Iowa City Community School District Foundation

What Iowa City Community School District Foundation does

The Iowa City Community School District Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in 1982 that serves as the official preferred channel for charitable gifts to the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). Operating from 2255 N. Dubuque Road in Iowa City, the foundation connects community donors with district needs and administers a portfolio of grant, enrichment, scholarship, and recognition programs serving K-12 students, teachers, and staff across the district's elementary, middle, and high schools. Its primary customer segments are individual donors, corporate sponsors, and the ICCSD beneficiary community.

The foundation operates an extensive program portfolio including competitive teacher grants (Big Idea Hunt with $75,000+ awarded in 2024-25 and Little Idea Hunt distributing $70,000+ to 147 teachers), signature enrichment programs (Any Given Child arts education K-8 through John F. Kennedy Center partnership, School of the Wild outdoor education serving 1,100 fifth graders annually, Visiting Author), fundraising events (Run for the Schools raising $31,500 in 2024 and over $1,000,000 since 1999, Dine Out for Education with 40+ restaurant partners, Education is Everybody's Business Breakfast, Teacher Tuesday), and institutional giving vehicles (Hills Bank Classroom Cash generating $500,000+ cumulatively, Superintendent's Circle for $1,000+ donors, GreenState Give & Grow matching program). Recognition programs include Shine Awards and Silver Salute. The Grow Our Own program, launched as a staff development initiative, assists district support staff in transitioning to teaching positions through tuition support.

The foundation's revenue model is built on diversified giving channels: individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring), planned giving and bequests (wills, trusts, stock, life insurance), employer matching gifts, corporate sponsorships, and event-based fundraising. Administrative revenue includes tiered campaign administration fees (5% on $0-$24,999 declining to 1% on $100,000+ for internal campaigns) plus pass-through credit card transaction fees. Distribution occurs through the DonorPerfect online giving platform, corporate partner channels (40+ restaurants, multiple banks and credit unions), and direct outreach for high-dollar planned gifts and the Superintendent's Circle. The foundation is governed by a 13-member board of directors including community and business leaders, and operates with a small staff team led by Executive Director Laura Ebinger.

Name

Iowa City Community School District Foundation

Legal name

Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District

Website

https://iccsdfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Iowa City Community School District Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects community donors with ICCSD schools, funding teacher grants, student scholarships, arts enrichment, and outdoor education programs across the district's K-12 schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Education foundation services
• Community fundraising programs
• School grant programs
• Donor advised giving
• K-12 enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General donations through online giving, monthly recurring gifts, and check donations to support the Excellence Fund and district-wide learning opportunities.
2. Planned Giving and Bequests: Legacy giving through life insurance, wills, trusts, estate plans, and gifts of stock. Allows donors to provide for loved ones while receiving charitable income and gift/estate tax deductions.
3. Employer Matching Gifts: Donations matched by employers, including corporate matching programs like GreenState Credit Union's Give & Grow initiative (up to $500 matched).
4. Campaign Administration Fees: Fees assessed on funds raised for internal campaigns: $0-$24,999 (5%), $25,000-$49,999 (3%), $50,000-$99,999 (2%), $100,000+ (1%). Online/credit card donations also assessed actual transaction fees.
5. Dine Out for Education: Restaurant partners contribute 10% of sales from event days to the foundation.
6. Hills Bank Classroom Cash: With each Hills Bank debit card purchase, contributions are made to schools. Has generated over $500,000 for ICCSD schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects community donors and corporate sponsors with the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). It administers grant programs (Big Idea Hunt, Little Idea Hunt), enrichment programs (School of the Wild, Any Given Child, Visiting Author), fundraising events (Dine Out for Education, Run for the Schools), scholarship endowments, and employee/donor recognition programs (Shine Awards, Silver Salute, Teacher Tuesday, Superintendent's Circle).

Product overview

The Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects the community with schools to ensure every student has extraordinary learning experiences. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs including grant programs (Big Idea Hunt Grants, Little Idea Hunt Grants), enrichment programs (Any Given Child, School of the Wild, Visiting Author), fundraising events (Dine Out for Education, Run for the Schools), staff recognition programs (Shine Awards, Silver Salute), and scholarship/award programs through various endowed funds. These programs are funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and special events, with the Excellence Fund serving as the primary general fund supporting districtwide learning opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Idea Hunt Grants

