What Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, Inc. does

Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)-style nonprofit foundation founded in 1991 and headquartered at 300 West Broadway, Suite 212, Council Bluffs, Iowa, that operates as the centralized philanthropic vehicle for the Council Bluffs Community School District. The Foundation administers an integrated portfolio of educational programs covering the full student lifecycle: Kids & Company school-aged child care, Bloom early childhood support, an Annual Grants Program (Classroom Grants up to $1,000, Mini-Grants up to $300, Student Enrichment Grants, Emergency Assistance Grants), named scholarships for graduating seniors (over $71,000 disbursed in 2025), the STARS Scholarship for low-income adult parents in Pottawattamie County, the Alumni & Friends Network, and the Teacher Closet launching in August 2026. The organization is led by Executive Director Bridgette Watson (promoted from Director of Development in February 2024), Director of Development Pam Beall-Hill, Board Chair Erin Johnson, and Board President Lonny Kolln, with 8 total employees.

The Foundation's revenue model is diversified across individual donations (processed via the Harness Giving donation platform and the cbsf.org Squarespace website), four-tier corporate Community Impact Sponsorships (Innovator $10,000, Advocate $5,000, Mentor $2,500, Learner $1,500), event-based revenue from signature community events (Education is Everyone's Business Luncheon, Cheers for CB Schools, Alumni & Friends Golf Outing, Back to School Resource Fair), and managed scholarship endowments. Its underlying technology is a Squarespace-hosted web platform with Wufoo and Google Forms handling scholarship and grant applications, Google Calendar for alumni event coordination, and Harness Giving plus Amazon Wishlist powering the Teacher Closet donation flow. Corporate and institutional supporters include Cox Communications, Google, Iowa Western Community College, American National Bank, John Dresher-American Family Insurance, The Lozier Foundation, Iowa West Foundation, and roughly a dozen additional local sponsors, with no external parent company and no subsidiaries.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: the Foundation cultivates donor and sponsor pipelines through its Alumni & Friends Network, signature events, the annual Community Impact Campaign (targeting $100,000 in 2025), earned media via press releases, email/mailing-list outreach, and direct partnerships with the Council Bluffs Community School District which serves as the exclusive distribution channel into schools. In 2025 the Foundation disbursed a record $83,069 in classroom grants across 104 projects, awarded over $71,000 in senior scholarships, and accepted the Hamling family's $86,000 legacy endowment, signaling year-over-year expansion of program throughput within its single-district Iowa geography.

Name

Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, Inc.

Legal name

Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://cbsf.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, Inc. is an 8-employee Iowa nonprofit founded in 1991 that serves as the centralized philanthropic and grantmaking vehicle for the Council Bluffs Community School District, administering classroom grants, scholarships, child care, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Foundation / Nonprofit Education Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Education foundation services
• School grant programs
• Scholarship administration
• Teacher support funding
• Alumni community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Council Bluffs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to the Foundation's Annual Grants Program, Classroom Grants, Mini-Grants, Student Enrichment Grants, Emergency Assistance Grants, and the Teacher Closet fund. Donations are accepted online via the website.
2. Community Impact Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support the Foundation at multiple giving levels: Innovator ($10,000), Advocate ($5,000), Mentor ($2,500), and Learner ($1,500). Sponsors receive recognition at events, logo placement, and promotional benefits across the Foundation's marketing channels.
3. Event Revenue (Golf Outing, Cheers, Luncheon): The Foundation generates revenue through event participation fees (e.g., golf tournament teams, class reunions, alumni events) and sponsorship of signature community events supporting local education.
4. Scholarship Fund Management: The Foundation administers numerous named scholarship funds established by donors for graduating seniors and adult learners (STARS), distributing awards annually to recipients. Donors contribute to established or new scholarship endowments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, Inc. is an Iowa nonprofit foundation that solicits and redistributes charitable contributions to benefit students, families, and staff of the Council Bluffs Community School District. Its core offerings consist of an annual classroom grants program (Classroom Grants, Mini-Grants, Student Enrichment Grants, Emergency Assistance Grants), scholarships for graduating seniors and adult parents (STARS), school-aged child care (Kids & Company), early childhood support (Bloom), a Teacher Closet for free classroom supplies, and signature fundraising/community events.

