Jenna Manders ’15
Dubuque, Iowa

Dedication to service and philanthropy were hallmarks of Jenna Manders’ experience as a Wartburg student. Years later, her journey has provided new opportunities to educate others about the importance of philanthropy and helping others in need.

During her time at Wartburg, she held leadership positions with Dance Marathon and the service trips program. Her efforts earned accolades like the Gordon Mack Award for Student Leadership and the St. Elizabeth Award for Service, as well as recognition as a Newman Civic Fellow for contributions to community and civic engagement on campus.

As a Wartburg student, she served as an intern with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. After graduating magna cum laude in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and sociology, she returned to the foundation as a full-time employee. In her six years with the foundation, she held a number of roles and received several promotions.

“I have never met a young professional with as much ambition and drive to succeed as Jenna,” wrote nominator Amy Unmacht.

Today, Manders serves as the community foundation services coordinator for the Iowa Council on Foundations. In this role she is the point of contact for Iowa community foundations, helping answer questions about Endow Iowa and the County Endowment Fund. She also supports data collection and reporting, oversees three grant programs, and supports conference and event development and implementation.

This change of pace has allowed her to devote more time to her family and community in other ways. She owns a liquidation business with her two brothers. The three also have converted a vacant convent into 10 apartment units and are working to add nearly 20 more in the Catholic school next door.

In her free time, Manders’ dedication to supporting excellence in community foundations inspires her to work as a National Standards reviewer, where she reviews and assesses community foundations for accreditation.

She also is an active member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Dubuque, where she serves as secretary on the parish council and sings in the choir.