The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center (INRC) is a university-wide interdisciplinary center that strengthens Iowa’s nonprofit sector through engagement, education, and research. Services range from the development of board and executive leadership to strategic planning to clarifying local, state, and federal rules that regulate nonprofit and tax-exempt entities. Education includes creating and delivering presentations and workshops to professionals from across the state, as well as teaching a series of nonprofit courses at the University of Iowa. Research involves quantitative and qualitative analyses of data that inform on sector conditions and trends. The activities of the INRC are made possible by a strong network of public and private partners and supporters.

In FY 2023, the INRC provided direct services to over 750 organizations on a host of issues including management, governance, leadership, fundraising, IRS filings, and beyond. The INRC engaged dozens of organizations across the state in several in-depth projects, including strategic planning, capacity building, board development, executive performance reviews, and executive succession planning. Our website, social media, and listserv connected thousands of nonprofit leaders with vital information and resources. Along with several partners, the INRC helped launch the state’s first statewide nonprofit membership association in December of 2022 with launch events scheduled across Iowa throughout 2023 that will bring together nonprofit, civic, and business leaders with a shared purpose of making our communities even better places to live.

The proposed FY 2024 appropriation of $156,389 is no change from the FY 2023 and FY 2022 amounts of $156,389. This funding supports 1.70 FTEs.

• This funding fully supports our creative media developer. Our developer manages a website that had over 49,000 unique users in FY 2023. The developer edits our online content, maintains the Iowa Register of Accountability, curates the Iowa Grants Guide, and assists with content and editing for publications such as the Iowa Principles and Practices for Charitable Nonprofit Excellence—originally developed by the Iowa Governor’s Nonprofit Task Force in conjunction with the Office of the Iowa Secretary of State. For FY 2024, the developer will continue to facilitate the distribution of online content, maintain our events calendar, and assist with new editions of our publications.
• This funding partially supports our program assistant. Our assistant maintains our client database, responds to client inquiries, and distributes important informational resources directly to Iowa nonprofits. The assistant also supports the director on projects—including the assembly of program materials and the compiling of survey data.
• A portion of this appropriation supports our director. The director is responsible for leading all aspects of the INRC. The director delivers presentations and workshops, works one-on-one with individual organizations, teaches courses at the University of Iowa, conducts research and authors content for publication, forges and maintains mutually beneficial collaborations, and more.

The INRC’s work improves nonprofit leadership, organization, and management in the state at a time when the demands on the charitable and philanthropic sector continue to grow. The INRC has developed strong partnerships with public and private entities from across Iowa and the country to offer excellent services to nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers, as well as to professionals who serve the nonprofit sector such as accountants, attorneys, consultants, financial advisors, and fundraisers.