Community Support Services

Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation

Community Support Services

Since 2006, the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation and its
"umbrella" of affiliated organizations, capital campaign drives, and
funds have benefited from the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens
Foundation’s Community Support Services grant program.
A sample of affiliates include:

Communities for Literate Iowa Kids (CLIK program)
Community Education Council
Drake Community Library capital campaign
Grinnell Mutual Aquatic Center capital campaign
Grinnell High School Alumni Association
Grinnell High School capital campaign expansion
Grinnell-Newburg Dollars for Scholars
Grinnell-Newburg Educational Excellence
Imagine Grinnell
Iowa Transportation Museum endowment
Kids Against Hunger
North Skunk River Greenbelt Association
Poweshiek County Empowerment

The goal of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation's Community
Support Services (CSS) program is to build capacity and promote
collaboration among the local nonprofit community by optimizing
back-office support operations and create efficiencies through shared
staff and administrative functions, thus strengthening the missions of
the local nonprofit sector to help improve the quality of life for the
local area

Sample types of support services provided by the Claude
W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation through the Community
Support Services program:

Administration Support

Clerical Staff (Shared) – The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens
Foundation shares internal clerical staff with the Greater
Poweshiek Community Foundation and all of its affiliated
organizations and funds for the purpose of performing general
office tasks only. This includes the monitoring phones,
greeting of the public, filing, data entry of donor and
membership databases, calendar management, ordering of
office supplies and other general tasks as assigned by the
Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation only.
Policies & Procedures – Assistance in the development and
implementation of standard policies and procedures. Policies
and procedures will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Marketing, Mailing, and Website Support

Human Resources Support

The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation's staff assists in the
development and implementation of personnel polices and
employment practices. All policies and procedures and employment
practices will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Personnel Policies
Employment Practices

              *Performance Management
              *Hiring/Termination
              *Discipline

Payroll & Related Payroll Taxes & Returns – Calculated
payroll and monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll reports are
prepared as necessary. All payroll checks will be issued
on the 1st and the 16th or next business day of each
month. The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation
does not have signing authority. All checks will be
signed by a representative of the Greater Poweshiek
Community Foundation.
Benefits Administration – Setup of employee benefits is
provided along with an ongoing service in the administration of
those benefits.

Finance & Accounting Support

Budgets – The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation's staff
works with the organization’s boards (and internal staff) to
develop an annual budget.
Monitoring & Analysis – Routine analysis is performed on
financial information to provide discrepancy reports and to
develop trend analysis.
Expense Management - A "Check Request Form" must be
completed in order to receive reimbursements of any
kind. All checks will be issued on the 1st and the 16th
or next business day of each month. The Claude W.
and Dolly Ahrens Foundation does not have signing
authority. All checks will be signed by a
representative of the Greater Poweshiek Community
Foundation.
Cash Flow Management & Analysis
Financial Statements – Monthly unaudited financial statements
are prepared for internal purposes. Financial statements will
generally be made available on the 15th of each month for the
prior month end.
General Accounting Services – Assistance with general
accounting services include bookkeeping, deposits, payments,
etc. The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation does not
have signing authority for either organization or have custody
of assets.

Risk Management Support

The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation's staff assists in the
development of continual board governance, board handbooks, and
regulatory compliance. As the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens
Foundation becomes aware of new laws and regulations, its staff will
pass this information along to the organizations and assist in the
development of business practices that adhere to certification
standards and regulations.

The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation promotes the
application of the Iowa Principles and Practices for Charitable
Standards of Excellence.

Calendar Management/Physical Space

The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation's administrative staff
maintains calendars for meetings, events, mailings, etc... The Claude
W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation allows affiliated organizations in the
Community Support Services Program to utilize its conference rooms
and unused office space. In addition, organizations are able to utilize
the lobby area and building in general for annual fundraising events,
recognition events, and special classes, etc... All requests for use
should be submitted to the Administrative Assistant of the Claude W.
and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. Organizations are required to comply
with the Administrative Headquarters Policies and Procedures and
may need to provide a “Hold Harmless” Contract and proof of
insurance.

The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation requires affiliated
organizations to submit a tentative calendar of events and board
meeting dates on an annual basis. This should be submitted to the
Administrative Assistant by December 1st for the following year.
Ongoing periodic updates should be submitted as well.