May 19, 2026
The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation (CDAF) and the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation (GPCF) are proud to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of their transformative partnership through the Community Support Services (CSS) program — a collaborative model that has strengthened nonprofits, expanded charitable giving, and helped deliver lasting community impact throughout Poweshiek County.
Launched in 2006, the Ahrens Foundation’s Community Support Services program was created through a partnership between CDAF and GPCF to provide shared back-office services, administrative support, financial management, donor stewardship, and organizational capacity-building for local nonprofit organizations and charitable funds. The program began by serving 6 community partners and today supports more than 40 partners and programs and over 120 charitable funds.
The partnership was championed by Julie Gosselink, President & CEO of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation; Shannon Fitzgerald, CFO & Controller of CDAF; and the late Tom Marshall, founder of the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation. Together, they helped establish an innovative collaborative model that has strengthened the nonprofit sector and expanded philanthropic impact across the region for two decades. In 2010, the Council on Foundations awarded the Claude W. & Dolly Ahrens Foundation its Critical Impact Award. This award is given to honor grant makers who have supported innovative leadership, bold visions and significant impact in advancing the common good through effective grantmaking which can serve as a model for others in philanthropy.
Over the past 20 years, CDAF and GPCF have jointly supported and managed fundraising initiatives and community partnerships benefiting projects and organizations such as the Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department, Build a Better Grinnell project, East Poweshiek Ambulance, Grinnell Education Partnership, Grinnell-Newburg Alumni Association, Grinnell-Newburg School Foundation, JMP Early Childhood Education, Malcom Ivy Hill Cemetery, Montezuma Food Pantry, Michael J. Manatt Community Center, Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund, Poweshiek Leadership Program, Racial Equity Fund, Tiger Football Club, Tiger Scholarship Fund, VITA Income Tax Program, and major community fundraising campaigns supporting the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District, Central Park, Drake Community Library, and the Grinnell Aquatic Center.
In addition to its partnership with GPCF, the Ahrens Foundation’s Community Support Services program currently provides administrative and operational support to numerous nonprofit and community organizations working to strengthen communities throughout Iowa and beyond. Current organizations benefiting from the CSS model include the LINK Mentoring and Childcare Program, Brooklyn Opera House, Michael J. Manatt Community Center, Brooklyn Development, and Special Operations for Wounded Warriors (SOWW), a national nonprofit organization supporting wounded military veterans and their families.
Together, the organizations have worked to strengthen local philanthropy while helping nonprofits reduce administrative burdens, increase efficiency, and focus more resources directly on serving the community.
“The partnership between CDAF and GPCF has always been about building something larger than either organization could accomplish alone,” said Julie Gosselink, President & CEO of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. “For 20 years, we have invested not only in projects, but in people, relationships, and the long-term sustainability of our nonprofit community. Community Support Services has allowed organizations to collaborate, grow capacity, and maximize their impact for generations to come.”
Nicole Brua-Behrens, Executive Director of the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation, said the partnership has become a cornerstone of community development throughout Poweshiek County.
“This partnership represents what is possible when organizations work together with a shared vision for community,” said Brua-Behrens. “The collaboration between GPCF and CDAF has connected donors to causes that matter, strengthened local nonprofits, and helped launch projects that have enhanced the quality of life throughout our communities. We are incredibly grateful to the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation for helping design the blueprint while serving as the organization’s backbone, and to the many donors, volunteers, nonprofit leaders, and community partners who have helped sustain it over the past 20 years.”
Shannon Fitzgerald, CFO & Controller of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, said the financial infrastructure provided through the partnership has played a critical role in supporting GPCF’s long-term growth and accreditation as a certified community foundation.
“One of the most important aspects of the Community Support Services partnership is providing strong financial oversight, accountability, and audit management,” said Fitzgerald. “As a certified community foundation, GPCF is required to complete a rigorous independent financial audit process. Through CDAF’s financial services and administrative support, we help ensure that the organization maintains the highest standards of financial stewardship, transparency, and compliance while allowing GPCF leadership to stay focused on community impact and donor engagement.”
The Community Support Services program was initially offered free of charge to participating organizations during its first four years, reflecting CDAF’s commitment to investing in nonprofit collaboration and long-term community sustainability. Today, the program continues to provide below-market shared services and operational support that allow local nonprofits to share resources while maintaining independent missions and leadership.
As part of the anniversary celebration, CDAF and GPCF will launch a series of community activities and partnership highlights throughout the remainder of 2026, beginning with a special community celebration during the kickoff of Music in the Park on May 28 at 7:00 p.m. in Central Park.
The event will celebrate not only the start of the summer music season, but also the “behind-the-scenes” partnership that has helped strengthen local philanthropy and nonprofit services across Poweshiek County for two decades. Through the Community Support Services program, CDAF provides GPCF with foundational operational support including office space, professional resources, and financial and legal consulting — allowing GPCF to focus more resources directly on community impact.
Since the partnership began, GPCF has quadrupled in size, expanding its ability to provide grants, charitable resources, and support throughout Poweshiek County.
“We want this anniversary celebration to recognize the power of collaboration and shared resources,” said Gosselink. “When organizations work together strategically, the entire community benefits.”
The May 28 celebration in Central Park will feature live music provided by the Grinnell Area Arts Center, community fellowship, and recognition of the partnership that continues to help Grinnell and Poweshiek County grow stronger together. Community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and join the celebration in conjunction with the season opening of Music in the Park.
“Our work is ultimately about improving quality of life,” Gosselink added. “We are proud of what has been accomplished over the last 20 years, but we are even more excited about what is still possible for the next generation of community leaders and residents.”
For more information about the Community Support Services program and CDAF & GPCF foundations, visit:
www.ahrensfamilyfoundation.org/community-support-services
www.greaterpcf.org
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