Rooms to Thrive
A campaign to support women in crisis.
The Village is open, and women are thriving—but we need your help to keep it that way.
The Rooms to Thrive Campaign is more than a fundraiser—it’s a commitment to ensuring that women who have worked to rebuild their lives never have to wonder if stability is out of reach.
At The Beacon, we believe that housing is more than shelter—it’s the foundation for independence, dignity, and lasting recovery. That’s why we created The Village.
The Village, a safe, affordable housing community designed specifically for Beacon graduates and referral clients who are ready for their next step.
The Village at 1348 E Euclid in Des Moines is already providing:
- 32 affordable efficiency apartments—giving women a real chance to sustain their independence.
- A safe and convenient location—near public transportation, grocery stores, and jobs.
- On-site Case Management support—ensuring continued guidance, stability, and success.
This innovative renovation of a former hotel has already transformed the lives of women who once had nowhere to go after completing The Beacon’s programs.
Now, we need your help to sustain and expand this vital initiative.
Campaign Goal: $3.5 million
Living Space
60% - $2.1M
Protecting What We've Built—And Making Room for More
The Beacon Village is already changing lives. Women who’ve overcome trauma, incarceration, and housing instability now have a place to call home—living independently in a safe, supportive environment. Each resident contributes rent based on a standard monthly rate that includes utilities, Wi-Fi, and laundry access.
We currently lease the property. With your help, we can purchase it outright for $2.1 million—securing permanent housing for the 32 women and laying the groundwork to expand in the future. Imagine what it would mean to offer housing not only to more women—but eventually to mothers and their children in need.
This isn’t about buildings. It’s about belonging. Your gift helps us ensure no woman loses her chance to rebuild.
Philanthropic Operating
20% - $700k
Fueling Recovery. Sustaining Support.
At The Beacon Village, recovery is a life long journey—and it doesn’t happen alone. Our team continues to walk beside women every step of the way, offering trauma-informed case management, on-site support, and access to therapy, financial education, and independent living resources in partnership with community organizations.
Yet unlike program-specific grants, operational costs—like payroll and infrastructure—are rarely funded, even though they’re the foundation of everything we do.
We’re raising $700,000 to cover five years of core operational costs, ensuring we can:
Sustain a team rooted in lived experience and professional care
Continue offering stable, on-site support at The Village
Keep vital recovery resources accessible to every woman we serve
When you give, you aren’t just covering overhead—you’re building the backbone of lifelong change.
Endowment
20% - $700k
Strengthening The Beacon’s Endowment
The Beacon has built a $600,000 endowment and invested in companies that prioritize equity and social responsibility. By increasing this fund by $700,000, we can:
- Generate $35,000 per year to cover unexpected maintenance expenses and operational needs.
- Ensure The Beacon remains financially secure and mission-driven for the future.
- Create a strong foundation for sustainability, so women can always count on The Beacon.
An investment in the endowment is an investment in long-term security and stability.
Over the past several years, The Beacon has made strategic investments in our staff, Board, and programming, creating meaningful growth that has expanded our reach and deepened our impact. As more women sought our services and more community partners engaged with our mission, it became clear that the need for safe, stable, and affordable housing was greater than ever.
To ensure that any expansion was thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned with our long-term vision, The Beacon conducted a comprehensive feasibility study in 2023. This study carefully assessed community needs, financial viability, and capacity for growth, helping us determine the size, scope, and strategic approach for the project. Guided by insights from key interviews, strategic planning, and expert analysis, we officially launched the silent phase of our capital campaign in early 2024, securing foundational support and refining our approach.
Now, with a strong foundation and momentum behind us, we are excited to launch the public phase of the Rooms to Thrive Campaign in March 2025—inviting our entire community to be part of this transformational initiative.
Des Moines is lacking in housing and supportive service options specifically for women. There are no services in Des Moines like The Beacon, which offers housing, trauma-informed programming, and equity-centered care. The Young Women’s Resource Center offers some excellent programming for girls and women, especially around maternal health.
Unlike men who have multiple options when experiencing homelessness, there are no emergency shelters for women. There is one all-gender shelter, but women sometimes do not feel safe there due to a past or potential perpetrator. It’s important to note that women are often victimized by landlords when they are unable to pay their rent.
The Beacon Sherman Hill is more structured, very inexpensive, and provides a significant amount of support for women who are just coming out of trauma. Once they are more stabilized, The Beacon Village is an opportunity for more autonomy while still receiving supportive services and community support in affordable, substance-free apartments.
The renovations are already completed, and clients have moved into The Beacon Village. There is definitely room for volunteer groups to help with the grounds or organize donations.
Since The Beacon is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, gifts to the campaign are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The application of such laws varies with individual financial circumstances. Households with specific questions regarding tax deductibility should contact their attorney or tax preparer.
Campaign Executive Committee
Brooke Jeffus, Consultant-Relationship Management, Nationwide
Abby Spann, Lead Business Execution Consultant, Wells Fargo
Erin Anderson, Branch Manager, Community State Bank
Susan Judkins, Client Development Director, RDG Planning and Design
Join Us Today!
When you support The Beacon, you are agreeing that the women we serve are not criminal; rather, due to trauma and systemic inequities, they are carrying a load too heavy for a human to hold. You are agreeing that these women have a better chance at success through support rather than punishment and that the next generation will benefit because of it.
If you or your organization would like to make a financial contribution or learn more about the project, please contact The Beacon.