Events

* Nonprofit Know-How: Budgeting and Finance Essentials

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Join us on Wednesday, March 11, for Nonprofit Know-How: Budgeting and Finance Essentials. Joe Heitz, VP of Community Impact, and David Little, CPA, will go over practical budgeting tools, nonprofit financial statements, tips to avoid common pitfalls, and how to communicate financial needs to boards...

*Beginning Grantwriting

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Beginning Grantwriting
Scheduled
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This workshop will introduce grantwriting to nonprofit professionals who have less than one year of experience with the skill. Many people who work in nonprofits find themselves in the position of “accidental grantwriter” and do not feel fully equipped for the challenge. This session will provide a...

*Nonprofit Compliance: Legal Requirements and Best Practices

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Nonprofit Compliance: Legal Requirements and Best Practices
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Operating a nonprofit—whether as a board member or key staff—comes with significant legal and fiduciary responsibilities. While every organization is unique, all nonprofits must comply with state and federal requirements to maintain tax-exempt status and safeguard charitable assets. Join the...

Western Iowa Nonprofit Conference

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Scheduled
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The Western Iowa Nonprofit Conference is a full day of learning, discussion, and innovation. Through a mix of full-group convening, tailored breakout sessions, and interactive experiences, attendees will have the opportunity to learn best practices, get inspired by new ideas, share their own...

*Intermediate Grantwriting

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Intermediate Grantwriting
Scheduled
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** This is a fast-paced, intermediate course recommended for grant professionals who have worked on or written at least 3-5 grant proposals, as work product review and peer feedback are key components of the workshop. If you do not yet have this level of experience, we ask that you instead register...

*Streamlined Strategic Planning

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Streamlined Strategic Planning
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Economic instability, policy shifts, and funding uncertainty are forcing nonprofit leaders to make difficult decisions about programs, partnerships, staffing, and long-term viability — often with limited capacity and little room for error. Despite the need for a clear road map, nearly half of...

*Open Board Search -- How Casting a Wide Net Transforms Nonprofit Governance

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Open Board Search -- How Casting a Wide Net Transforms Nonprofit Governance
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Most nonprofit boards recruit new members from their personal networks—a practice that is holding nonprofits back. These overlapping networks do little to attract the fresh perspectives, strengths, and strategic thinking that will help the organization evolve and thrive. Unsatisfied with the status...

*Optimizing the Nonprofit Form 990: Turning Compliance into a Fundraising & PR Asset

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Optimizing the Nonprofit Form 990: Turning Compliance into a Fundraising & PR A…
Scheduled
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For many nonprofits and the professionals who support them, Form 990 is treated as a necessary but tedious compliance task. Unfortunately, this approach overlooks the reality that the 990 is a public document read by donors, foundations, charity watchdogs, journalists, and prospective board members...

*Elevating Board Excellence: Best Practices in Development and Governance

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Elevating Board Excellence: Best Practices in Development and Governance
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Building a strong, effective nonprofit board doesn’t happen by accident. But too often, organizations struggle with boards that are passionate yet unprepared for the real work of governance. Without clear protocols, intentional recruitment, and meaningful development, boards can unintentionally...

Competing in Saturated Funding Markets

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Competing in Saturated Funding Markets
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More organizations than ever are applying for the same limited funding pools. Even strong programs are being declined, not because the work lacks merit, but because proposals fail to clearly communicate credibility, alignment, and distinct value. In highly competitive environments, reviewers make...
Handshake in the form of a heart.

Nonprofit Training on Collaboration

In today’s rapidly changing environment, nonprofits are being called to work smarter, deeper, and more collaboratively. From informal cooperation and shared staffing to administrative consolidation and full organizational merger, there exists a broad continuum of collaboration. This interactive virtual session explores how purpose-driven organizations can assess, initiate, and sustain collaborative efforts that strengthen their missions and amplify community impact.

The session features national, state, and local leaders who offer insight, experiences, and resources to assist executives and boards as they explore collaborative opportunities. 

Format: Recording
Recording Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 9am to 11am. 

View the recording here. 


 

 

Donate Icon: Hand holding a heart.

Giving Tuesday 2025

Nonprofits strengthen our communities, and Iowans strengthen our nonprofits. 

Giving Tuesday 2025 continued to break previous records with an estimated 38.1 million participants. Donations increased 13% to $4 billion. Giving of goods also increased by 4% with 13.5 million participants. 

The largest increases were in volunteerism-- up 20% to 11.1 million participants--and those who spoke out about causes they care about--up 26% to 20.9 million participants. 

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, Iowa consistently ranks as one of the top states for charitable giving (6th) and volunteerism (10th). Iowa has historically been a top state when measured by the percentage of residents (81.5%) who read, watch, or listen to news or information about political, societal, or local issues. 

#GivingTuesday

Photo of audience and keynote speaker.

2025 Iowa Nonprofit Summit

Summit 2025 attracted over 200 nonprofit leaders from across Iowa and beyond!

 We had an excellent pre-conference legislative panel featuring Senator Mike Bousselot, Senator Izaah JB Knox, and Representative Heather Matson--as well as a fabulous capitol tour and twilight "summit" to the dome. Our conference speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and summiteers were all outstanding! Very special thanks to National Council of Nonprofits President & CEO Diane Yentel and Independent Sector's President & CEO Dr. Akilah Watkins for contributing their expertise, insight, and energy to the charitable and philanthropic leadership of Iowa!

If you attended the conference, please complete our evaluation form as we begin preparations for Summit 2026! 
*The LAWINRC is a proud Summit partner. 

Staff collaborating

30,771

The number of nonprofit corporations in the state of Iowa.
Helping hand

Top ten

Iowa ranks in the top ten with 29.9% of Iowans volunteering.
Student group

25 Years

In 2025, the LAWINRC celebrates its 25th year of serving and supporting Iowa’s nonprofit sector.