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. 

2017 Annual Conference - Networking Events

Networking Events #COFAnnual is the place to connect with leaders in philanthropy, government, and other sectors — and to create future opportunities for collaboration. While every minute at #COFAnnual is an opportunity to network, these events are tailored for you to socialize…

What Happens When the U.S. Sanctions U.S. Charities?

Do you know what happens when the U.S. sanctions U.S. charities? If you answered no, you wouldn’t be alone. It can lead to funds being frozen indefinitely, despite tax rules requiring that they be distributed for charitable purposes when a charity shuts down. Cherie L. Evans of Evans & Rosen…

Washington Snapshot - March 9, 2017

In this Week’s Edition of Snapshot… Council and other foundation leaders meet with Members of Congress Tax Reform Update: Bill to repeal ACA is introduced, tax reform to follow The Council files amicus briefs in recent legal cases In the States: California Speaker establishes select committee…

Keynote Address on Partnerships and the SDGs at Global Partnerships Week 2017

Good afternoon. Thank you, Tomas, for that warm welcome and introduction. I am honored to join all of you today to continue the discussion on how partnerships can help achieve the universal Sustainable Development Goals, and share what I’ve learned about how philanthropy is engaging in this shared…

2017 Pennsylvania Foundations Public Policy Conference: Amplifying the Voice of the Sector

Each year, Pennsylvania’s philanthropic sector invests more than $2.6 billion in grant making in the Commonwealth. Uncertainty about national and State public policies and budget realities will make philanthropy’s investments critically important, especially on behalf of vulnerable populations in…

Collaborate & Innovate: Equalizing the Playing Field of Black Business Ownership in the U.S.

Collaborate & Innovate: Equalizing the Playing Field of Black Business Ownership in the U.S. This event is a preconference session at the 2017 Annual Conference. It is the first in a series of three sessions focused on entrepreneurship within the Black community. With America growing…

A Voice for Philanthropy: What the Council Means to Me

In April, my tenure as chair of the Council on Foundations’ Board of Directors will end, and I will near completion of my board service, a term bounded by two historic presidential elections and begun when our country experienced an economic collapse rivaled only by the 1929 market crash and the…

Webinar Recording: Council Member Update - Spring 2017

 

Washington Snapshot - March 2, 2017

In this Week’s Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: President Trump addresses Congress, Secretary Mnuchin speaks on tax reform, Chairman Brady vows to repeal the Johnson Amendment, and the Council and colleagues speak out in defense of nonpartisanship Legislation to invest in “opportunity…

Here’s the IRS’s Dirty Dozen List of Tax Scams

It’s officially tax season when the IRS releases its Dirty Dozen List of Tax Scams. We know Council members work hard to be on the right side of the law, but the below info from the IRS can be useful to review with board and staff. Don’t forget, if you ever have a question, the Council’s legal team…

2017 Annual Convening of the Veterans Philanthropy Exchange

Launched in 2014, The Veterans Philanthropy Exchange is a learning and sharing forum for philanthropic grantmakers, donors, and corporate giving programs supporting veterans and military family strategies. Join your peers for discussions about funder collaboration and collective action, a…

Community Foundation Business Model Disruption in the 21st Century - Memphis, TN

The Council on Foundations will be joining the AdNet Conference, an affinity group of community foundation advancement officers and development professionals, at their national convening Mar 20-22, 2017 in Memphis, TN. Community Foundation Business Model Disruption in the 21st Century Lunch…

Why Become a National Standards Reviewer? Two Perspectives

Sandi Roehrig, Executive Director, Fond du Lac Area Foundation Many years ago the community foundation executives in Wisconsin met to collectively talk about a growing concern. At the time, any organization could call itself a community foundation, and if their actions gave the term a bad name, we…

Washington Snapshot - February 23, 2017

In this Week’s Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: House Republicans face growing opposition to border adjustability Charitable Giving Coalition Spends Day Fighting for the Charitable Deduction on Capitol Hill IRS makes 1023-EZ data available online In the States: State budgets (in brief…

New Podcast: Philanthropy Hour's Conversation with Vikki Spruill

Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill sat down with Philanthropy Hour’s Greg Cherry for an intimate conversation about the impact and value of American philanthropy and the Council on Foundations' role in advancing the common good. Hear what Vikki considers to be trending in the field, what…

Philanthropy Caucus Reception

Join the Philanthropy Caucus for a social reception to conclude Foundations on the Hill. Network with representatives from a variety of charitable foundations and organizations, lawmakers, and Congressional staff in an event to recognize the role of philanthropy as a unique stakeholder in…
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