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. 

Information on Hate Groups — Values-Aligned Philanthropy

External Resource
United States Anti-Defamation League HEAT (Hate, Extremism, Anti-Semitism, Terrorism) Map Center for American Progress Infographic on Islamophobia Network Horizon Forum Media Matters for America Southern Poverty Law Center List of U.S. hate groups Southern Poverty Law Center…

Organizational Resources on Values-Aligned Philanthropy

External Resource
Amalgamated Foundation 'Hate is Not Charitable' Campaign: Sign-On Campaign for Foundations and Organizations to Pledge to End Hate Funding Anti-Defamation League and Charles Koch Institute Report: Communities Overcoming Extremism — the After Charlottesville Project Color Of Change Is Attacking…

2021 Annual Member Meeting

Thank you to all who joined us for the Council's Annual Member Meeting. The virtual Member Meeting included: Keynote remarks from Tara McKenzie Sandercock of the Greensboro Community Foundation, winner of the Distinguished Service Award Remarks and updates from the Board regarding our…

Horizon Forum: The Hate Speech Debate: Implications for the Philanthropic Community

This series, The Hate Speech Debate: Implications for the Philanthropic and Grantmaking Community, is the product of a Horizon Forum convening which gathered a group of nearly 30 stakeholders across community foundations, government, and academia in early March 2021 to advance the national…

Anti-Defamation League: Extremist and Hate Groups May be Abusing NonProfit Status

The ADL Center on Extremism (COE) is one of the world’s foremost authorities on extremism, terrorism, antisemitism and all forms of hate. For decades, COE’s staff of seasoned investigators, analysts and researchers have tracked extremist activity and hate in the U.S. and abroad — online and on the…

Reports on Values-Aligned Philanthropy

External Resource
Anti-Defamation League: Extremist and Hate Groups May be Abusing NonProfit Status Anti-Defamation League: Funding Hate — How White Supremacists Raise Their Money Horizon Forum: The Hate Speech Debate: Implications for the Philanthropic Community SPLC: Bankrolling Bigotry: An Overview of the…

Council on Foundations: Guidance for U.S. Community Foundations on Hate Screening as an Institution and Sponsoring Entity of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

There is a mounting shift in the environment and climate in which we find ourselves operating as  grantmakers of broad-based donors and divergent community values. The critique is more poignant  with vocal opposition that blurs the lines between supporting opposing viewpoints in the…

Community Foundation of the Ozarks Sample Full DAF Policy and Procedures

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks seeks to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in the region and works from the knowledge and experience that we are better together. We  believe a region that welcomes and engages all will be better able to meet challenges and opportunities for…

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Anti-Hate Policy

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation (“GMF”) is committed to a diverse workforce in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. GMF believes that a diverse workforce helps the  organization and its employees realize their full potential. Recognizing and developing the talents of…

The Cleveland Foundation Anti-Hate Policy Change for Grants from Donor Advised Funds

In 2019, a national conversation began over grants from donor-advised funds (DAFs) to organizations that were engaged in “hateful activity.” The catalyst for these conversations was a report released in February of 2019 by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR looked at the money…

Minnesota and St. Paul Foundation Statement and Explanation of Southern Poverty Law Center Screener Criteria

The following talking points are to address any questions we receive about the decision to use the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hate Map as a screener for our grantmaking.

Minnesota and St. Paul Foundation Model for Community Change

Minnesota and St. Paul Foundation Model for Community Change

Gill Foundation Nondiscrimination Policy Requirement

All proposals to the Gill Foundation must include a board approved copy of the organization’s employment nondiscrimination policy which expressly includes “sexual orientation” and “gender expression” or “gender identity” as protected classes.

Opinion: How Philanthropy Can Curb the Rise of Hate: Count It, Condemn it, Confront It

For those monitoring the impact of extremism, hate and political polarization on societies around the world, the United States is now just another case study in conflict and fragility.  The massacre of 50 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand, shook the small nation to its core — as…

Tax Policy Center: Balancing Hate, The First Amendment, And Tax-Exempt Status

Is hate speech constitutionally protected? Do groups that express hate in their words and deeds deserve tax-exempt status? Is the IRS equipped to judge what is hate and what is merely odious? Does it even matter? The House Ways & Means Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing on this…

Color Of Change Is Attacking Hate Groups At The Source: Their Funding

The top 20 widely recognized hate groups received over $20 million in contributions, sales, and grants in 2014 and 2015. The nonprofit wants to stop credit companies from processing those payments.
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