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. 

Words Matter: Getting Your Communications Ready for #CFWeek

Members, View the Recording With Community Foundation Week (#CFWeek) just days away, this midday webinar is the perfect time to brush up on communications tips around pitching press releases, creating marketing email campaigns that click with your audience, navigating social media (including #…

Don't Be Caught Off-Guard This Tax Season: A Guide for Navigating the New UBIT Rules

Members, View the Recording Does your organization provide parking/transportation benefits to employees or do you already file the Form 990-T? If you answered yes to either of those questions, your organization will owe taxes for 2018 and the filing process is going to be different than it was last…

Washington Snapshot: Wyden and Tester Continue Fight to Overturn Schedule B Decision; What Happens with Tax Policy After the Midterms?

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Potential Tax Policy Action During Lame-Duck Session? Tester, Wyden Still Fighting to Overturn Schedule B Decision High-Profile Debates in Texas and Ohio, and Election Registration Controversy in Georgia 2018 Ballot Measures on the Nonprofit Radar News…

What the 2018 Midterm Outcomes Mean for the 116th Congress

Members, View the Recording Once the 2018 midterm elections are in the rear-view mirror, the outlook for the 116th Congress’ legislative agenda is becoming clearer. If Democrats end up with the majority in the House but not the Senate, how will a divided Congress agree on legislative priorities to…

Washington Snapshot: TIGTA Releases New Report on Nonprofit Political Activity, Shake-Ups to Come for Ways and Means Committee

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot... Impending Shake-Up on Ways and Means Committee Senate Turns to Other Business Now that Kavanaugh is Confirmed TIGTA Releases Audit of Impermissible Political Activity by 501(c)(4) Organizations Groups Seek to Preserve State Tax Credits as Charitable…

Rockefeller Brothers Fund President Stephen Heintz to Receive Philanthropy’s Highest Honor

The Council on Foundations today announced that Stephen Heintz, President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, will receive the Distinguished Service Award at its upcoming Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC. The Award is philanthropy’s highest honor and celebrates a visionary leader who embodies the…

Hurricane Michael

Disaster Overview Hurricane Michael made landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm that resulted in dangerous storm surge flooding, destructive winds of more than 150 mph and flooding rainfall. As it moved inland, Michael also brought heavy rain and strong winds to other parts of the…

Washington Snapshot: Tax Cuts 2.0 Expected to Stall in Senate, Congress Punts Spending Fight to December

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… “Tax Cuts 2.0” Passes House, Expected to Stall in Senate Government Shutdown Averted, December Vote Looms Tax Writers Remain Hopeful That IRS Reform Will Happen Before Year’s End Rettig Officially Sworn In to Become IRS Commissioner Sen. Scott Sends Letter…

Washington Snapshot: House to Vote on Tax Cuts 2.0, Senators Pushing for a Vote on IRS Donor Disclosure

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot... House to Vote on Tax Cuts 2.0 Senators Pushing for a Vote on IRS Donor Disclosure Rettig Swearing-In Expected for Next Week States Acting Quickly in Aftermath of Hurricane Florence News from the Hill House to Vote on Tax Cuts 2.0 Yesterday, the House…

California College Pathways: A Case Study on How Strategic Philanthropy Leads to Systematic Change

  The Excellence in Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Exchange (Exchange) hosted a webinar featuring the California College Pathways (CCP) Project, which received the 2018 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. This…

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Miami, FL

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…

Spurring Opportunity: Entrepreneurship and Community Foundations

Members, View the Recording Community Foundations are part of the fabric for creating vibrant communities across the United States. They cultivate relationships by connecting people to what matters locally. Given that past work, never has there been a better time for community foundations to play a…

Career Pathways Leadership Development: Conversations with Alumni

As the 2018 Career Pathways cohort approaches their final learning session in November, the Council on Foundations is eagerly preparing for the 2019 program.  We are anticipating a transformative year with a new group of powerful, dynamic, and talented leaders that are ready to hone their…

Leading Together 2019 Conference - Bridging Divides

Philanthropy is an important bridge within societies. In today’s world of growing nationalism and division, it has an even more critical role to play. We see funders of all types and sizes working across divides to drive social change, from strengthening democracy and civic engagement…

Leading Together 2019 Conference - Inclusive Economic Prosperity

The economy is rapidly changing. The public and private sectors, anchor institutions, and philanthropy play a vital role in strengthening local economies, and if knitted together, can serve as powerful drivers for building inclusive economic opportunities, ensuring further democratizing of…

Leading Together 2019 Conference - Climate Impact & Vulnerabilities

Throughout history, from the Green Revolution to the proliferation of renewable energy at local levels today, foundations have catalyzed action that helps communities adapt to changing ecosystems. Today, major environmental grantmakers are calling for increased investment in climate…
Subscribe to Community Foundations