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. 

2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Key Findings

Research
The 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Key Findings is a visual highlight of the trends and changes that are shaping the philanthropic sector. Also available as a free PDF, the 2025 GSB Key Findings is just a small fraction of the expansive dataset available in the 2025 GSB Report, which…

​​Potential Implications of Funding Protest Activities​

Legal Compliance Guidance
Developed for the Council on Foundations by Christopher J. Armstrong, Partner at Holland & Knight  The Current Environment  Foundations are under increasing political scrutiny regarding their relationships with organizations that have engaged in protests, especially in situations…

Washington Snapshot: Government Funding

With less than two weeks left before the government funding deadline, Congress is working to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. Plus, Congressional oversight of nonprofits and funders, hearing on the tax-exempt sector, PSLF comments, trendspotting nonprofit…

Snapshot of Funder Progress on Locally Led Development (Sept. 2025)

Publication, Research
In September 2023, a group of 15 foundations joined 20 bilateral donors in signing a Donor Statement committing to advancing locally led development. After recent global shifts in foreign assistance and the dismantling of USAID, the Council on Foundations wanted to understand how philanthropy has…

Communicating Across Divides: A Facilitation Intensive

Join Resetting the Table (RTT) and the Council on Foundations for a training that offers a comprehensive framework for facilitating courageous and constructive communication across lines of difference. Through this intensive training, philanthropic leaders will build advanced facilitation skills…

HR Philanthropy Collaborative - October 2025

This is a peer-led space designed to connect you with human resources leaders at foundations across the country. The group will build meaningful relationships, share resources, and provide a consistent opportunity to engage in collaborative troubleshooting in a trusted environment. Meeting every…

Washington Snapshot: Fall Congressional preview

Earlier this week, Congress returned to Washington and will begin to tackle some of the major legislative issues on its agenda for the fall. Plus, public service loan forgiveness, executive orders on grantmaking, guidelines on federal funding, spring regulatory agenda, and more.

Scholarships Exchange: Peer Event

During a moment in which many in the field have questions concerning the operation of their scholarship programs, this new virtual peer-led space for you to explore the unique challenges of scholarship work, how others are navigating the current environment while ensuring that they continue to meet…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - December 2025

Topic: Fueling Your Foundation: Strategies for Unrestricted Funds and Growing Impact  Join fellow donor service professionals for a practical and engaging discussion on securing operating support and expanding field of interest funds. We’ll share strategies for raising unrestricted dollars,…

Foundations’ Endowed Portfolios Produced Double-Digit Investment Returns in 2024; Long-Term Return Data Also Positive

WASHINGTON - In the volatile but ultimately supportive market environment of 2024, average annual returns on foundation endowments landed in double-digit positive territory from the previous year for the 255 foundations surveyed in the annual Council on Foundations–Commonfund Study of…

Community Philanthropy Update - August 2025

A new Community Foundation Legal Support Fund provides funding to support responding to litigation, audits, or investigations.

Actions Upon Potential Arrest of a Senior Leader at a Community Foundation 

Legal Compliance Guidance
Developed for the Council on Foundations by Christopher J. Armstrong, Partner at Holland & Knight  In the event that a senior leader of a community foundation or similar organization is arrested at a First Amendment protected protest, preparing for an immediate response is essential to…

2024 Council on Foundations - Commonfund Study of Investment of Endowments for Private and Community Foundations (CCSF)

Publication, Research
The CCSF Study is the field’s most comprehensive and authoritative study on investment and governance policies and practices, and the 2024 CCSF studies 255 private and community foundations representing $104.9 billion in assets. Topics covered include: Returns and Investment Objectives Asset…

2025 Annual Member Meeting

Join us for the Council's Annual Member Meeting! The virtual Member Meeting will include: A vote to approve the nominations of new members for the Board of Directors Reports on Council's annual financials and membership milestones A State of the Council address from Kathleen Enright,…

Council & CEONet | Community Foundation CEO Roundtable - September 2025

Federal Policy Updates Join fellow community foundation CEOs for a dynamic and insightful roundtable focused on the latest federal policy developments and its potential implications for philanthropy. This conversation will provide critical updates, offer space for peer exchange, and explore…

2025 UN General Assembly Philanthropic Side-Events

Saturday, September 20, 2025 PVBLIC Foundation's Partnership Day September 20 | In-Person Philanthropies Represented: PVBLIC Foundation  Learn More  Sunday, September 21, 2025 Unstoppable Africa September 21 - 22 | 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET | In-Person Organizations…
Subscribe to Community Foundations