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000,000 raised since 1999 through Run for the Schools
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting foundation initiatives. Listed as a corporate and foundation partner on the supporters page.
• Community Foundation of Johnson CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHolds the ICCSD Foundation Endowment Fund and Support Our Schools Endowment. Donations may be eligible for Endow Iowa Tax Credit.
• Integrated DNA TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed on supporters page.
• GreenState Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor partner sponsoring School of the Wild, Grow Our Own Program, and Give & Grow matching program (up to $500 matched per member in April). Supports Any Given Child K-5 program.
• Hills BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHills Bank Classroom Cash program generates contributions based on debit card usage (over $500,000 generated). Sponsors Visiting Author program and Community Reading Month.
• MidWestOne BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Run for the Schools race and Any Given Child programs (KinderTales, Stanley Museum visits, LiveArts at Hancher).
• OaknollcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Silver Salute event recognizing long-serving and retiring staff. Also offers dining discounts for community fundraising.
• City of CoralvilleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting foundation initiatives.
• City of Iowa CityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting foundation initiatives.
• Hancher AuditoriumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Any Given Child program bringing LiveArts performances to 8th graders. Provides performance venue for student experiences.
• PearsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed on supporters page.
• West MusiccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Any Given Child 4th grade Symphony Sparks program. Supports music education in district schools.
• Corda Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided 1:1 match for first $7,000 in Teacher Tuesday 2025 gifts, helping raise $18,000 for classroom teachers.
• FilmScenecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Any Given Child program - provides 4th grade Animation Workshop and 7th grade Discovering Documentaries experiences.
• Iowa City Road RacescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizes the annual Run for the Schools race which has raised over $1,000,000 since 1999.
• John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAny Given Child is an initiative of the JFK Center - one of 28 communities across the U.S. with this distinction. Goal is to create full access and equity in arts education for K-8 students.
• University of Iowa College of Education (UI WILD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool of the Wild is part of UI WILD initiative, situated at MacBride Nature Recreation Area. Provides outdoor learning curriculum and facilities.
• Iowa Children's MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Any Given Child KinderTales program - hosts in-person field trips for kindergarten students.
• Riverside TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Any Given Child Bard Buddies Workshop for 1st graders - provides Shakespeare introduction workshops.
• Young FootlitersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Any Given Child 6th grade Intro to Acting program - provides improv workshops.
• Nolte Academy / James TheaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Any Given Child 2nd grade Penny & the Wolf ballet performance.
• Stanley Museum of ArtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Any Given Child 3rd grade program - provides docent-led art museum tours.
• Michael & Joanne MargolinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Any Given Child 1st grade Junie B Jones musical performance at Coralville Center for Performing Arts.
• Linda PaulminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor with West Music for Any Given Child 4th grade Symphony Sparks program.
• M.C. GinsbergminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed on supporters page.
• United Iowa FinancialcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFounded Support Our Schools (SOS) Endowment Fund held at Community Foundation of Johnson County to address student needs.
• New Leader ManufacturingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed on supporters page.
• ScheelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner listed on supporters page.
• Allegra Iowa CityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional sponsor for Dine Out for Education, providing all event posters free of charge.
• 40+ Restaurant PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating restaurants for Dine Out for Education donate 10% of sales on event days. Includes 10+ year partners (Blackstone, Bluebird, Joseph's Steakhouse, etc.), 5+ year partners, and official partners.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Denver Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — larger urban district foundation with deep corporate partnership base, teacher grants, scholarships, and arts education programming analogous to ICCSD's Any Given Child and grant programs.
• Omaha Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — district-affiliated education foundation providing teacher innovation grants, student scholarships, and corporate-supported signature events for a single mid-size urban district.
• Lincoln Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — Nebraska-based K-12 district foundation providing classroom grants, scholarships, and signature events; operates the same 'district-affiliated 501(c)(3)' model with a single-district focus.
• Cedar Rapids Community School District Foundation: Direct peer — another Iowa-based K-12 school district education foundation operating a similar model of grants, scholarships, teacher support, and corporate-sponsored fundraising events for a single public school district.
• Des Moines Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — Iowa's largest school district foundation, supporting DMPS through similar giving vehicles including endowed scholarships, classroom grants, and signature fundraising events.
• Minneapolis Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer — another large urban school district education foundation running teacher classroom grants, endowed scholarships, and signature community events, with comparable structure and program portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Community Foundation of Johnson County: Holds the ICCSD Foundation's endowment funds and serves as a broader community grantmaking body in the same geography; comparable as a community foundation steward but with a much wider mission scope beyond K-12 education.
• Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation: Iowa-based community foundation with broader civic grantmaking scope but comparable donor-advised fund, endowment, and pass-through grant capabilities used by school-affiliated funds.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICCSDFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@iccsdfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/iccsdfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/iccsdfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iccsd-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Iowa City Community School District Foundation