Advancing our collective vision

By Sue Hafkemeyer / President and CEO

As someone new to the Quad Cities Community Foundation, one of the challenges—and great joys—of learning the ropes is recognizing that we don’t have just one way of doing things. We’re always open to viewing our community’s needs and opportunities through new lenses and adapting to respond to them as we go. That’s not to say our commitment to our mission is anything short of unwavering. In fact, our flexibility is an asset when it comes to finding new and better ways to transform the region through the generosity of donors.

Take our brand-new Grant Opportunities Fund. Just a few weeks ago, we announced our spring Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants—a total of $150,000 going to 10 incredible organizations who will invest those resources in technology upgrades, trainings, strategic planning, and other projects that will make them more effective at serving the community. At the very same time, we announced an exciting new opportunity for donors to explore the worthy proposals our grant program budget didn’t allow us to fund and come together with gifts of their own to help these nonprofits further their work.

The seeds of the Grant Opportunities Fund were planted before I joined the Community Foundation, but after six weeks of meeting with donors, community leaders, and as many Quad Citizens as possible, I can say that it beautifully embodies so much of what makes this organization special: our team’s ability to work seamlessly together, our willingness to take what’s already working and make it even better, our dedication to providing generous people with the information and connections they need to make an impact. 

We’re empowered to try new things like the Grant Opportunities Fund because of our community’s deep investment in our work. I’ve been bowled over by the sheer gratitude everyone I’ve met has expressed for what we do. That appreciation starts with the expertise of each and every staff member, but it extends beyond any individual to the Community Foundation’s wide reach and impact, our reputation as a critical resource in uncertain times, and our capacity for visionary leadership.

If our leadership truly does have the potential to be visionary, that’s because of you, too. I’m learning how tremendous a privilege it is for us at the Community Foundation to sit down and listen to our community members’ visions for the future. That simple act, repeated over time, affords us a precious window into our community’s collective vision.

And what an inspiring vision it is. Through all the wonderfully wide-ranging conversations I’ve had, one message rings loud and clear: this community cares. Whether your passion is education, housing, or the natural environment, you believe in a more vibrant and inclusive region, one that builds on all its strengths, thoughtfully addresses its needs, and fosters opportunities for everyone who calls it home.

So, if you haven’t had a chance to check out the Grant Opportunities Fund, I encourage you to do so today. Read through the proposals and reflect on what they have to say about our community’s collective vision—and how your generosity can help move it forward.