The Iowa Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (ICFBCI) is a private, faith-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit entity headquartered in West Des Moines  that has served distressed Iowa areas and organizations through its various staff members since 1995.   It was formed, in part, to reflect the concept of Charitable Choice, a part of the federal welfare reform law that encourages the involvement and funding of community and faith-based organizations (FBCOs) in providing social services to the poor and needy.

              ICFBCI is essentially a resource for small Iowa nonprofit organizations.    Its mission is to improve the well-being of vulnerable Iowans by providing professional resources and funds to strengthen and expand Iowa’s small nonprofit organizations and their community impact.   It does so by fostering local and statewide partnerships, building capacity in collaboration with various individuals and organizations, and helping FBCOs measure evaluation effectiveness.

              The Center has conducted extensive work in distressed rural, southern Iowa counties and in Des Moines’ urban inner city.   The Center’s work in resource development has motivated small nonprofit organizations to form community partnerships, develop sound program and organizational infrastructure, and evaluate outcomes.  

              Center staff members help nonprofits integrate knowledge, skills, and activities within the fabric of their organizations.   These activities include, for example, in-depth SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses, area assessments of need, board and staff alignment with contemporary concepts of leadership, client service benefits and employment services, organizational development, collaboration and community engagement, evaluation effectiveness, and resource development.