# Greater Des Moines Community Foundation

Greater Des Moines Community Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Des Moines, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Des Moines, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 1915 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, United States
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** desmoinesfoundation.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/community-foundation-of-greater-des-moines

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation is a foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa, US. It manages approximately $393 million in assets across 16 funds, primarily focused on North America.

## Sectors

- Philanthropy
- Real Estate

## People

- Kristi Knous — President & CEO
- Fred Hubbell — Investment Committee Chair
- Debbie Hubbell — Board Chair
- Steve Lacy — Vice Chair
- Diane Bridgewater — Board Member

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Greater Des Moines Community Foundation?

Fred Hubbell chairs the foundation's investment committee. Hubbell is a former Democratic gubernatorial nominee, retired insurance executive, and longtime Iowa civic figure. The committee oversees portfolio allocation across traditional securities, real assets including farmland and mineral rights, and cash reserves for grantmaking.

### How is Greater Des Moines Community Foundation structured?

It follows the standard U.S. community foundation model: a public charity that pools donor-advised funds, scholarship endowments, field-of-interest funds, and unrestricted assets into a single institutional portfolio. The foundation is accredited under the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations and governed by a local board chaired by Debbie Hubbell.

### Does the foundation hold non-traditional assets in its portfolio?

Yes. Altss research identifies Iowa farmland and mineral rights among the foundation's holdings. These real assets sit alongside conventional public equity and fixed-income allocations. The farmland exposure ties the endowment directly to the region's dominant agricultural economy.

### How does the foundation deploy capital into the community?

The foundation makes grants to Des Moines-area nonprofits through donor-advised funds, scholarship programs, and field-of-interest funds. It also operates the Better Together Fund, a rapid-response vehicle for local needs, and collaborates with organizations including the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Iowa PBS Foundation.

### Who serves on the board, and what is their background?

Vice Chair Steve Lacy is the former Executive Chairman of Meredith Corporation, the Des Moines-based media company sold in 2021. Board member Diane Bridgewater retired as EVP and CFO of LCS, a major senior-living operator. The board blends corporate leadership from Iowa's largest legacy businesses with civic volunteer representation.

### Is Greater Des Moines Community Foundation affiliated with any broader networks?

It is accredited through the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations program and participates in the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the region's economic development and chamber-of-commerce organization. The foundation also maintains a relationship with the Iowa PBS Foundation.

### Where does the foundation's funding come from?

Unlike a private foundation with a single wealth origin, a community foundation aggregates charitable assets from multiple local donors over time. The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation holds donor-advised funds, bequests, and outright gifts from individuals, families, and corporations in the Des Moines metro area.

## Related profiles

- [Greater Cincinnati Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/greater-cincinnati-foundation)
- [Greater Gwent (Torfaen) Pension Fund](https://altss.com/profile/greater-gwent-torfaen-pension-fund)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/greater-des-moines-community-foundation

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