CFCF Adds New Board Member 2019
June 23, 2019
Cedar Falls Community Foundation – Governed by Cedar Falls Residents – Serving Cedar Falls
The Cedar Falls Community Foundation (CFCF) has impacted Cedar Falls for over forty years, guided by community members and donors with vision and passion to establish funds that will benefit Cedar Falls for generations to come. The Board of Directors of this nationally accredited community foundation are Cedar Falls residents who understand both community needs and the benefits of building a philanthropic spirit in the community.
Mr. Frank Esser was elected to serve on the Board of Directors at the April 2019 Annual Meeting, joining nineteen other local residents on a board of twenty individuals. Mr. Esser is currently employed by the University of Northern Iowa Foundation, and has served other local boards including Exceptional Persons Inc., the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center Advisory Board, the Friends of Hartman Nature Reserve Board, and the United Way. Mr. Esser will serve on the Cedar Falls Community Foundation Stakeholder Relations Committee, assisting in donor outreach and building the resources necessary for greater community impact.
The Stakeholder Relations Committee is charged with developing both capacity building funds and flexible funds, to enable the Foundation to grow in service to the community and to address important issues, opportunities and community needs as they arise.
The Stakeholder Relations Committee has established The Founders Club to support capacity building. The Founders are 100 individuals or households who pledge $1,000 per year for three years to build the foundational resources that will enable the CFCF to continue to grow and to be a stronger and more effective force for Cedar Falls. For information about becoming a Founder, please contact CFCF@cfu.net.
The Cedar Falls Community Foundation has several flexible funds to which donations may be made in support of general areas of interest. These include the Cedar Falls Forever Endowment, Enhancement Fund, Children & Families Fund, and Health & Wellness Fund, among others. These funds allow the CF Community Foundation to address opportunities and community needs as they arise through flexible funding sources.
The CF Community Foundation also supports and partners with many non-profits, investing and managing their resources for maximum return. Among the organizations with funds at the Cedar Falls Community Foundation are the Cedar Falls Community Theatre, Cedar Bend Humane Society, Cedar Falls Woman’s Club, Cedar Falls Public Art Committee, Cedar Falls Bible Conference, Community Main Street, Veterans Memorial Park, The James & Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts, City of Cedar Falls Recreation facilities, Cedar Falls Public Library, and Friends of Clay Street Park. The Prairie Rapids Paddlers Fund has recently been established to support the development of recreational activities on the Cedar River. Donations to these funds are welcome.
Perhaps most meaningful, the Foundation serves individuals wishing to leave a legacy. For example, the Cedar Falls Community Foundation administers the Robert Eller Study Abroad Fund which, due to Mr. Eller’s generosity and vision, now assists up to a dozen University of Northern Iowa students each year, studying all around the world. The Foundation administers the Diamond Arts & History Fund, established by Saul & Joan Diamond, to stimulate lifelong learning by providing interactive or multi-sensory experiences in the fine arts or the history of Cedar Falls. Individuals with passion for a particular cause or organization are invited to connect with the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.
The Cedar Falls Community Foundation is located inside Farmers State Bank, corner of 6th and Main Street, Cedar Falls, and is available by appointment. Contact the Foundation at: 319.243.9170, email: CFCF@cfu.net, or visit the website at www.cf-communityfoundation.org or find us on Facebook.
