Coralville, Iowa — The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) will welcome renowned journalist, author and broadcaster Josie Cox as the featured speaker at its 2026 Annual Luncheon on October 20 at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center.
Cox is the author of Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality, which traces the fight for women’s financial freedom in the United States and examines the cultural and systemic barriers that continue to shape women’s economic opportunities today.
During a special fireside chat, Cox will bring those stories to the stage, exploring how far women have come, what continues to stand in the way of economic prosperity and what the history of women’s relationship with money can teach us about the work ahead.
The conversation will anchor this year’s luncheon theme, “Rooted in Prosperity: Women Growing Stronger Together,” and IWF’s broader work to create greater economic opportunity for women and girls across Iowa.
Cox has spent nearly a decade reporting on the intersection of business, the economy and gender. Her work has appeared in outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, BBC, Fortune and Forbes. She has also appeared on CNN, ABC, PBS, CNBC and other broadcast networks. Cox holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and teaches strategic communications at Columbia University.
Her book brings to life the women who challenged laws, workplaces and social expectations that limited women’s financial independence, while examining how issues such as pay, caregiving, workforce participation and access to opportunity continue to influence women’s economic lives.
The discussion closely aligns with IWF’s mission to improve economic prosperity for Iowa’s women and girls. Through research, grantmaking, advocacy, education and collaboration, IWF works to address barriers including childcare, housing, transportation, employment, mentorship and education and training.
The Annual Luncheon is IWF’s signature fundraising event and has brought together donors, community leaders, advocates and supporters since 1995. This year marks 32 years of gathering Iowans around a shared vision for greater opportunity for women and girls.
IWF will also celebrate its 2027 grant recipients during the luncheon, recognizing organizations from across Iowa working to remove barriers and expand economic opportunities for women and girls.
Doors open at 11 a.m., with the program and lunch served at 11:30 a.m. Individual tickets and tables are available now.
Event Details:
Iowa Women’s Foundation 2026 Annual Luncheon
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center
300 E. 9th St., Coralville, Iowa
Tickets and additional information are available at iawf.org/annual_events/luncheon/.
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About the Iowa Women’s Foundation: The Iowa Women’s Foundation is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of Iowa’s women and girls through a diversified mix of funding and action: research, grant-making, advocacy, education, and collaboration. To achieve its goals and make the most significant impact, IWF brings together and invests in organizations across Iowa that make women and girls more successful. IWF is a statewide organization working to enhance and improve women’s economic prosperity.