The Pella Community Foundation has announced a recent change in leadership.

Mark Wiskus is now serving as the president of the organization first founded in 1991 to become a driving force in preserving the heritage and enhancing the quality of life in Pella and the surrounding area. He replaces Jim Brandl, who is leaving after taking over for Dr. Ken Weller in 2009. Brandl has been undergoing treatment for medical issues in recent months.

“As I close this chapter, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the many board members who have guided PCF over the years with wisdom, vision, and unwavering commitment to our mission,” Brandl wrote in an outgoing letter.

Backed by an initial grant from the Pella Corp Foundation, the Pella Community Foundation began its mission of soliciting contributions, investing funds, and awarding grants to local non-profits. The foundation’s first grants in 1993 totaled $20,000 across nine organizations. By 2025, that figure had grown to 40 grants totaling $200,000.

Hear more from Brandl about the growth of the Pella Community Foundation on Let’s Talk Pella today 7:45am and 5:45pm and Thursday at 7:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 5:45 p.m.. Full interview online at KNIA KRLS.com and the Let’s Talk Pella podcast.