We accomplish our mission by:

• Soliciting “pass through” gifts which are distributed each year though the grant process.

• Provide continuing long-term support by creating endowment funds from the gifts and bequests.

• Investing funds carefully to assure earning a safe and continuing level of real income.

• Distributing the endowment income and “pass through” gifts by means of a fair system which will identify and fund the most effective proposals for solving problems and seizing opportunities.

• Providing leadership for the community in planning, identifying needs, and providing advice to organizations on fund-raising and operational issues.

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How we operate:

• We are a "low overhead" organization. Volunteers do most of the work. As a result  expenses are minimal. 

• We do not use regular endowment income or gifts which are intended for grants to support operating expenses. 

• Support for our operation comes from designated operating funds and from management fees.

• CF National Standards - In 2005, Pella Community Foundation was among the first in the nation to be authorized to display the seal of compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Programs. Re-certification was again granted in 2024. 

• The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grant making and administration. 

• This program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisers.

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Our Investments:

• A committee composed of Directors using outside counsel supervises all investments. 

• Although income is important to the work of the Foundation, it is never sought through the acceptance of undue risk levels. 

• A diversified portfolio is maintained according to policy as a means of providing growth and avoiding an inflation-induced erosion of the earning power of endowment funds.

• ​The fiscal year from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 the realized return on investments was +2.45%, while the unrealized gain was +4.21%, for an overall gain of +6.66%.