Community Foundation of Washington County

Over the course of three years, Steve Olson has dedicated much of his time and resources promoting the good work of the Community Foundation of Washington County (CFWC). In his role as board chair, Steve has worked hard to educate people about the benefits of charitable giving and about the array of giving options the Foundation offers.

“Our job is to connect folks to causes that matter to them,” said Olson. “No matter if they desire to support community and economic development, education, the arts, or human and social needs, we can help facilitate this process.”

Steve emphasized this message at a Rotary club meeting in Wellman, Iowa. His confidence in the CFWC and his belief in giving back to the community sparked a member of the crowd’s interest; an attorney working on finalizing an estate plan for a terminally ill client.

“I received a phone call from the attorney shortly after the presentation, and he asked if we had the capability of establishing permanent funds,” said Olson. “I told him that was our bread and butter.”

Steve’s hard work led to the creation of two permanent funds; one benefiting the Washington County Humane Society and the other benefiting Camp R.E.E.C.E. These funds were able to reflect the donors’ interests in caring for lost animals and for supporting programs for the developmentally disabled. In addition, the CFWC recently worked with the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program to establish an Organization Fund, along with the Kalona Historical Society to develop an Acorn Fund. Acorn Funds allow individuals to pledge at least $1,000 per year toward an endowment fund goal of $10,000.

“The Foundation is growing in popularity and more and more individuals are choosing us to help them achieve their charitable goals,” said Olson.