Nonprofits supporting rural areas

In a Sept. 20 editorial, Cedar Rapids Gazette staff called for stronger national philanthropic support for rural areas.

The article recognized that the picture in Iowa is brighter than other rural states due to two state-legislated programs that work through Iowa community foundations - the County Endowment Fund and the Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

We agree. Bolstered by the innovation and foresight of our legislators, Iowa's network of community foundations invest millions annually to support charitable activities across the state. And there's more.

Iowa is also home to a diverse mix of corporate foundations, private foundations, family foundations and gaming organizations that engage in partnerships with local communities every day. According to 2013 data from The Foundation Center, Iowa's 887 foundations distributed nearly $225 million in grants to non-profit organizations in both urban and rural Iowa communities.

Here are a few examples:

' The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is a proud champion of rural Iowa and has provided philanthropic contributions that have benefitted rural Iowa in many ways, including scholarships for rural family practice physicians to ensure they stay in our rural communities, college scholarships for young people staying in Iowa totaling nearly $500,000 per year, and most notably, Renew Rural Iowa program and Rural Vitality Fund which has invested nearly $80 million into Iowa's rural communities over the past decade and helps rural Iowa businesses grow.

' Black Hawk County Gaming Association (BHCGA) has provided support to projects in Buchanan, Bremer, Butler, Chickasaw and Tama counties. These projects support public safety, parks, recreation and sports related projects to libraries, museums and the arts. Over 100 projects in rural counties have received support from BHCGA.

' Grinnell College Community Enhancement and Engagement Program was founded in 2000, the College has invested in bike paths, parks and playgrounds, a new public library, a new public safety building, as well as a renovated science wing for the local high school, a new gym, and a state-of-the art auditorium and theatre.

' Delta Dental of Iowa and its Foundation fund an educational loan repayment/FIND program and have awarded 31 dentists, mostly rural areas across Iowa, to provide a source of care to many underserved Iowans. This is a private-public partnership lead by Delta Dental with the state, local community leaders, and other key stakeholder groups. Recently Dr. Abbie Otto, of Holstein, was awarded a grant for $80,000 in educational repayment and has taken over the dental practice in her hometown.

A bright picture indeed. Iowans don't hesitate to help those in need, and the same is true of our state's philanthropic sector.

Working with local communities, Iowa grantmakers will continue to raise the bar for supporting rural areas and help attract national funders to our state.

' Suzanne Heckenlaible is executive director of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation and board chair of the Iowa Council of Foundations. Comments: sheckenlaible@deltadentalia.com