The United Way of Central Iowa has been voted by Business Record readers as the most influential nonprofit organization in Greater Des Moines.

The United Way of Central Iowa topped the first-ever list of Top 25 Most Influential Nonprofits, which appears in the 2021 Book of Lists.

The online survey of Business Record readers, which was conducted in the summer of 2020, asked participants which nonprofit they believe is the most influential and asked them to pick nine other nonprofits that they also perceived to be influential.

The votes were tallied and IP addresses were analyzed, much as we do for Best of Des Moines, to remove suspicious voting and obvious attempts to fraudulently influence rankings.

The Business Record also released its list of the Top 25 Most Influential Business Leaders. View them here

Top 25 Most Influential Nonprofits

1. United Way of Central Iowa

2. Variety – The Children’s Charity

3. ChildServe

4. Food Bank of Iowa

5. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa Inc.

6. Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC)

7. Animal Rescue League of Iowa Inc.

8. Youth Emergency Services & Shelter

9. Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa

10. Blank Park Zoo

11. Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa

12. Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

13. Greater Des Moines Partnership

14. Iowa State Fair

15. Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

16. Ronald McDonald House Des Moines

17. Iowa Public Radio

18. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland

19. Urban Dreams

20. Bravo Greater Des Moines

21. AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport Inc.

22. Des Moines Public Library

23. Iowa PBS

24. EveryStep

25. Children and Families of Iowa