Community Foundations

Community foundations are grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area. They bring together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits in their communities. Community foundations vary widely in asset size, ranging from less than $100,000 to more than $1.7 billion.

Community foundations play a key role in identifying and solving community problems. In 2017, they gave an estimated $5.48 billion to a variety of nonprofit activities in fields that included the arts and education, health and human services, the environment, and disaster relief. The Community Foundations National Standards Board confirms operational excellence in six key areas—mission, structure, and governance; resource development; stewardship and accountability; grantmaking and community leadership; donor relations; and communications. Foundations that comply with these standards can display the official National Standards Seal. Currently, over 500 community foundations have earned the seal.

More than 900 community foundations operate in urban and rural areas in every state in the United States; currently, approximately 350 are members of the Council on Foundations. The community foundation model also has taken hold around the world. Community foundations have participated in the growth of international giving by U.S. foundations in recent years, with international giving by community foundations more than tripling, from $103 million in 2011 to $315 million in 2015, and community foundations' share of overall international giving by U.S. foundations more than doubling, from 1.4 percent in 2011 to 3.4 percent in 2015.

You can use our Community Foundation Locator to view a list of community foundations in the United States.

Below is everything on our site for community foundations. We highly recommend that you use the navigation or our search feature to find what you're looking for on our site. Please also visit cof.org/community-foundations for curated community foundation content. 

Community Philanthropy Update - September 2024

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Fearless Foundation Update: What does it mean for foundations and charitable organizations?

The Fearless Fund and Fearless Foundation announced a settlement with the American Alliance for Equal Rights and will end its grant program for Black female entrepreneurs, which AAER claimed was racially discriminatory in its suit, filed last August. The most recent ruling before the…

As Fearless Foundation Settles Case, Council on Foundations, Independent Sector Encourage Funders to Continue Giving in Line With Values

WASHINGTON – The Fearless Fund and Fearless Foundation announced a settlement yesterday with the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) and will end its Fearless Strivers Grant Contest that was targeted in a racial discrimination lawsuit by AAER. The settlement does not restrict any charitable…

2023 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF)

Publication, Research
The CCSF Study is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices. The 2023 CCSF studies 291 private and community foundations that represent $126 billion in assets. Topics covered include: Returns and Investment Objectives Asset…

AAER v. Fearless Foundation Settlement Update

On September 11, the parties in American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER) v. Fearless Foundation announced a settlement, resulting in the case’s dismissal in the federal district court where it had been pending for more than a year. At issue was the legality of the Fearless Strivers grant program,…

Foundations’ Endowed Portfolios Produced Higher 2023 Returns, Rebounding from 2022 Lows, Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study Finds

WASHINGTON - In the improved market environment of 2023, average annual returns on endowed funds bounced back from the previous year for the 291 foundations surveyed in the annual Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations® (…

DEI & Legal Office Hour

During this session, participants will engage in a Q&A discussion with Council on Foundations Director of Legal Resources Ben McDearmon, Staff Counsel Remy Barnwell, and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Yoo-Jin Kang, to address DEI and legal questions in the wake of the Fearless…

DEI Roundtable: Fostering Staff Wellbeing: Equity-Driven Policies

DEI Roundtable: Re-Imagining Power in Philanthropy: Building and Sharing Power with our Board, Staff, and Communities

This roundtable will explore how to reimagine and redistribute power within philanthropic organizations to foster more equitable decision-making processes. Operationalizing DEI requires a fundamental shift in how power is held and shared, ensuring that diverse voices are included in shaping…

DEI Roundtable: Self & Community Care for DEI Practitioners: Strategies for Resilience and Overcoming Resistance

This session addresses the critical role of self and community care in sustaining DEI work. By prioritizing the well-being of practitioners, we create a foundation for resilience and long-term engagement. Operationalizing DEI begins with ensuring that those leading these efforts are equipped to…

Coming Together, Not Apart - References

li { margin-bottom:1rem; } See Kleinfeld, R. (2023). “Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says.” Working Paper. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. September 5. Toxic polarization differs from ideological polarization—where individuals…

Looking to 2025: What Does a New Congress Mean for Philanthropy?

In January the 119th Congress will be sworn in and take on the work of choosing leadership for the House and Senate, as well as for each of the 40+ Committees that make up Congress. Join this webinar to learn about the dynamics of the new Congress and how we expect the shifting policy environment…

Looking to 2025: Making Sense of the Elections

The 2025 Election results will alter dynamics in Washington, D.C. National political analyst and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, Amy Walter, breaks down what the election results could mean for your work and for the U.S. broadly. In addition, government affairs experts provide…

Looking to 2025: What's at Stake?

As you know, most policy issues impacting philanthropy are tax policy issues. In December 2025, key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire, kicking off a race to develop new tax legislation. Even before we know the results of the 2024 election, Congressional…

Council & CEONet | Community Foundation CEO Roundtable - September 2024

Understanding the ALICE Reports September's Community Foundation CEO Roundtable intended to provide a range of information and discussion on a key population that community foundations are increasingly asked to serve — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed…

Idaho Community Foundation Strives to Give More Than Funding

They were straightforward questions, added to provide greater help in a time of greater complication. "Aside from funding, what else do you need?" and "How else can we serve you better?" were simple additions to the grant application for Idaho Community Foundation (ICF) during the COVID-19…
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