Serve Credit Union Awards $18,700 in Grants to Local Nonprofits
Serve Credit Union is proud to announce the recipients of $18,700 in grants to support local nonprofit organizations making a difference in their communities.
Committed to supporting the local community, Serve Credit Union’s board selected 11 nonprofit organizations to receive grants, with an emphasis on organizations that support the same communities represented within its membership. As a closed membership financial institution, Serve prioritizes giving back to causes that align with the people it serves, including teachers, first responders, police officers, firefighters, healthcare professionals, USDA employees and others who play vital roles in the community.
Folds of Honor Foundation (Iowa Chapter)
Concerns of Police Survivors (Iowa Chapter)
Des Moines Public Schools Foundation
Urbandale Schools and Alumni Foundation
Youth and Shelter Services, Inc.
EveryStep
Food Bank of Iowa
Meals from the Heartland
Des Moines Area Religious Council
Easter Seals Society of Iowa, Inc.
Iowa Credit Union Foundation
“Nonprofits do so much important work behind the scenes,” said Serve Credit Union CEO, Jami Weems. “It’s an honor to support organizations that are making a real difference for the groups and causes they champion. Our goal is to give back to those who serve our communities, including our membership and the initiatives they care about, and help strengthen the impact of their efforts.”
Meet the Organizations!
Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available.
Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 scholarships totaling over $340 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on GuideStar. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional.
For more information: foldsofhonor.org.
Des Moines Public Schools Foundation
The DMPS Foundation works to meaningfully support and assist Des Moines Public Schools in empowering every student to succeed.
The DMPS Foundation is focused on prioritizing the needs, aspirations and well-being of every student. We do this by building strong, collaborative relationships with DMPS and with community funders who want to support our students.
For more information: dmpsfoundation.org
Youth & Shelter Services, Inc
For 50 years, YSS has been one of Iowa’s leading youth-serving nonprofits, helping children, teens, and young adults overcome challenges and build brighter futures.
YSS is a trusted nonprofit organization based in Ames, Iowa, serving communities across the state. We support youth at every stage of life, from early childhood through young adulthood.
Especially those facing:
-Mental health challenges
-Homelessness or unstable housing
-Substance use and addiction
-Family conflict or crisis situations
Through compassionate care and proven programs, we help young people feel safe, valued, and empowered to move forward.
YSS provides a full continuum of care designed to meet youth where they are and guide them toward long-term success. Our programs support the whole person through every stage of growth, helping young people build stability, confidence, and a strong foundation for the future.
For more information: yss.org
Food Bank of Iowa
Hunger touches every community. It happens right here. In our hometowns. Our schools. And our neighborhoods.
Here in Iowa, more than 385,000 of our neighbors can’t afford nutritious food. Hunger can look very different than you think it does. It can be a hardworking family trying to make ends meet. A child who only gets meals at school. Or an older Iowan facing the impossible choice of prescriptions or groceries.
At Food Bank of Iowa, our vision is a hunger-free Iowa. We gather and distribute more than 2.5 million pounds of nutritious food each month to 700 partners across 55 Iowa counties, getting help to those who need it the most.
For more information: foodbankiowa.org
Des Moines Area Religious Council
The Des Moines Area Religious Council is an interfaith organization with a mission of working together to meet basic human needs for the greater Des Moines community.
DMARC provides a common means of responding to basic human needs and a context for interfaith dialogue.
So many of our neighbors are struggling to afford something as simple as food. We work to support our neighbors’ basic human needs so they don’t have to make the ‘impossible choices’ between food and other basic needs.
There is no ‘typical’ food pantry visitor. People of all walks of life are navigating food insecurity, and these struggles often go hidden in their daily lives. There’s a good chance you’ve already interacted with someone today who has relied on a food pantry. These people could be your neighbors, co-workers, family, or friends.
For more information: dmarcunited.org
Iowa Credit Union Foundation
Founded in 1995, the Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) is the philanthropic arm of the Iowa credit union movement and the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL).
Guided by the credit union philosophy of people helping people, the Iowa Credit Union Foundation works to champion financial well-being for all.
ICUF delivers its mission by:
-Advocating on issues that affect the financial well-being of Iowans.
-Collaborating hand-in-hand with ICUL, Iowa credit unions and community partners to provide more resources and opportunities to advance financial well-being for all.
-Investing in mission aligned initiatives, programs and grants.
-Educating credit unions and communities on financial well-being issues and resources.
For more information: iowacreditunionfoundation.org
Concerns of Police Survivors
Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors (Iowa C.O.P.S.) provides resources to help rebuild the lives of surviving families and co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, as defined by federal criteria. The organization also offers training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and works to educate the public on the importance of providing ongoing support to both the law enforcement profession and its survivors.
All donations made to Iowa C.O.P.S. remain in Iowa and directly support Iowa survivors. Funds are used to assist with activities such as sending families to National Police Week in Washington, D.C., supporting the funeral response team, covering training costs, and other related survivor support initiatives.
For more information: iowacops.org
Urbandale Schools & Alumni Foundation
Formerly known as the Urbandale Education Foundation, the Urbandale Schools and Alumni Foundation (URBSAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to enhancing the educational experience of all students and educators in the Urbandale Community School District by funding projects and initiatives not supported within existing school budgets.
We are in a unique position to provide support for Urbandale schools, award scholarships to Urbandale High School graduates and connect Urbandale alumni through the partnership of URBSAF, Urbandale Alumni Association and Urbandale Dollars for Scholars.
For more information: urbsaf.org
EveryStep
Since 1908, EveryStep has been there for Iowans when it matters most. Our team of experts are driven by a single purpose — to care for people and connect them with support at every step of their journey.
EveryStep offers more than 30 programs and services:
-Deliver in-home care to people who are ill, injured, or facing the end of life
-Offer compassionate support to families experiencing grief and loss
-Assist new and expecting parents and support the healthy development of young children
-Help Iowans navigate complicated health care and social systems
-Walk alongside refugees and immigrants arriving in our community
-Bring wellness services to places where people are
There is at least one EveryStep program available to residents in every Iowa county.
For more information: everystep.org
Meals from the Heartland
We show our love for our less fortunate brothers and sisters throughout Iowa and the world by packaging meals to be distributed to those in need. We invite all to join us, regardless of beliefs, as we serve the starving.
We endeavor to inspire hope and passion in the hearts of those we serve and serve with.
We recognize that all of the resources we are blessed with are to be stewarded with great care and diligence. We are committed to using those resources in a way that maximizes the impact our meals are able to have. We also work with partners that share our commitment to excellence.
For more information: mealsfromtheheartland.org
Easter Seals Society of Iowa, Inc
Easterseals Iowa has been supporting individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, to live independent lives for more nearly 100 years. From our integrated child development center to assistive technology and job training programs, Easterseals Iowa offers a variety of services to support people with disabilities as they address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.
Easterseals Iowa directly serves over 3,000 Iowans every year with our life-changing services, but our impact doesn't end there. Our mission has a positive effect on the families, friends, and communities of those we serve.
We provide a wide variety of innovative services including:
-Job Readiness Programs
-Brain Health Programming
-Support for individuals in rural communities
-Independent living services
-Children’s services including childcare, camp & respite services
For more information: ia.easterseals.com