WHO WE ARE

Soliciting “pass through” gifts which are distributed each year though the grant process.
Provide continuing long-term support by creating endowment funds from the gifts and bequests.
Investing funds carefully to assure earning a safe and continuing level of real income.
Distributing the endowment income and “pass through” gifts by means of a fair system which will identify and fund the most effective proposals for solving problems and seizing opportunities.
Providing leadership for the community in planning, identifying needs, and providing advice to organizations on fund-raising and operational issues.

We are a "low overhead" organization. Volunteers do most of the work. As a result expenses are minimal.
We do not use regular endowment income or gifts which are intended for grants to support operating expenses.
Support for our operation comes from designated operating funds and from management fees.
CF National Standards - In 2005, Pella Community Foundation was among the first in the nation to be authorized to display the seal of compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Programs. Re-certification was again granted in 2024.
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grant making and administration.
This program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisers.

A committee composed of Directors using outside counsel supervises all investments.
Although income is important to the work of the Foundation, it is never sought through the acceptance of undue risk levels.
A diversified portfolio is maintained according to policy as a means of providing growth and avoiding an inflation-induced erosion of the earning power of endowment funds.
The fiscal year from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 the realized return on investments was +2.45%, while the unrealized gain was +4.21%, for an overall gain of +6.66%.