Welcome to your daily briefing on nonprofit developments in Iowa. Today we're covering 6 key stories including updates on iowa nonprofit headlines, background & context. Let's dive in.
3 stories
Iowa American Water has announced the launch of the 2026 American Water Charitable Foundation Water and Environment Grant Program.
This initiative presents a potential funding opportunity for Iowa nonprofit organizations focused on water conservation and environmental sustainability.
The Iowa Grants Guide is maintained by the LAWINRC and is a database of more than 500 funders based in Iowa or with an Iowa connection. Use the filters below to search by funder name or narrow your search by using one or more of the….
Relevant to nonprofit professionals operating in IA.
A listing of competitive grant and funding opportunities for education partners. These opportunities are not for individual students.
Relevant to nonprofit professionals operating in IA.
Reach professionals in this market
3 stories
Negligent-screening claims arise not from failing to have a screening policy, but from failing to follow the policy that exists. A documented policy with inconsistent enforcement is harder to defend than no policy at all, because the deviation is evidence of negligence.
Insurance carriers tighten coverage on organizations with screening-process gaps. The cost of consistent enforcement is small; the cost of a single uninvestigated incident can close the organization.
Unrelated business income tax applies when an activity is regularly carried on, is a trade or business, and is not substantially related to the exempt purpose. Common surprises: corporate-sponsored events with naming rights that look like advertising, affinity credit-card royalties that include co-marketing services, and gift-shop sales of items unrelated to the mission.
UBIT exposure can cost both tax and exempt status if the unrelated business becomes substantial. The line between sponsorship (excluded) and advertising (included) is narrow and case-specific.
The IRS-recommended COI policy requires (1) annual disclosure by all directors and key employees, (2) a process for review of any disclosed conflict, (3) recusal procedures, and (4) documentation in board minutes. Policies that have only the disclosure form without the review and recusal process do not satisfy the recommendation.
A weak COI policy is a Schedule L disclosure waiting to happen, and Schedule L disclosures correlate with future IRS examination selection.
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