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. 

PhilEx Live: Foundation Podcasts Lessons Learned

Join peers from across the country in a discussion focused on: Why did your foundation choose to launch a podcast?  What are some tactics a foundation can use to grow its podcast audience? How does your team select podcast interviewees and how often do you release new episodes? What…

Leading Locally 2023

The Conference Leading Locally was an informative, engaging, and energizing event where attendees developed practical skills and connected with peers on the issues that matter to our work. Here's a look back at some exciting moments from our time together. Conference Photos Leading Locally…

Public Policy Action Network - November 2022 Meeting

The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive. Policymakers depend on the voices and…

Public Policy Action Network - October 2022 Meeting

The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive. Policymakers depend on the voices and…

Public Policy Action Network - September 2022 Meeting

The Council’s Public Policy Action Network is a members-only group of foundation leaders committing their voices, experiences, and networks to engage and educate federal elected officials to foster a policy environment in which philanthropy can thrive. Policymakers depend on the voices and…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - September 2022

Partners in Philanthropy: Engaging with Donors Join this interactive and informal virtual-meet up for all community foundation staff who are philanthropic advisors or involved in donor stewardship. This peer-led conversation will be a time to connect with peers across the nation and share…

Philanthropy's Response to Jackson Water Crisis

Overview Heavy rain led to severe flooding in Jackson, Mississippi, which resulted in the damage of a major water treatment plant. The city's pipes are running dry or likely chemically contaminated, leaving thousands of residents without clean tap water. Jackson had already been under a…

Philanthropy's Role in Realizing the Localization Agenda

  After the outbreak of COVID-19, philanthropic organizations across the world committed to increased flexibility and trust with nonprofit partners. With new data showing only a 1 percentage point increase in US foundation grants going directly to organizations in other countries since…

Philanthropy's Response to Pakistan Floods

Overview As of late August 2022, Pakistan has been hit with monsoon rains leading to flooding and landslides that have killed over 1,000 people and impacted millions. Thousands of livestock have been killed as well, a critical source of sustenance and income generation for many families. Over…

2021 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. The 2021 CCSF studies 231 private and community foundations that represent $119.7 billion in assets. Topics covered include: Returns and Investment Objectives Asset…

Webinar Recording: Rules of Advocacy and Lobbying for Grantmakers

  It is easy to get hung up on what you think you cannot do when engaging with policymakers. The good news is, you can do more than you may think! Though the law varies among different types of foundations, all foundation types can engage in advocacy! The Council on Foundations Legal…

Rules of Advocacy and Lobbying for Grantmakers

Recording
Members, access for free Nonmembers, purchase in store It is easy to get hung up on what you think you cannot do when engaging with policymakers. The good news is, you can do more than you may think! Though the law varies among different types of foundations, all foundation types can engage in…

Career Pathways Alumni Spotlight: Exploring Knowledge Work in Today’s Philanthropy

  Career Pathways is the Council on Foundation’s executive leadership development program with a primary goal to promote diversity among decision makers in the field. The Career Pathways Alumni network is composed of stellar executive leaders committed to advancing equity in the sector. This…

Community Philanthropy Update - August 2022

body { margin: 0; padding: 0; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: 'Azo Sans', Arial, sans-serif; } table, td { border-collapse: collapse; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; } img…

Career Pathways 2023 Program Information - October Office Hours

Join us for the 2023 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours and get answers to any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.! The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse…

Career Pathways 2023 Program Information - September Office Hours

Join us for the 2023 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours and get answers to any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.! The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse…
Subscribe to Community Foundations