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. 

Washington Snapshot - May 18, 2017

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: Ways and Means Committee holds hearings, Senate gears up for tax reform Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy named Hearing on IRS reform scheduled for tomorrow In the States: state budgets passing but on shaky footing; Mainers seek block…

Career Pathways: Reflections on #COFAnnual

Three years ago, I met Charles Story at the Grants Managers Network annual conference in San Diego. He was a featured panelist on a session about Extreme Management — successfully leading teams in constantly changing organizational environments. I was so impressed with his insights that we would…

Washington Snapshot - May 11, 2017

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: Health care legislation passed the House — so what now for tax reform? Private foundation excise tax simplification bill introduced in House House Set to Hold Hearings on Tax Reform and IRS Reform FBI Director, Census Director Are Out…

2016 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Administrative and Program Expense Tables

Publication, Research
The 2016 Administrative and Program Expense Tables provide foundations with tools to benchmark their expenses – charitable administrative, program service, and qualifying distributions – against peers in the field. Containing data collected through the Council’s 2016 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits…

Community Philanthropy Update — May 2017

April came and went, and it packed a punch.  I am grateful for the 200 community foundation (CF) leaders who joined over 1,000 philanthropic leaders in Dallas, Texas, for the 2017 Annual Conference. Please take a look at the highlight videos, which feature many examples of the type of…

Washington Snapshot - May 4, 2017

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… BREAKING: House holding Johnson Amendment hearing today, President Trump signs EO Tax Reform Update: White House releases tax plan, Congress continues toward health care and tax reform bills Congress averts a government shutdown President Trump’s first 100…

Council on Foundations Announces New Leadership in Its Board of Directors

Today, the Council on Foundations, which represents nearly 1,000 philanthropic organizations, announced new leadership to its Board of Directors, as well as several new members. Javier Alberto Soto, President and CEO of The Miami Foundation, has begun a two-year term as the Board’s Chair and Jamie…

Council on Foundations Statement Regarding White House Tax Cut Statement

Today, the Council on Foundations released the following statement from President and CEO Vikki Spruill: “Today’s White House statement on its tax reform position clarifies the first step in what will be a long process towards meaningful tax reform. We are especially pleased to see the White…

Council on Foundations Kicks off 2017 Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas

The Council on Foundations opened its Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, this week with a special address from President George W. Bush. He talked about the current work of the George W. Bush Institute and its Military Service Initiative, which ensures post-9/11 veterans and their families…

HUD and Council on Foundations Announce Winners of 2017 Secretary's Award

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Council on Foundations (COF) today announced the winners of the 2017 HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. The awards were presented at the Council on Foundations Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, earlier…

Philanthropy's Role in Bridging Divides through Civil Discourse and Shared Dialogue

  Thank you Sherry for that introduction. Sherry is our outgoing Board Chair and has done a remarkable job during her tenure with the Council’s Board. She recently wrote a moving piece that you may have seen on what the Council means to her, and how the Council is and I quote, “the one entity…

Washington Snapshot - April 20, 2017

We will be taking a break from sending Snapshot next week due to our Annual Conference, but will resume sending on May 4. We look forward to seeing those of you who will be joining us in Dallas! In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: Debate continues as charitable issues receive…

How Essential is Broadband in Your Community?

Role of community foundations and free resources to help Broadband is essential for communities – it can mean more robust economic development, more access to health care, stronger and more diverse educational options, and enhanced public safety. Because every community has different needs and…

Legal Matters for Community Foundations

Workshop for the Carolinas, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Region Led by Suzanne Friday, Counsel for the Council on Foundations, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. Suzanne…

Washington Snapshot - April 13, 2017

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: Congress may be in recess this week, but tax reform is still the talk of the town Congress Adjourns for Recess Without Clear Strategy on Spending Legislation Gorsuch Swearing In Returns SCOTUS to Full Capacity White House Lifts Hiring…

Starting a Foundation: Formation and Considerations

Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
Many people want to start foundations, but few start out knowing exactly what sort of organization they are going to create. The purpose of this e-book is to help potential donors understand the many different entities that are commonly referred to as foundations and to provide an understanding of…
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