We invite all members to join us for a virtual conversation to discuss ICoF's public policy agenda for 2024. We will also hear from local and national policy partners about their priorities for the year and how ICoF members can engage and help support their work, including:
- David Adelman, Principal & Counsel, Cornerstone Government Affairs, and Iowa Community Foundations lobbyist, who will provide a preview of the 2024 Iowa legislative session and share an update about community foundation priorities for the year;
- Mary Nelle Trefz, Advocacy Network Director, Iowa ACEs 360, who will be back to share an overview of their 2024 policy priorities; and
- Matthew L. Evans, Senior Director of Public Policy, United Philanthropy Forum, who will provide a national public policy update and an overview of the Forum's Public Policy Principles.
ICoF President Kari McCann Boutell will also highlight the ICoF’s public policy priorities for 2024. If you have any specific, policy-related questions or topics you would like to explore on the call with our speakers or your peers, please include them in your registration.
Speaker Bios
David Adelman, Principal and Counsel, Cornerstone Government Affairs
David Adelman joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in 2010, bringing over 10 years of substantial experience in grassroots advocacy, developing and implementing strategic legislative campaigns, drafting and analyzing legislative language and reports and establishing, administering and advising political action committees.
Before joining Cornerstone, David worked for a law firm in West Des Moines where his practice focused on government relations, legislative law, PAC compliance and strategic advising, and election law. David continues to secure millions of dollars for clients through appropriation language, enables clients to secure major policy changes in a variety of issue areas and helps defeat language that would have been detrimental to clients’ interests.
Raised in Des Moines, David earned a B.S. in Marketing and Business Legal Studies from Miami University, and a certificate in International Business studying in London, England. He received his law degree with a Legislative Practice Certificate from Drake University Law School.
Mary Nelle Trefz, Advocacy Network Director of Iowa ACEs360
Mary Nelle serves as Advocacy Network Director for Iowa ACEs 360—an organization focused on improving the health and well-being of all Iowans by preventing and mitigating the effects of childhood trauma. Mary Nelle leads the organization’s advocacy and lobbying work and partners with local coalitions to build a statewide network of advocates. Mary Nelle brings a decade of experience to her work at Iowa ACEs 360, previously serving as a child health advocate, working to advance policies at the state and federal levels. Mary Nelle received her B.S. in Health Policy and Management from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island, and completed her Master's of Public Health in Community and Behavioral Health at the University of Iowa.
Matthew L. Evans, Senior Director of Public Policy, United Philanthropy Forum
Matthew L. Evans is the Forum’s Senior Director of Public Policy. Matthew brings to the Forum more than 15 years of public policy and government relations experience and has been instrumental in the Forum's expansion of its public policy work. Specifically, Matthew has led the push toward incorporating the idea of philanthropy using its collective voice and influence to address issues that impact communities and promote systems change via active engagement in the advocacy and public policy process.
Prior to joining the Forum, he was Director of Public Policy & Special Projects for the Southeastern Council of Foundations (now Philanthropy Southeast), where he worked to ensure the legislative and regulatory success of the philanthropic sector in the South. Before he began leading advocacy efforts on behalf of the philanthropic sector, most of Matthew's professional career has been shaped in Washington, D.C., having held multiple positions that gave him direct experience in working with elected officials, corporations, and associations, leading advocacy efforts for several national organizations.
Throughout his time in philanthropy, Matthew has served on the public policy committees of the Forum, Independent Sector, and the Council on Foundations. Currently, he is the Vice Chair of the Nonprofit VOTE Board of Directors and serves as a member of the organization's National Leadership Council. He also is a member of the Funders Census Initiative Leadership team. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville, Tennessee.
Accessibility
All ICoF Zoom events have AI closed captioning. If other accommodations would help you attend or participate, please contact Laura Riordan Berardi with as much notice as possible.