401 for the Meals on Wheels Program
Muscatine Chamber of Commerce - $1300 in support of PatriArt Week for fireworks, sound system and insurance
Muscatine Civic Chorale - $1000 to assist in bringing the Bluegrass Quintet, Monroe Crossing to Muscatine for a performance in November
Quad City Arts - $1000 for performances by 4 visiting artists for Muscatine students and public
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, North Central States Chapter - $1000 for assistance to indivuduals with MS for food, rent, rehab and respite care
Flickinger Center - $500 for Safety First to ensure appropriate adult volunteers
Families, Inc. - $300 for assistance with mileage, supplies, meals and activities for the Special Child Exception Fund

Grant awarded from the Lois M. Walter Endowment Fund to promote volunteerism:

Friends of the Old Stone Church - $200 to encourage volunteer efforts

The Granting Committee of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine is comprised of board representatives and community members who review and evaluate the grant applications bi-monthly. The committee makes their recommendations to the board of directors for approval. For more information about applying for grants or establishing your own fund for granting purposes, call Judy Holdorf or Linda Bachus at 563-264-3863.

Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program
Giving YOU Credit
Where Credit is Due

Giving through the community foundation to the causes you care about is rewarding—in more ways than one. Your gift creates lasting change in the community, and the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program offers you generous tax incentives to make it easier for you to give more for less. Those who give to a permanently endowed fund at a qualified community foundation, such as the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, are eligible to receive 25% tax credits for their gifts. Community members who give also are able to take advantage of the tax credits in conjunction with regular federal charitable tax deduction.

Tax credits are offered on a first come, first served basis. The tax credits can be claimed by individuals, businesses or financial institutions.

Since 2003, more than $50 million has been invested in community foundations through Endow Iowa, improving residents’ lives both now and for years to come.
Give and Receive

With Endow Iowa, gifts to our community foundation's qualifying endowments cost donors less. For example, a $10,000 gift could cost as little as $3,800 assuming the taxpayer is in the highest tax bracket.

To learn more about how you can give to your community and take advantage of Endow Iowa tax credits, please contact us at cfgm@machlink.com or 563/264-3863 or speak with your professional advisor.

Donate to the Cares & Shares Endowment
It provides funding for community needs – now and always - and ensures the continuation of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine.

For a list of other endowments that you may contribute to, please click on the "FUNDS" tab. You'll find endowments benefiting many important causes under the heading of Permanently Restricted.

DONOR BILL OF RIGHTS
PHILANTHROPY is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.


DEVELOPED BY American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC) Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) ENDORSED BY (In Formation) Independent Sector National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC) National Committee on Planned Giving (NCPG) National Council for Resource Development (NCRD) United Way of America, CFRE International

Executive Director Judi Holdorf, CFRE, received recertification from the international Association of Fundraising Professionals. First certified in June 1995, Judi is one of only 80 Iowans who are stewards of the public trust holding this credential. Judi has agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.

"The CFRE process was developed as a way to identify for the public and employers those individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and commitment to perform fundraising duties in an effective, conscientious, ethical and professional manner," states Andrew Day, CFRE; Chair of CFRE International. In order to earn the certification, individuals must meet a series of standards which include tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service to nonprofit organizations. Initially, candidates must pass a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform at a high level. Recertification is awarded for a three-year periord after demonstrating continued commitment and achievement.

Judi brings more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit organization management. She joins over 5,000 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE distiction.