Community Support Services:
New partnership with St. Francis Manor Foundation

A new collaborative partnership in Grinnell has been formed between the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and St. Francis Manor Foundation.  The St. Francis Manor Foundation recently joined Ahrens’ Community Support Services program to receive administrative assistance for a capital campaign to renovate and expand St. Francis Manor.  The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation is serving as an independent contractor to the St. Francis Manor Foundation by providing such administrative services as: donor database management and creating donor gift acknowledgment letters; monitoring donor pledge commitments, assistance with fundraising mailings; general accounting assistance; and the creation of cumulative gift reports.  The Ahrens Foundation’s offices will also be available to the St. Francis Manor Foundation for planning meetings and fundraising events.

The goal of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation's Community Support Services program is to build capacity and promote collaboration among area nonprofit groups through shared staff and administrative functions, further strengthening local nonprofit in their missions to help improve the quality of life for the local area.  Ahrens is the only private foundation in Iowa – and one of very few nationwide – currently making such valuable support services available.

“The idea of providing back office services to local nonprofits began over four years ago, when the Ahrens Foundation’s established a partnership with the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation (GPCF) and its “umbrella” of organizations and projects”, explained Julie Gosselink, President & CEO.  “We are dedicated to continuing this partnership with GPCF, but in some cases it may not be as advantageous for a nonprofit organization or foundation to link directly with GPCF.  We are now at a point where we can assist other nonprofits with administrative services when the fit is right.  The St. Francis Manor Foundation is a good example.  Providing these services to them makes sense for many reasons.  Above all, we feel we are helping improve the quality of senior living in the Grinnell area.” 

The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation was founded by Claude Ahrens in 1993.  Its stated mission is to strive to meet the needs of Grinnell and its neighboring communities through ongoing support and resources by maintaining and perpetuating an endowment.  Improved and enhanced quality of life for present and future generations is a top priority, with special emphasis in the areas of parks & recreation, education, and health.

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