Product overview

Council Bluffs Schools Foundation operates as a unified nonprofit organization providing financial resources and support to benefit children, families, and staff of the Council Bluffs Community School District. The Foundation's portfolio consists primarily of grant programs (Classroom Grants, Mini-Grants, Student Enrichment Grants, Emergency Assistance Grants) that fund educational initiatives and student support; scholarship programs (STARS Scholarship for adult parents and general Scholarships for graduating seniors); child care and early childhood programs (Kids & Company, Bloom); and the new Teacher Closet initiative launching in August 2026. The Foundation also organizes signature community events including the Education is Everyone's Business Luncheon, Cheers for CB Schools, and Alumni & Friends Golf Outing, along with maintaining the Alumni & Friends Network. Rather than a software platform with modular components, the Foundation offers an integrated ecosystem of educational support programs designed to address the full spectrum of student and educator needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARS Scholarship: A scholarship initiative focused on breaking barriers to higher education for parents in Pottawattamie County, providing financial assistance, personalized career planning, and tailored guidance
• Bloom
• Teacher Closet
• Classroom Grants

Products and services

• Classroom Grants Annual grant program providing funding (up to $1,000 per project) to licensed Council Bluffs Community School District staff for projects that enhance educational experiences, supplement classroom learning, and support student learning outcomes.
• Mini-Grants Quick, flexible funding program for classroom needs, teacher well-being, and innovative ideas that fall outside larger Classroom Grant categories, with a maximum award of $300.
• Student Enrichment Grants Grants supplementing classroom learning through field trips, cultural experiences, or participation in clubs, fine arts, or co-curricular activities.
• Emergency Assistance Grants Grants assisting students in need of basic necessities such as winter coats, gloves, shoes, and glasses that prohibit them from arriving at school ready to learn.
• STARS Scholarship An initiative administered for the Iowa West Foundation focused on breaking barriers to higher education for low-income adult parents in Pottawattamie County. Provides financial assistance, personalized career planning, and tailored guidance for parents pursuing second credentials, professional licenses, or certificates.
• Kids & Company School-aged child care program serving elementary students and families in the Council Bluffs Community, providing before/after-school care through the Foundation.
• Bloom Early childhood education support program serving families in the Council Bluffs Community School District.
• Teacher Closet District-wide resource providing teachers and staff with highly-requested classroom essentials at no cost, including hand-held whiteboards, student headphones, fidget tools, sensory supports, crayons, markers, and storage solutions. Opening August 2026.
• Alumni & Friends Network Connects alumni, families, and neighbors through reunions and activities, and serves as an information exchange on current happenings and news in the Council Bluffs Community Schools.
• Scholarships for Graduating Seniors Scholarships awarded annually to graduating seniors in the Council Bluffs Community School District, with support from numerous named donor funds; over $71,000 awarded to 2025 graduating seniors.
• Education is Everyone's Business Luncheon Annual signature event highlighting partnerships between businesses, organizations, and community leaders dedicated to supporting education in Council Bluffs, including presentation of the Community Impact Award.
• Cheers for CB Schools Annual community celebration held during Teacher Appreciation Week on the 100 Block in downtown Council Bluffs, celebrating community support for public schools.
• Alumni & Friends Golf Outing Annual golf tournament bringing together alumni, local businesses, and friends of the district for friendly competition between Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson high schools; raised $17,000 in 2026.
• Back to School Resource Fair Event connecting educators with local businesses, service providers, and nonprofit organizations offering resources, services, and tools to enhance classroom learning.
• Community Impact Sponsorships Annual corporate sponsorship program at four tiered giving levels (Innovator $10,000; Advocate $5,000; Mentor $2,500; Learner $1,500) providing event recognition, logo placement, newsletter spotlights, golf foursomes, VIP tickets, and speaking opportunities to participating businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• $83,069 awarded in classroom grants — largest total in program history, funding 104 projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Joe Clanton - Better Homes & Gardens Real EstateminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026Joe Clanton with Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate is a Community Impact Sponsor and event sponsor for the Golf Outing and other Foundation events.
• Omni CentreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026Omni Centre is acknowledged as a year-round supporter of the Foundation, providing office space and community partnership for the organization.
• BCDM ArchitectsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026BCDM Architects served as an event sponsor for the 2026 Alumni & Friends Golf Outing.
• OlssonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026Olsson served as an event sponsor for the 2026 Alumni & Friends Golf Outing.
• Rasmussen MechanicalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026Rasmussen Mechanical served as an event sponsor for the 2026 Alumni & Friends Golf Outing.
• InoTekminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026InoTek is listed as a year-round Community Impact Sponsor supporting the Foundation's mission.
• Loess Hills LandscapingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026Loess Hills Landscaping is a Community Impact Sponsor and event supporter of the Foundation.
• Judd Knispel - State FarmminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026Judd Knispel of State Farm is a Community Impact Sponsor and event supporter of the Foundation.
• Heartland PropertiesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026Heartland Properties is a Community Impact Sponsor and event supporter of the Foundation.
• ETIminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2026ETI is a Community Impact Sponsor and event supporter of the Foundation.
• TeamMates of Council BluffsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2026TeamMates of Council Bluffs is a mentoring organization that co-promotes with the Foundation's Golf Tournament to spread awareness about youth mentoring while supporting the Schools Foundation's mission.
• The Lozier FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 May 2025The Lozier Foundation is a key sponsor of the classroom grants program, having contributed to the record-breaking $83,069 in grants awarded in 2025.
• Council Bluffs Community School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025The Foundation operates in deep partnership with the Council Bluffs Community School District, coordinating the Annual Grants Program, Emergency Assistance, Kids & Company, and all other programs that benefit district students, families, and staff.
• Cox CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2025Cox Communications is a Presenting Sponsor of the Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament and a Community Impact Sponsor. The company supports the Foundation's Community Impact Campaign, which aims to raise $100,000 for classroom grants, student enrichment, and emergency assistance.
• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2025Google is listed as a Community Impact Sponsor supporting the Foundation's Community Impact Campaign and related events including Cheers for CB Schools and the Golf Outing.
• Iowa Western Community CollegecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2025Iowa Western Community College is a Community Impact Sponsor supporting the Foundation's annual campaign and events. The partnership reflects shared commitment to education in the Council Bluffs/Pottawattamie County region.
• American National BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2025American National Bank is a Community Impact Sponsor supporting the Foundation's annual grantmaking and event programs across multiple signature events.
• John Dresher - American Family InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2025John Dresher of American Family Insurance is a Community Impact Sponsor, supporting the Foundation's annual programs and events including the Community Impact Campaign.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sioux City Public Schools Foundation: Foundation supporting Sioux City Community School District in western Iowa. Comparable in structure and mission as a single-district K-12 education foundation providing grants, scholarships, and community fundraising.
• Millard Education Foundation: Education foundation serving the Millard Public Schools district in suburban Omaha. Comparable as a district-affiliated nonprofit providing classroom innovation grants, scholarships, and teacher support programs.
• Bellevue Public Schools Foundation: Education foundation supporting Bellevue Public Schools in the Omaha metro. Closely comparable in mission and structure as a single-district K-12 grantmaking and scholarship organization.
• Omaha Public Schools Foundation: Foundation supporting Omaha Public Schools, the largest district in Nebraska and a peer metro-area education foundation. Operates classroom grants, scholarships, and signature community events for a single public school district.
• Iowa City Community School District Foundation: Education foundation serving Iowa City Community School District. Peer Iowa-based K-12 foundation offering classroom grants, scholarships, and alumni/parent engagement programs for a single public school district.
• Des Moines Public Schools Foundation: Education foundation supporting Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa. Peer K-12 district foundation offering classroom grants, scholarships, and alumni/corporate engagement in a comparable Midwest city context.
• Westside Community Schools Foundation: Foundation supporting Westside Community Schools in Omaha. Directly comparable as a local K-12 education foundation offering classroom grants, scholarships, and alumni-driven community fundraising events.
• Papillion-La Vista Public Schools Foundation: K-12 education foundation supporting the Papillion-La Vista school district in the Omaha metro area. Operates under a nearly identical model: classroom grants, scholarships, alumni engagement, and corporate sponsorships for a single public school district.
• Lincoln Public Schools Foundation: Foundation serving Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska's capital city. Directly comparable as a district-affiliated nonprofit providing teacher grants, scholarships, and community-driven fundraising for a single public school system.

Broad incumbents

• DonorsChoose: National crowdfunding platform that funds classroom projects and teacher requests. Comparable in mission (channeling donor dollars to K-12 classroom needs) but operates at national scale as a technology-enabled platform rather than a single-district foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/council-bluffs-schools-foundation-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, Inc.