Iowa

Strong schools are essential to strong rural communities, which is why the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque facilitates initiatives focused on issues of student achievement and building bridges between schools and communities. Jason Neises, Community Development Coordinator at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, and Josie Manternach, Program Officer, jointly serve as the hub contacts for Iowa.

With affiliate foundations across the seven-county Dubuque region of northeastern Iowa, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque has a long history of building trusting relationships with leaders in rural communities to chart clear paths forward that address complex social challenges, from academic achievement to economic opportunity.

As the Community Development Coordinator for the Community Foundation, Jason Neises has witnessed firsthand how rural communities can rally together to achieve common goals. "We’re hoping to build people’s perceptions beyond themselves or their small circles. For example, we encourage people to consider how all aspects of the community benefit from a strong local school,” Neises explains.

By bringing key stakeholders, such as local schools, in rural towns together, Jason and his team are reaffirming and strengthening the bonds between place, people, and education. He shares that whenever the Community Foundation partners with local towns to launch a development initiative, "every single town says that their schools are an asset."

As RSC’s Iowa hub, the Community Foundation will continue to support thriving rural communities, and enhance the vitality of rural education by bridging local generosity, ingenuity, and leadership with efforts like teacher training and place-based learning. To see stories from our Iowa hub, explore below.