History

1000 Friends of Iowa began with a small gathering of 23 professionals with diverse backgrounds in land use issues in July 1996. Academics, politicians, conservationists, landscape architects, planners and various non-profits spent an afternoon discussing their views concerning land use in Iowa. This engaged group became the Rural-Urban Stewardship Project (RUSP), but later changed its name to 1000 Friends of Iowa and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 1998. The first 1000 Friends group was organized in Oregon in 1975. Today there are dozens of similar organizations across the United States on land use issues. Many are members, along with 1000 Friends of Iowa, of the national coaltion, Smart Growth America.

Our name reflects our goal of having 1,000 Founding Friends, donating $100 annually, from across the state. If 1000 Friends of Iowa had 1,000 $100 annual donors, an operating budget of $100,000 per year would give us a solid position to continue to promote responsible land use across Iowa. 

In addition to our education work, we provide members with multiple resources:

• Website - provides up-to-date information on our work, issue background, book reviews, related links, resource materials and a current calendar of events
• Land Use Bulletin - published quarterly, promotes local development successes, provides activity updates and highlights current land use issues
  
• Public Policy Updates - provides in-depth information on policy change
  
• Action Alerts - electronic messaging provides notification of meetings, events, in-depth information on issues of concern impacting land use
• Annual Meeting/Regional Seminars - local andnational experts provide latest developments, staff reports on our research projects and local citizen efforts, Best Development Awards highlight planning and development that succesfully incorporates Smart Growth Principles and sustainable practices