Anne Nizzi Clark, the mother of basketball great Caitlin Clark and director of the Caitlin Clark Foundation, will be the keynote speaker for the Iowa Women’s Foundation’s 2025 Annual Luncheon in November, IWF said.
The annual event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center. For ticket information, visit here.
The luncheon is IWF’s largest fundraising event. It brings together donors, community leaders and supporters who share its mission to improve the lives of Iowa’s women and girls.
This year’s theme, “Be a Game-Changer,” highlights the importance of mentorship, especially in everyday moments, as we shape the future for young women and girls, IWF said in a news release.
Ms. Nizzi Clark will share how her family’s steady guidance, love and support helped lay a foundation for success for one of today’s most celebrated athletes. As director of the Caitlin Clark Foundation, she will touch on the importance of uplifting and improving the lives of youth and their communities through sports, nutrition and education.
This year’s luncheon is presented by GreenState Credit Union The keynote address is sponsored by Grinnell Mutual. IWF is headquartered in Coralville.
How mentoring matters
The lack of mentorship has been identified as one of the primary barriers faced by Iowa’s women and girls. So have access to quality child care, employment, safe housing and education/training opportunities.
At the luncheon, IWF will announce its 2026 grant recipients. The group awards funding to organizations that work to break down barriers and create opportunities for Iowa women and girls.
Grantmaking is at the heart of IWF’s work. It is one of the organization’s five pillars of sustainable change. IWF leverages research, education, collaboration and advocacy to improve the lives of women and girls. While grantmaking helps alleviate urgent needs, IWF said its remaining pillars address root causes of barriers to women’s economic success.
