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. 

Nusenda Foundation To Receive 2018 Wilmer Shields Rich Award for Excellence in Communications

The Council on Foundations today announced that it will present the Nusenda Credit Union Foundation with its 2018 Wilmer Shields Rich Award for Excellence in Communications. Nusenda Executive Director Robin Brulé and members of her team will receive the award at the Council’s Member Meeting and…

Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s Brennan Gould to Receive 2018 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking

The Council on Foundations today announced that Brennan Gould, president and CEO of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, will receive its Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking for an innovative grantmaking initiative created in response to the deadly racial riots that rocked…

Global Philanthropy Update - September 2018

September is a month of global conversations and events for the development community. As important actors in the global movement to achieve the ambitious targets within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, foundations play a vital role in this community. Earlier this month, foundation…

Washington Snapshot: We Need Your Input on UBIT, Appropriations Update

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… We Need Your Input on UBIT! Appropriations Update Rettig Takes Over as New IRS Commissioner 2018 Elections: Attorneys General 2018 Ballot Measures of Interest We Need Your Input on UBIT! Many foundations and other charitable organizations are going to face…

2018 Member Meeting and Council on Foundations Awards Ceremony

The Council on Foundations Awards Program was established to recognize excellence in philanthropy and honor exemplary leaders for their dedication to exploring creative ways to advance the common good. This year’s ceremony, held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on November 28, 2018,…

Opportunity Zones: Can Foundations Help Communities Get Ready?

View the Slides With the passage of last year’s tax code overhaul, Congress created Opportunity Zones—areas in low-income census tracks designated by governors, where private equity investors can invest capital gains in new development ventures in exchange for tax forgiveness after 10 years.…

National Standards Conference Call

The purpose of this monthly call is to offer community foundation staff a venue to voice questions or concerns related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program. Additionally, this call provides an opportunity for…

National Standards Conference Call

The purpose of this monthly call is to offer community foundation staff a venue to voice questions or concerns related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program. Additionally, this call provides an opportunity for…

Hurricane Florence: What's Next?

Revisit this co-hosted Webinar to hear perspectives directly from the front lines of disaster impacted areas. The devastation of Hurricane Florence has wide-reaching impacts that will require strategic, long-term investments. The Council co-sponsored this webinar on Tuesday, September 18, with…

What to Watch at UN General Assembly 2018

This month, thousands of representatives from governments, civil society, and the corporate sector will come together in New York for the 73rd annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Alongside the high-level conversations  within the UN, hundreds of side-events will address the world’s…

Veteran's Philanthropy Exchange: Successes and Challenges in Veterans Transition

This is a funders-only meeting to share what funders have learned from their investments in veterans transition and the continuing challenges veterans and their families face as they return to civilian life after military service. Panelists and attendees will share data and metrics, grantmaking…

Community Philanthropy Update - September 2018

During my tenure at the Council, I've seen how often community foundations are on the front lines in countless disasters. But no community is alone in their moment of crisis. The Council can connect you quickly to a global network of colleagues, < a href="https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-…

Creating Inclusive Economic Prosperity Starts with Each of Us

Earlier this week, there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to my desk.  It was from the Community Foundation team to mark a milestone in my life—and my family’s life. We moved to the Quad Cities four years ago and I began working with an incredible group of people—board members and…

Washington Snapshot: House Republicans Push Tax Cuts 2.0, Rettig Confirmation Expected

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Tax Cuts 2.0 Plan is Unveiled Rettig Expected to Be Confirmed Amid Other Pending Priorities Primary Elections Held in New Hampshire State Tax Revenues Vary Due to Federal Tax Law Changes News from the Hill Tax Cuts 2.0 Plan is Unveiled On Monday, the…

Hurricane Florence

Disaster Overview Hurricane Florence made landfall along the coast of the Carolinas on Thursday September 13, leading to catastrophic inland rainfall, flooding, life-threatening storm surges and destructive winds.  As more becomes known about the impacts of the storm, this page will be…

Washington Snapshot: Tax Reform 2.0 to be Unveiled, Primary Upset in Massachusetts

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… An Update on Tax Reform 2.0 Kyl to Fill Vacant Arizona Senate Seat Left by McCain Rocky start for Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings Federal Reserve Board Releases New Publication Primary Upset in Massachusetts SALT Workaround Proposed Regulations Cause…
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