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. 

Philanthropic Leaders Converge on Capitol Hill to Shine Spotlight on Veterans Health Issues

The Council on Foundations’ Veterans Philanthropy Exchange hosted a congressional briefing to highlight work underway in veterans’ healthcare and mental health services for transitioning veterans. The briefing, which included leaders from Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Robert R. McCormick…

Community Philanthropy Update—March 2018

As you read this, I’ve landed on the beautiful island of St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, to engage with community foundations, our federal partners, FEMA, and other associations to discuss how philanthropy helps this U.S. territory, as well as Puerto Rico, continue its recovery from the…

Washington Snapshot: Congress Continues Budget Discussions, Council Submits DAF Comments

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Budget Conversations Continue on Capitol Hill Council and ICNL Hold Congressional Briefing on FARA Council Submits Comments to Treasury/IRS on DAF Situations POTUS Nominates IRS Chief Counsel White House Chief Economic Advisor Resigns In the States: SALT…

Looking Back at Mexico City—Reflections and Ways Forward

The first-ever North American Community Foundations Summit was held in Mexico City on February 5-6 and was co-hosted with Comunalia, Community Foundations of Canada. With over 200 attendees, the Summit focused on achieving the SDGs and included discussions about reducing poverty, building resilient…

Council Comments on Treasury/IRS DAF Notice 2017-73

The Council on Foundations wrote, on behalf of our members, to the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in response to Notice 2017-73—which was released on Dec. 4, 2017, and requested comments on the application of penalties with respect to donor advised…

2018 Endowments & Finance Summit

  Access Endowments and Finance Summit Resources   The Endowments & Finance Summit, the leading forum at the nexus of philanthropy, finance, investment, and policy is where C-Suite foundation leaders go to explore the shifting forces in the investment landscape; gain invaluable…

Schedule

Thursday, September 6 8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Networking Breakfast 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Opening Plenary - Harnessing the Momentum, Finding Opportunities, Building Stronger Futures 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Concurrent Sessions Educating Your Board: The Rise of Impact /…

Plenary Sessions

Opening Plenary — Engage, Educate, and Empower: Philanthropy’s Voice in the Public Policy Arena Wednesday, April 11, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. We are in a unique moment in our history. The day’s political debates increasingly divide our country. Philanthropy has a role to play in…

Opportunity Zones - A Value to Your Community?

Fundamentals
What are Opportunity Zones? Created by changes to the tax code in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, Opporunity Zones are state-nominated, economically depressed communities that are in need of new investment. These investments could, under certain circumstances, be eligable for…

International Women's Day: Perspectives in Philanthropy

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The philanthropic sector is especially poised to take on this action. The 2018 theme for International…

Grantmaking Innovation: Using a Competition Model to Fund Bold Ideas

Members, View the Recording Prizes, challenges, and competitions can bring new awareness to critical issues, help grantmakers reach beyond their existing networks, and connect participants with new resources. But they are not easy to do well. Join the Council for a discussion between two…

Washington Snapshot: Ways and Means Holds Budget Markup, Senior IRS Official Resigns

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Ways and Means Committee Adopts FY 2019 Budget Views and Estimates Letter Senior Treasury Official Leaves Agency Amid Tax Reform Implementation In the States: SALT Workaround Bills Advance News from the Hill Ways and Means Committee Adopts FY 2019 Budget…

State Level SALT Work-Arounds: What Do They Mean for Philanthropy?

Members, View the Recording With the passage of tax reform and the repeal of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, a handful of high-tax states—such as New Jersey, California, and New York—have been considering proposals to alleviate the new burden their residents will now face. Many…

Webinar: The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and Dangers to US Nonprofits

View the Recording The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is front page news in the wake of Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Since its enactment in 1938, FARA has been rarely enforced, but Congress has recently considering several bills to increase its implementation…

Washington Snapshot: JCT Estimates Number of Itemizers Will Decrease Under New Tax Law

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… JCT Estimates Number of Itemizers Under New Tax Law IRS Issues Guidelines on New Opportunity Zones FEMA Seeks Youths Commerce Releases New Strategic Plan In the States: SALT Workaround Bills Advance News from the Hill JCT Estimates Number of Itemizers…

Federal Budget

The Council provides an analysis of the annual president's budget request and congressional appropriations measures focusing on proposals that may affect foundations and the broad nonprofit sector.  Historically, budget requests put forward by the Administration serve as a messaging…
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