The Community Foundation for Western Iowa, your trusted partner in building philanthropic support and nonprofit capacity, licensed and launched SHARE Iowa in 2022 as an initiative to strengthen communities in our region and nine western Iowa counties.
Regardless of nonprofit size or operational budget, the Community Foundation does not charge a SHARE Iowa membership fee to utilize its platform or participate in Do Good Days and Giving Tuesday.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can join SHARE Iowa?
Organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation and valid Employment Identification Number (EIN) are eligible to join SHARE Iowa.
We welcome schools, clubs, religious organizations and governmental entities to create a SHARE Iowa profile.
There are no stipulations on how long an organization has been operating. Newly formed nonprofits or groups can create a profile at any stage, regardless if they have not been operating for one-year.
Does my nonprofit need a website to join SHARE Iowa?
No, nonprofits do not need a website in order to create a SHARE Iowa profile. You are able to link to any site or social media platform that has information about your organization.
Use your SHARE Iowa profile as your organization’s website! The SHARE Iowa platform has customizable functions that allow a nonprofit to tell their story, provide information and accept donations.
How does my nonprofit receive donations through a SHARE Iowa profile?
SHARE Iowa profiles can accept donations by:
- Creating or linking an existing Stripe account to their profile
- Linking the donation button to the nonprofit’s website/donation page of their preferred donation processing company
- The nonprofit could also link to a fund and/or endowment fund at the Community Foundation for Western Iowa
What are the benefits of a SHARE Iowa profile?
SHARE Iowa continues to grow as a digital resource for community involvement, nonprofit support, and local philanthropy across the region.
- Monthly newsletter
- Nonprofit education opportunities **
- Nonprofit fundraising programs
- Nonprofit Breakfast Series
- Webinars and Trainings
** may be a nominal attendee fee
- Goal thermometers to increase donation and volunteer results
- Option for donors to search organizations by geographic location, causes, volunteer needs, events and by keywords
- Customizable donation levels to help fund a specific need
- Customizable page visuals to help with telling your story
- SHARE Iowa support for profiles, wishlists, events and volunteers.
- 1:1 support via phone, zoom or in-person
- Do Good Days Participation
- Opportunity to nominate volunteers for the Do Gooder of the Year Award
- Marketing templates
- Social Media recognition
- Giving Tuesday 712 Participation
- Donation Match Opportunity
- Marketing templates
- Media Promotion
- Celebration with Donors
- Eligible to win hourly $1,000 prizes for active profiles
- New for 2027: donation and volunteer leaderboards
To continue to receive all of these benefits at no charge to your organization, you need to have a current SHARE Iowa profile that is independent of -- and not mirrored to -- any other SHARE community.
Please note: mirrored profiles not needing Iowa-specific messaging will continue as-is, and will be included as they have in receiving communications and campaign assistance.
