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Iowa Women’s Foundation Announces New President & CEO
Coralville, IA — The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) is excited to announce the appointment of Claudia Schabel as the organization’s President & CEO, effective April 1, 2026. Schabel joined IWF in June 2025. In her work and numerous volunteer leadership roles, she has demonstrated a sincere long-term commitment to building communities and workplaces that are
Iowa Women’s Foundation Opens 2026 Grant Applications
Coralville, IA — The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) has officially opened the application process for its 2026 Grants. Grant recipients receive up to $50,000 for programs focusing specifically on addressing one of the six identified barriers to economic prosperity for women and girls in the state of Iowa: Childcare Housing Transportation Employment Mentorship Education/Training Last
Iowa Women’s Foundation Hosts Annual Luncheon, Awards $400,000 in Grant Funding
Coralville, IA — The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) hosted its Annual Luncheon last week, at which it announced $400,000 in grant funding awarded to 13 organizations across the state. Grantmaking, one of IWF’s five pillars of sustainable change, serves the Foundation’s longstanding mission to improve the lives of Iowa women and girls by funding programs
IWF Announces Anne Nizzi Clark as 2025 Keynote Speaker
Coralville, Iowa — The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) is excited to announce Anne Nizzi Clark as its keynote speaker for the 2025 Annual Luncheon on November 5, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center. As IWF’s largest fundraising event, the Luncheon brings together donors, community leaders,
Iowa Women’s Foundation Opens 2025 Core Grant Applications
Coralville, IA — The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) has officially opened the application process for its 2025 Core Grants. Grant recipients receive up to $50,000 for programs focusing specifically on addressing one of the six identified barriers to self-sufficiency for women and girls in the state: Childcare Housing Transportation Employment Mentorship Education/Training Last year alone,
Childcare Impact Report
Conducted in partnership with Common Sense Institue FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 19, 2024 Report shows 275 new childcare slots created in 7 communities participating in state pilot program DES MOINES — A state pilot program successfully increased the number of children who could enroll in childcare services in communities participating in the program, which improved wages
Sheri Penney attends National Childcare Summit as expert panelist
IWF’s Employer Engagement Director, Sheri Penney, was a panelist at the first National Childcare Innovation Summit in Washington D.C. on June 27. Penney spoke about Iowa’s success using public/private partnerships to expand childcare – particularly with Wage Enhancement Programs. Listen to part of Sheri’s remarks in the video. View the full Summit. We asked Ms.
IWF Founders Honored by Governor
Pictured left to right: Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, IWF Board Chair Anne Rierson, Ellen Heywood, Judy Leavitt, Monique DiCarlo, Phyllis Chang, Jean Jew, Governor Kim Reynolds. ANKENY, IOWA – Several IWF founders received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held Tuesday, June 25th.
IWF President & CEO Talks Childcare in Iowa
As Iowa legislation considers the latest childcare-related bill (HF 2056), IWF President & CEO Deann Cook was invited to sit down with WHO-13 Des Moines’ Jannay Towne to share more about the childcare crisis in Iowa and beyond. The bill aims to relieve the childcare workforce shortage by allowing childcare staff as young as 16
Hawkeye Community College: Scholarships for Childcare Director Training Certification
IWF extends a special thank you to our 2023 Grant Partner, Hawkeye Community College Foundation, for guest writing this blog and for creating accessible certification for childcare workers so they can earn a fair, livable wage for the crucial work they do. In response to low wages for childcare providers, which impacts the childcare crisis,