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Children's museum, chamber and foundation present funding requests to Windsor Heights council
Summary
Three local nonprofit groups asked the council for financial or partnership support: the Des Moines Children's Museum described plans to relocate from Valley West Mall and a capital campaign (including a negotiated $105,000 water-table exhibit), the Windsor Heights Chamber outlined post-merger outreach and sponsorship activity, and the Windsor Heights Foundation said it trimmed its city funding request and is pursuing legacy giving and sponsorships.
At the Feb. 3 council meeting, three outside organizations presented funding requests and program updates to Windsor Heights elected officials.
Julie Bernad, executive director of the Des Moines Children's Museum, told the council the museum currently occupies roughly 14,000 square feet in the lower level of Valley West Mall and reported about 69,000 visits last year. Bernad said the museum is preparing for a move from the mall, has completed a feasibility study and is launching a capital campaign to fund a freestanding location and exhibit upgrades. She described a donated water-table exhibit deal that the museum said is valued at about $105,000 and said the organization raised roughly $1,125,126 in recent fundraising tied to that effort and other grants and sponsorships.
Chamber representatives briefed the council on the Windsor Heights Chamber’s post-merger work. The membership director said the chamber added 15 new members since the 2023 merger, launched a Wake Up in Windsor Heights business networking series and distributed more than 2,000 referrals to member businesses in 2024. Chamber officials said sponsorships and the Total Resource Campaign are being used to support local events.
Mark Erens, president of the Windsor Heights Foundation, said the foundation is marking its 40th anniversary, trimmed its city funding request by $10,000 from the prior year, and plans renewed efforts to grow sponsorships, donations and legacy/planned giving as Kobe Park’s renovation draws larger crowds to city events.
Council next steps: staff will include these requests in upcoming budget-work and grant-review discussions; several councilmembers and staff thanked the groups for their programs and community collaboration.
Attribution note: quotes and numeric figures in this article are attributed to the presenters as recorded at the council meeting.
