A Story to Tell
Iowa Architectural Foundation finds new ways to share its vision.
Founded in 1989, the Iowa Architectural Foundation (IAF) has a mission to inspire an appreciation of architecture and design. A host of volunteers and innovative programs over the years have communicated that vision to thousands of Iowans. With the addition of new Executive Director Laura Porter last August, the IAF story continues to evolve.
“The IAF just finished our new strategic plan about the time I came on staff,” says Porter. “One of the primary goals of that plan was to increase the educational impact we have across the state, to get back to those goals that were part of our original vision.”
As a former academic with a Ph.D. in history, Porter was a perfect fit for this role.“I had been teaching part-time at Drake,” she says. “But during and since COVID, trying to teach virtually and supervise my own children’s schoolwork at home, I decided it was a good time to transition to something else.”
Porter served on the Civic Music Association board for a short time, then as Director of Operations, where her academic background was helpful in writing grants and managing the board’s activities.
“That was a wonderful introduction to the nonprofit world. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty and being a part of the daily activities, so I learned a lot through that role,” Porter says. “But I also love being part of the strategy side of the work and wanted to serve in a leadership role, so when this position opened up at IAF, I was excited about the opportunity. It’s different from academia, but the fact that many of our programs highlight the historical meaning and value of architecture, and because of our generally educational emphasis, it overlaps nicely with my background.”
As the sole employee of the IAF, Porter oversees everything from day-to-day operations to archiving the Foundation’s materials and overseeing new and ongoing activities. “We have a wonderful volunteer coordinator,” she says, “a former trustee, Tina Rhodes, and she’s invaluable when it comes to organizing and training our volunteers.”
In addition to tour guides, who lead the IAF’s regular Architecture on the Move tours throughout the summer, volunteers serve in numerous capacities during the year. “There are so many ways to volunteer, whether you’re knowledgeable about architecture or an extrovert or not,” says Porter. “And like most nonprofits, we’re always interested in more volunteers.”
This summer and fall include a full schedule of events for the IAF and its volunteers, from walking tours in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids to summer camps and a booth at the Des Moines Arts Festival.
Some of the most popular events have given rise to new projects, like photography classes, private tours, and participation in the MidMod Home Tour, which focuses on midcentury modern residences in the Des Moines area.
“Another of my objectives as Executive Director is to ensure our financial stability as an organization, which involves ensuring that our processes are streamlined so we can operate efficiently,” Porter explains.
She has also continued developing partnerships with other organizations since she stepped into her role last August. “We’re stronger when we partner with others, and working on projects and events with different organizations gives us an opportunity to communicate with audiences that might not typically attend an IAF event,” she says.
Over the past several months, Porter says the Foundation has partnered with the Varsity Cinema for a film screening during Architecture Month and with the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council to introduce the field of architecture to the next generation.
“We’ve had an ongoing relationship with Drake University, and Drake is again partnering with us to host our summer camp for middle school students,” Porter says. “We’ve also had increasing interest in organizing a walking tour of the Drake campus, which is something we’re developing for our Eat Drink Architecture event in the fall.”
As the IAF website states, architecture tells the story of our present as well as our past, “who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going.” The Foundation seeks to share that story with audiences in every demographic across the state.
“That mission covers a lot of aspects and applications,” Porter says, “and I love that. We get to share how architecture influences the way we live and interact with the world around us.”
That’s a fascinating story to tell.
Upcoming Events
- Architecture on the Move
June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 6 - Adventure in Architecture Day Camps
July 24–28
Learn More
IowaArchFoundation.org