Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE GROWS PHILANTHROPY TO IMPROVE LIFE IN NORTHEAST IOWA BY SERVING DONORS, STRENGTHENING NONPROFITS AND LEADING COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS.
- Income
- $29.1 million
- Spending
- $14.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $276,525, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 82% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $12.9 million spent. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE ENVISIONS A VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE DUBUQUE REGION WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. SINCE 2002, WE HAVE INSPIRED PEOPLE TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY, AND WE TURN THIS GENEROSITY INTO LASTING CHANGE ACROSS OUR REGION, INCREASING ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP ALL PEOPLE SUCCEED. WITH OUR AFFILIATE FOUNDATIONS ACROSS THE DUBUQUE REGION METRO DUBUQUE AND DUBUQUE COUNTY AS WELL AS ALLAMAKEE, CLAYTON, CLINTON, DELAWARE, JACKSON AND JONES COUNTIES WE CHART CLEAR PATHS FORWARD THAT ADDRESS COMPLEX SOCIAL CHALLENGES, FROM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENGAGING, LISTENING TO AND LEARNING FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND ITS MOST PRESSING NEEDS TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THEN BUILDING THE PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSETS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THEM.WE PERSONALLY ADVISE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, CORPORATIONS AND NONPROFITS TO HELP THEM BECOME MORE INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY'S SUCCESS TODAY AND TOMORROW. ONE WAY WE DO THIS IS BY HELPING THEM BUILD ENDOWMENTS TO CREATE PERMANENT, LOCALLY CONTROLLED POOLS OF ASSETS THAT SUPPORT THE WORK OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO IMPROVE OUR REGION. WE ALSO HELP GENEROUS PEOPLE AND ENTITIES BUILD NON-ENDOWED OR PROJECT FUNDS THAT ALSO SERVE THE CHARITABLE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.OUR WORK STRENGTHENING GREATER DUBUQUE'S NONPROFITSTHROUGH GRANTMAKING, CAPACITY-BUILDING AND MOREHELPS THEM MAKE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. TO UNDERSTAND HOW GRANTMAKING CAN HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT, WE GATHER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY BY LISTENING TO DIVERSE VOICES AND LEARNING ABOUT PRESSING NEEDS FROM THOSE MOST AFFECTED AND USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO DRIVE DECISION-MAKING. WE ADMINISTER SEVERAL ANNUAL GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS: COMMUNITY IMPACT, THEISEN'S MORE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, YAPPERS, WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE AND MEDIACOM ARTS AND CULTURE.WE ALSO ASSIST IN THE GRANTMAKING PROCESS FOR OUR EIGHT AFFILIATE FOUNDATIONS: ALLAMAKEE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, CLAYTON COUNTY FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE, FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE OF DELAWARE COUNTY, DYERSVILLE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON COUNTY, JONES COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, LINCOLNWAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND RIVER BLUFF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. THE STATE OF IOWA AWARDS MONEY TO COUNTIES THAT DO NOT HAVE GAMING INSTITUTIONS. PART OF THE MONEY GOES INTO A PERMANENT ENDOWMENT AND PART GOES TO GRANTMAKING FOR THE COUNTY.AS CONVENERS, WE BRING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO ALIGN ON A SHARED VISION FOR THE REGION AND DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN ALL DO TO HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON ITS FUTURE. THROUGH THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATION ACROSS SECTORS, WE'RE UNIQUELY ABLE TO FACILITATE A CLEAR PATH TOWARD A STRONG FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO THIS BY FACILITATING MEETINGS, OFFERING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND LEADING INITIATIVES THAT INVOLVE DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DRIVING CHANGE. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE COMMUNITY HEART & SOUL, EVERY CHILD READS, INCLUSIVE DUBUQUE, PROJECT HOPE, WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE AND YAPPERS, AS WELL AS EFFORTS AIMED AT IMPROVING ACCESS TO CHILD CARE, BRAIN HEALTH SERVICES AND RESOURCES AND JOBS FOR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS.GENEROSITY AND COLLABORATION FUEL EVERYTHING WE DO, AND EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE. VISIT DBQFOUNDATION.ORG TO LEARN ABOUT THE MANY WAYS WE ARE BUILDING A STRONG, THRIVING GREATER DUBUQUE FOR ALL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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