Over a century of nonprofit amenities

The YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley has been making recreational opportunities accessible to residents of Scott, Clinton, and Jackson counties since 1858. That mission is supported by a partnership with the Quad Cities Community Foundation who provides program grants and maintains the YMCA’s endowment fund, a permanent source of support for the organization’s mission.  

“The YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley is an institution,” said Sue Hafkemeyer, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “They offer an incredible range of services to our region, and they are a model of how to grow and sustain an organization through a community-minded mission.”

In the summer, the YMCA’s biggest impact may be made through their summer camps. The state-accredited resident and day camps give young people the opportunity to play outside and find new passions. One of these camps is Camp Abe Lincoln, which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary.

“Incredibly, the experience at Camp Abe Lincoln is pretty much the same today as it was in the 1920s,” says YMCA President and CEO Brad Martell. “Campers leave phones and technology behind and try their hand at archery, horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, and much more. It’s a welcoming place for everyone, and—through scholarships and financial assistance—we’re committed to making it accessible to as many kids as possible.”

For Martell, that history is also a mandate to look forward. “We are always asking ‘what’s next?’ when it comes to how we can better serve our community,” said Martell. “Adding pickleball courts, a new waterpark, weight machines with AI, an urban soccer park—it’s all about looking ahead to see what we can offer our more than 50,000 members.”  

The YMCA is committed to making its growing range of services available to everyone without cost as an obstacle. While the organization has recently purchased a new sports center and completed major renovation projects, membership prices have not been raised since 2009. Scholarships and a sliding fee membership are also available to keep membership affordable.

This commitment to accessibility is supported in part by the YMCA’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation. The fund generates revenue for the organization, even as the initial investment continues to grow. An endowment fund allows nonprofit organizations to invest in their future while providing incredible services and amenities to the community today. 

To learn more about how endowment funds can provide a sustainable source of funding for your nonprofit or charitable cause, reach out to Anne Calder (AnneCalder@QCCommunityFoundation.org) at 563-326-2840.