Realizing that hunger in Dallas County will never be fully eliminated due to various other societal issues that require major shifts in policy and action at the state and national levels, the Hunger Free Dallas County Task Force determined a permanent source of funding should be created.
The group understands supporting the non-profit organizations offering free food to our hungry residents will require ongoing financial support to expand services to meet the rapidly-growing population of the county.
The Hunger Free Dallas County Endow Iowa Fund has been established under the auspices of the Dallas County Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines (CFGDM). This Endowment Fund qualifies for the 25% TAX CREDIT the State of Iowa offers to corporations and individuals who make a contribution to the Fund.
The initial goal of the Hunger Free Dallas County Endow Iowa Fund is to raise a minimum of $1.5 million and a stretch goal of $3 million that would create a permanent endowment where only the annual interest would be distributed. This income would be distributed by an Advisory Council made up of residents from all parts of Dallas County. Each year, organizations providing food to the hungry residents living in the county (i.e. Dallas County-based food pantries, school backpack programs, churches offering weekly meals, etc.) could apply for grants from the Fund. It is expected that between $60,000 to $120,000 a year would be available for grants based on a 4% return on the total amount in the Hunger Free Dallas County Endow Iowa Fund.
For additional information on the Hunger Free Dallas County Endow Iowa Fund and how to make a contribution, please email: dallashunger@gmail.com or contact Scott Cirksena, Development Director for Dallas County Foundation at scirksena@outlook.com. For more information on the Endow Iowa tax credit email Joe Sorenson with the CFGDM at sorenson@desmoinesfoundation.org.