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. 

Leading Together 2019 - All Programming

All Programming

Reflections on Philanthropy

Editor's Note: Stephen Heintz received the 2018 Distinguished Service Award at an awards ceremony on November 28. Below are his remarks on the state of philanthropy from the event.  Thank you. It's customary at a moment like this to profess humility and to note all those who have made…

Mexico: From Prosperity to Purpose - Perspectives on Philanthropy and Social Investment Among Wealthy Individuals in Latin America

This report from the Harvard Kennedy School's Houser Institute for Civil Society examines trends in philanthropy and social investment in Mexico.

Fostering the Grassroots Leadership Capacity of Community

Members, View the Recording Community Foundations around the country recognize that they must deploy capital beyond financial assets to improve their regions. At the same time, our community leadership has grown frustrated by the pace of change. Most of these leaders have come to understand that…

Telling Stories with Data

Members, View the Recording These days, foundations increasingly have access to a treasure trove of data from the work of grantees and from public sources. But rather than share these data in spreadsheet format, it’s advantageous to create graphs, tables, maps, and other visual summaries of…

Updates on Global Giving and Non-Tax US Regulations that Impact Funders

Members, View the Recording Join the Council’s senior counsel Suzanne Friday as she discusses US regulation and compliance issues outside of the U.S. Tax Code that affect global grantmakers. Topics will includes regulations like the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), Foreign Corrupt Practices…

Webinar Recording: Show Me the Money: Fundraising Tips for Community Foundations in the New Political Landscape

Recording
Today’s political climate poses unique challenges for community foundations, particularly as local communities and nonprofits deal with changes in their communities caused by budget cuts across a variety of programs. But the challenges also pose huge opportunities to fine-tune your organization…

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Los Angeles, CA

A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This two-day course helps new and experienced community foundation staff build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management. Created and led by…

Washington Snapshot: Congress Postpones Spending Fight, Honors Former President Bush

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Spending Debate Postponed as Congress Honors Former President George H. W. Bush Bill Including Repeal of New UBIT Provision Pulled from Consideration Michigan Bill Seeks to Obstruct Nonprofit Oversight News from the Hill Spending Debate Postponed as…

Uganda: Data Strategy and Capacity Building

This resource from Foundation Center presents a summary report of a series of workshops on data strategy and capacity building for philanthropy in Uganda.

South Africa 2015 Report

This article from Coutts summarizes key charitable giving data in South Africa.

Doing Good Index 2018: Maximizing Asia's Potential

This report from the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society examines the enabling environments for philanthropy and private social investment in 15 Asian countries.

Getting Started with Grantmaking in Indonesia

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you to others working in Indonesia, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts U.S. foundations with local offices National listing of certified NGOs Local…

Getting Started with Grantmaking in Nigeria

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in Nigeria, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts U.S. foundations with local offices You may also want to reference our…

Getting Started with Grantmaking in China

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in China, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts U.S. foundations with local offices Local community foundations…

Getting Started with Grantmaking in Kenya

Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in Kenya, we have identified: Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks Key local legal contacts U.S. foundations with local offices National listing of certified NGOs Local…
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