Sax, Lydia
Lydia first learned about IWF’s mission through former Board President Jen Neumann, and her interest was instantaneous. She has served on the Grants Committee since 2021. Lydia grew up in Cedar Rapids before earning a BA in Marketing from the University of Northern Iowa. Today she works as the Director of Operations at de Novo […]
Smith, Joy
Joy is committed to the progress of women and girls everywhere, and began donating to IWF in 1996. She has since served on the Board as a member and past president and as Chair of the Advisory Council. A life-long Iowan, Joy earned her BA in Education and MA in Special Education from University of […]
Thompson, Candace
Candace Thompson moved to Iowa city as an infant and has always called Iowa home. She attended Johnson County Community School District K-12 and received her high school diploma from Iowa City High School, graduating class of 2008. She began her career in HR Management in 2018 and, shortly after, became a small business owner, […]
Wiand, Dawn Oliver
Dawn joined IWF as President & CEO in February 2013, leading the Foundation through a decade of tremendous growth in grantmaking, reach, and overall impact. Dawn retired in 2022, but her involvement in the cause did not, and she continues to be a champion for women and girls through advocacy and giving back. Dawn holds […]
Harper, Carly
Carly joined the Foundation as Development Director in 2025. She brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including development roles at two other statewide organizations—NewBoCo and iJAG. An Iowa native, Carly grew up in Osceola and attended the University of Iowa. There, she earned a BA in Sociology and a Master’s of […]
Thys, Amanda
Amanda first became involved with the Iowa Women’s Foundation through participation in Community Review Panels, later joining the Grants Committee in 2023. She is the Director of Marketing and Communications at The Iowa Children’s Museum, where she helps advance the organization’s mission to support children’s learning through hands-on, experiential play. Amanda has built her career […]