2025 Year in Review
The past year was the Great Outdoors Foundation’s 30th anniversary, and it was a big year of advancing conservation through collaboration, innovation, and stewardship. Recap the year with us by checking out our highlights and featured reads below.
2025 Highlights
CAF Wins Best Development Award
1000 Friends of Iowa, a statewide nonprofit focused on land use and transportation, honors projects that recognize connections between building, project development, and quality of life. The Great Outdoors Foundation’s Conservation Acceleration Fund won the Innovative Leadership – State award.
Great Outdoors Foundation Receives 2025 innovationIOWA innovationLEADER of the Year Award
The Great Outdoors Foundation (GOF) receives the Business Record’s 2025 innovationLEADER Award for their Conservation Acceleration Fund. GOF is only the second nonprofit to receive the award.
The Happy Disruptors Podcast Launches
The Great Outdoors Foundation launched The Happy Disruptors Podcast — a bold audio/video podcast series for those who take their work, but not themselves, seriously.
Wild Prairie Showdown Achieves Record Fundraising
This year’s Wild Prairie Showdown — Presented by United Contractors & Reilly Construction —raised almost $190,000 for conservation and recreation, nearly $30K more than the previous year. The event was held on Oct. 16, 2025 at the Val Air Ballroom and had more than 400 in attendance.
Great Outdoors Foundation Announces Inaugural Water Quality Summit
The Great Outdoors Foundation announces plans for Watershed26, a two-day conference featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and most importantly, tangible action steps for the Mississippi River Watershed.
2025 Featured Reads
GOF CEO Issues Open Letter Regarding Central Iowa Water Works Usage Reduction Plan
During a summer marked with conversations about Central Iowa’s water quality, Great Outdoors Foundation’s CEO Hannah Inman offered valuable insight and context.
Meet a Nonprofit that Wants to Run like a Startup
Hannah Inman, CEO of the Great Outdoors Foundation, shares her advice for anyone who wants to work in fundraising and run a successful nonprofit.
How ICON Water Trails, Great Outdoors Foundation Collaborate to Support Recreation while Tackling Water Quality Issues
The Great Outdoors Foundation and Iowa Confluence Water Trails are leading an effort to activate water trails and improve conservation efforts throughout the state.
Local Leaders Honored for Conservation and Recreation Efforts
The Creative Conservationist and the Waveshaper awards celebrate those in the community making extraordinary efforts for conservation and recreation in the region. John Swanson received the Creative Conservationist Award from the Great Outdoors Foundation.
GOF Unveils 30th Anniversary Magazine
To celebrate 30 years as an organization, GOF created a custom magazine that highlights the moments, efforts, and people integral to GOF’s successful past and hopeful future.
We’re reflecting on this year with immense gratitude for all we were able to accomplish and everyone who supported us along the way. We can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store!
