In this edition of the Community Philanthropy Update we celebrated Member Week with our nearly 850 members, and highlight the launch of our new Council brand and website.

It has been an eventful year for new laws targeting nonprofits and philanthropy across the world. We know you have many questions and concerns about the rapidly changing state of global giving; join us at a Legal Office Hours event for international grantmakers on June 16 (see the News and…

Volunteering has always been important to me, but as I volunteer more regularly with my 10-year-old daughter, I am reminded that volunteering transforms those who serve just as much as the causes they support. Volunteering expands our perspectives. It provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It…

If you live in or near Washington, D.C., as I do, you know how easy it can be to imagine Congress and the president as the center of our political world. But in truth, so much of our lives is shaped by what happens at the local level: in state senates, governor’s offices, and even school boards. In…

Dear Friend, Over the past weeks, we have all likely felt deep sadness and concern for those impacted by the Ukraine crisis. The invasion of Ukraine was more than an attack on a country; it has had a destabilizing effect felt across the globe. And yet one thing has remained constant: the central…

Funders around the world have sprung into action to support those at risk during the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Eastern Europe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has already resulted in more than 800,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict and seeking refuge abroad. As the conflict…

2021 was an historic year in many ways, for philanthropy and for the people and communities we care about. It was a year of loss and heartache as families and communities continued to suffer the effects of the pandemic and many other hardships. It was a year of advocacy to…

Today is the second day of the 2021 Summit for Democracy, and the issues at hand are too urgent to ignore. While the world faces pressing humanitarian crises like climate change, COVID-19, and racial injustice that threaten global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Summit…

A lot of things worth celebrating are on my radar this month – Thanksgiving is coming up and I am looking forward to the baking that entails. We’ve just finished commemorating Community Foundation Week and I am currently enjoying collecting leaves with my daughter after they turn from…

You may have started your career in philanthropy knowing that community foundations not only impact the neighborhoods they serve, but also inspire a commitment to the greater good across counties, states, and the country — or you may have learned this along the way. Community Foundation Week,…

With the UN General Assembly (UNGA) just a few weeks away, there is no shortage of challenges that will hinder the world’s capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. From the IPCC’s recent devastating climate report and natural disasters in every corner of the…

Earlier this month, the Council launched a new Strategic Direction focused on how philanthropy can build the trust needed to advance the greater good. This strategy was developed out of feedback from hundreds of philanthropic leaders over the last two years, as well as support from the…

Dear Friend, It’s been an eventful month in Congress! In addition to the ACE Act, another bill was introduced last week that will have a significant impact on community foundations – by providing you with new ways of giving scholarships. We know that scholarships are a vital tool for community…

Foundations and donors of all kinds have responded in creative and impressive ways to COVID-19, as well as the other crises of the previous year. Community foundations have served as beacons of hope and safety, educators and public health outlets, and conduits for vital aid during the pandemic…

Dear Friend,  It is difficult to capture the enormity of the challenges we have faced during the past year. Global grantmakers were some of the first to recognize the looming danger of the novel coronavirus and urged the world to respond. As vaccines begin to ramp up in the US, funders…

Friend, We continue to live through unprecedented times. 2021 started off with new challenges and the demands have been relentless. Through it all, community foundations have played a crucial role in communities, ensuring funds were available to local nonprofits and relief efforts. Your work helps…