VAN MILLIGEN, Nancy

VAN MILLIGEN, Nancy. (Rockford, IL-- ). Nancy received a B.A. degree in Political Science (1977) and a Master of Public Administration (1989) from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She came to Dubuque in 1993 when her husband Michael VAN MILLIGEN accepted the position of city manager. In 2003 Nancy was hired as the charter president and executive officer to the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE, an organization to help donors maximize the benefits of their charitable giving to people and organizations and make grants to nonprofit organizations. (1) At the time of her hiring, she was the chairwoman of the Iowa Empowerment Board and was a board member of Dubuque Empowerment, MERCY MEDICAL CENTER, and the DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. She had recently completed a term as chairwoman of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. Prior to being named CEO, she had received the Dale Carnegie Highest Achievement Award (1999), Dubuque YWCA Women of Achievement recognition and Tanner Co. Legacy Award for Community Service (2001), and the Iowa Governor's Volunteer Award (2002). (2)

Van Milligen's leadership roles in Dubuque included helping to organize EVERY CHILD/EVERY PROMISE, work with the Tri-State Community Health Center, VISION TO LEARN, Iowa Empowerment Board, Mercy Health Center Board, Dubuque County Historical Society board and member of the Dubuque Empowerment Board. She served as vice president for institutional advancement at CLARKE COLLEGE, area administrator for the Iowa Citizens Foster Care Review Board, and chair of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. (3)

Originally the foundation had the task of acquainting the community with its goal--giving to charity. Estimating this would be a focus of the first three years, she emphasized that the foundation allowed individuals through gifts and bequests, to establish permanent endowment funds for charitable purposes. The three constituent groups were donors, non-profits, and the community at large.

Van Milligen's years of leadership were marked by innovations including "data-walks" at the organizations' offices in the Roshek Building. (4) She was a frequent speaker to community groups conferences or larger meetings like the Greater Tri-State Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Resources."Building Relationships-Building." (5) One of the most successful methods employed by the foundation was its Great Give Day initiative which raised over $4.2 million for local nonprofits. (6) Between 2003 and 2026 the Community Foundation amassed over $200 million in assets and distributed $#94 Million in grant funding to the greater Dubuque region. (7) In 2024 her pioneering work resulted in her earning the TH Medias's Savvy Over 60 Award. Lesser known was the support of foster care she and her husband shared. Over the years with five children of their own, they fostered more than two dozen children.

In April, 2026 Nancy Van Milligen announced her retiement as of January 1, 2027. Since she had been appointed President / CEO and the only employee of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque the organization had grown by 2024 to 24 full-time employees. (9) It had helped more than 300 partners and supported 4,000 donors. In her announcement, she spoke proudly of many of her experiences including Community Heart and Soul, a community engagement process and Small Town Dreams helping towns of 400 people or more raise a half a million dollar endowment. (10) The foundation's Forever Fund, created to support future community needs, held more than $2 million in 2026. (11) Van Milligen said that helping to establish CRESCENT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER in 2006 was one of her proudest memories. (12)

Source:

1. "175 Years" Vol. II Telegraph Herald, p. 117

2. Kittle, M. D., "Community Foundation Hires CEO," Telegraph Herald, January 6, 2003, p. 13.

3. Cooper, Brian, "Foundation 'A Perfect Fit' for Van Milligen," Telegraph Herald, April 4, 2004

4. Goldstein, Bennet, "'Data Walk' Targets Solutions," Telegraph Herald, April 3, 2019, p. 3

5. "Fundraisers to Hold Day-Long Conference," Telegraph Herald, November 22, 2006, p. 1

6. Burwell, Grace, "Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Celebrates Continued Growth, Investment," Telegraph Herald, May 13, 2026, p. 2

7. Acosta, Hery, "Dubuque Community Foundation Leader Stepping Down After 23 Years," KWWL.com, April 29, 2026, Online: https://www.kwwl.com/news/dubuque-community-foundation-leader-stepping-down-after-23-years/article_92c6577d-f94a-4234-b89d-f86f963e80cf.html6.

8. Kruse, John, "Van Milligen Committed to Driving Community Initiatives and Philanthropic Efforts," Telegraph Herald, June 24, 2024, p. 32

9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

11. Burwell

12. Kruse