The Iowa Women's Foundation

What The Iowa Women's Foundation does

The Iowa Women's Foundation (IWF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Coralville, Iowa, dedicated to improving the economic prosperity of women and girls in Iowa. Founded in 1994/1995, IWF operates as the only statewide organization focused exclusively on this mandate. The Foundation's activities span five pillars defined as its "framework of sustainable change": research, education, advocacy, collaboration, and grantmaking. IWF awards grants of up to $50,000 to Iowa-based nonprofits, licensed childcare centers, and registered in-home childcare providers for programs addressing six identified systemic barriers: childcare, housing, transportation, employment, mentorship, and education/training. It also produces research publications and fact sheets that document these barriers, runs volunteer engagement programs (Community Review Panels, committees in Grants, Research, Advocacy, Finance, and Development), and hosts the Annual Luncheon — its signature fundraising event held each fall since 1995 (scheduled for October 20, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Coralville). Last year IWF awarded approximately $400,000 in grants across the state.

IWF does not have a traditional product/technology stack — its operations are built on a WordPress/Elementor website, DonorPerfect for donations and newsletter management, and PCI/GDPR-compliant payment processing through PayPal/SSL. The organization maintains a multi-channel engagement model: website content, email newsletter, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), and signature events. Its distribution to grantees runs through direct grant applications via the IWF website and a statewide network of regional teams, while its corporate partner ecosystem — tiered into Visionary, Leader, Ally, and Supporting sponsors — includes major Iowa employers and institutions (GreenState Credit Union, New Leader Manufacturing, Hills Bank, Iowa Credit Union Foundation, Van Meter, John Deere, Collins Aerospace, Alliant Energy, US Bank, Transamerica, Principal Foundation, United Ways of Iowa, Early Childhood Iowa, and the Iowa Afterschool Alliance).

IWF's revenue mechanics are typical of a donor-funded 501(c)(3): individual and corporate donations (solicited through the website, newsletter, and luncheon sponsorships), the Annual Luncheon (with table hosting priced at $1,000 and tiered corporate sponsorships), and grant cycles. The Foundation is governed by an independent Board of Directors (chaired by Barb Baker) and recently completed a planned CEO transition: Claudia Schabel — who joined the organization in June 2025 — was appointed President & CEO effective April 1, 2026, succeeding outgoing CEO Deann Cook. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees.

Name

The Iowa Women's Foundation

Legal name

Iowa Women's Foundation

Website

https://iawf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Iowa Women's Foundation is a Coralville, Iowa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit — the only statewide organization focused on improving economic prosperity for women and girls in Iowa. It pursues this mission through research, education, advocacy, collaboration, and grantmaking (up to $50,000 per recipient) addressing childcare, housing, transportation, employment, mentorship, and education/training barriers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Women's Foundation Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Women's foundation grantmaking
• Nonprofit economic empowerment
• Women and girls advocacy
• Community grant programs
• Policy research nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Coralville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Programs: IWF awards grants up to $50,000 to Iowa nonprofits, licensed childcare centers, and registered in-home childcare providers for programs addressing barriers to economic prosperity including childcare, housing, transportation, employment, mentorship, and education/training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Iowa Women's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that awards grants of up to $50,000 to Iowa nonprofits, licensed childcare centers, and registered in-home childcare providers for programs addressing systemic barriers to economic prosperity for women and girls (childcare, housing, transportation, employment, mentorship, education/training). It complements grantmaking with research, policy advocacy, statewide collaboration, and educational publications within a sustainable-change framework.

Product overview

The Iowa Women's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a single, unified grantmaking and advocacy organization rather than a platform with modular products. The Foundation's core offerings consist of grantmaking programs (awarding up to $50,000 to address barriers like childcare, housing, transportation, employment, mentorship, and education/training), research and data collection, advocacy initiatives, a statewide collaboration network, education resources (publications and fact sheets), volunteer programs, and an Annual Luncheon. These components work together within a sustainable change framework to create systemic solutions for women's economic prosperity in Iowa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grantmaking Program
• Research and Data Publications
• IWF Annual Luncheon

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded $400,000 in grants to organizations addressing women's economic prosperity barriers

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, visionary sponsor and leader sponsor.

• Alliant EnergysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed as part of IWF's network of businesses and organizations helping to shatter the childcare barrier in Iowa.
• Collins AerospacesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting IWF's mission to address barriers to economic prosperity for Iowa's women and girls.
• Common Good IowasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in IWF's network working to improve outcomes for Iowa's women and girls.
• Early Childhood IowasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner working collaboratively on early childhood issues affecting women and families in Iowa.
• GreenState Credit Unionvisionary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerVisionary sponsor of IWF's Annual Luncheon, supporting the organization's fundraising and awareness efforts.
• Grinnell MutualsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in IWF's network of businesses and organizations.
• Hills Bankleader sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeader sponsor supporting IWF's Annual Luncheon and organizational mission.
• Iowa Afterschool AlliancesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in IWF's network addressing youth and family support issues.
• Iowa Association for the Education of Young ChildrensupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in IWF's network focused on early childhood education.
• Iowa Credit Union FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAlly sponsor of IWF's Annual Luncheon supporting financial empowerment initiatives.
• John DeeresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in IWF's network of businesses working on childcare barriers.
• New Leader Manufacturingvisionary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerVisionary sponsor of IWF's Annual Luncheon and organizational supporter.
• Principal FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate foundation partner in IWF's network.
• TransamericasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in IWF's network of businesses and organizations.
• United Ways of IowasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner collaborating on statewide initiatives for women and girls.
• US BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in IWF's network.
• Van MetersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAlly sponsor of IWF's Annual Luncheon.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Common Good Iowa: Iowa advocacy-focused nonprofit working on issues affecting women and families; comparable statewide Iowa advocacy footprint and existing IWF partner.
• United Ways of Iowa: Statewide Iowa coalition addressing community needs including economic self-sufficiency; operates in overlapping donor and policy space with IWF and is an active strategic partner.
• Iowa Council of Foundations: Iowa-based membership and support body for the state's foundations; relevant regional peer for shared donor ecosystem and policy environment.
• Early Childhood Iowa: Iowa state-and-partner initiative focused on early childhood outcomes — directly aligned with IWF's childcare barrier work and existing strategic IWF partner.

Broad incumbents

• Women's Funding Network: Network of more than 100 women's foundations globally; relevant as a peer/umbrella organization that supports the broader women's-foundation category IWF operates in.
• Ms. Foundation for Women: National women's foundation funding gender-equity and economic-justice initiatives; broader scope than IWF but directly comparable mission and grantmaking function.
• National Council of Nonprofits: National network representing the nonprofit sector; relevant as a broader incumbent in IWF's operational and policy environment, though not a direct grantmaking competitor.

Direct peers

• Women's Foundation of Colorado: Statewide women's foundation funding economic prosperity and equity programs; structurally and operationally near-identical to IWF in mission and grantmaking model.
• Women's Foundation of Minnesota: Statewide foundation advancing gender and racial equity through research, advocacy, and grantmaking — directly comparable to IWF's five-pillar approach.
• Texas Women's Foundation: State-level women's foundation supporting economic security and leadership programs; comparable grantmaking-plus-research model in a different state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iowawomensfdn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1cJWUdiy1PAKePHXaK2bCw
• Facebookfacebook.com/IowaWomensFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowawomensfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/iawomensfdn

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Iowa Women's Foundation