Celebrating 60 years of donor-driven transformation

It started with a simple idea. Two community leaders—Bea Conrad and John Nagle—wanted to organize the collective generosity of the region to improve the lives of their neighbors and the strength of their community.

Sixty years later, that simple idea has evolved into the Quad Cities Community Foundation. The Community Foundation has grown since 1964. Last year, total assets reached $190 million, including more than $150 million in permanently endowed funding. “This growth would not be possible without the unwavering generosity of Quad Citians,” said Sue Hafkemeyer, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “Our donors are at the heart of everything we do—we rely on them to drive our mission forward.”

In recent years, the Community Foundation has expanded its mission by partnering with geographic affiliates, empowering donors from Geneseo, Fulton, Mount Carroll, and Morrison, Illinois, to Van Buren and Cedar Counties in Iowa and beyond. It also supports the local nonprofit sector by sharing resources through CEOLink and DevelopmentLink, both housed in the newly formed Center for Nonprofit Excellence. 

Since 2015, the Community Foundation has granted more than $1.5 million to local nonprofits through Transformation Grants, creating lasting change throughout the Quad Cities area. These grants have supported children and families, invested in violence prevention, and revitalized neighborhoods.

And today, the Community Foundation is pursuing greater equity in the Quad Cities by supporting programs like LULAC Council 10’s LIDERAMOS Leadership Development Program, which provides a culturally centered curriculum that lifts up Latino leaders in the region.

“Anniversaries provide an important moment for reflection,” said Kent Pilcher, Community Foundation board chair. “But, like our founders, our attention is firmly on the future. That focus is what’s behind the creation of our new, community-guided vision.”

In December, the Community Foundation announced the completion of its 2024-2026 Strategic Direction and Plan. This direction was formed through conversations with more than 200 community members and nonprofit stakeholders. The plan will both help community members express their generosity and support the effectiveness of the nonprofit sector so everyone in the Quad Cities region has the opportunity to thrive.

In the early days of the Community Foundation, John Nagle said, “Now, more than ever, the possibilities are endless.” It was true then, and it’s true now because of the generous spirit that lives in the Quad Cities. That spirit has driven the Community Foundation for 60 years, and it’s what will continue to transform the Quad Cities for 60 more to come.

All year, the Community Foundation will celebrate 60 Years of Generosity by sharing 60 stories of donors and organizations from across the decades. Click here to view all the stories; more will be shared each week! And follow along on Facebook and LinkedIn.