What are your goals in your role at your company?
The Community Foundation has affiliate relationships with 31 county foundations across the state of Iowa. Over $225 billion of wealth will be changing hands in those counties in the coming years. I am working with local leaders to utilize charitable giving as a way to retain a portion of that wealth. 

What are your goals for community involvement?
I have been involved with YNPN Des Moines for almost five years. We are providing an opportunity for nonprofit professionals to connect, learn and develop. I want to continue to engage more professionals to be a part of YNPN in order to build that next group of nonprofit leaders.

What’s your biggest passion, and why?
Being able to work with leaders of the rural communities we serve has been rewarding. I believe community foundations are a key resource for these leaders to leverage as they work to build a more vibrant and sustainable community. It is a blast to be part of the community building process.  

What is it that drives you?
I grew up playing sports and played football at Simpson College. In athletics, teammates are driven to get better for the team to do better. Coupling that mindset with a mission like the Community Foundation or other nonprofits I am involved with drives me to do well.

What are your future aspirations?
I envision myself growing in the philanthropic field and working toward a leadership role in an organization at some point. We partner with many economic development organizations, and I appreciate the work they do. I could see myself making that transition sometime in the future. 

Reasons he’s a Forty:

1.) Joe was part of a team at the Community Foundation that facilitated a record-setting $76 million in charitable giving and $42 million in grants in 2017. 
2.) He currently serves the chair of the YNPN Des Moines Board of Directors
3.) He is a facilitator for the Council on Foundations Community Foundation fundamentals course. 
4.) He plays a role in rural community development through his work at the Community Foundation and as a member of the Rural Development Council.

See all 2018 honorees