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. 

Washington Snapshot: House Passed H.R. 7010 That Would Relax Restrictions on the Paycheck Protection Program

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond:Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations:COVID-19 Resource Hub List of COVID-19 Response Funds Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus Legislation Guide In This Week's…

How Foundations Are Shaping Policy During COVID-19

  The philanthropic sector’s ability to influence public policy has been a pathway to significant social change in the United States. Using the current global crisis as a backdrop, this session will focus on a discussion of policy engagement through a health policy lens. Featuring…

Washington Snapshot: White House Officials Expected to Release Ideas Aimed at Helping the Recovery in Distressed Areas

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub List of COVID-19 Response Funds Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus…

Community Foundation CEO Virtual Roundtable

  In partnership with Join the Council and CEONet as we reconvene CEOs and Executive Directors of community foundations for our third virtual roundtable. This virtual offering supports the continued efforts of the field to respond and adapt to the challenges of COVID-19. Executives…

Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations

Recording
  Over the past weeks, COVID-19 has changed most community foundation's disaster and crisis management plans by the hour. As primary local funders throughout this pandemic, many are launching local response funds, shifting to immediate operational and unrestricted grants, and seeking best…

COVID-19: How Philanthropy Can Stand Up for Vulnerable Populations

View the Recording With COVID-19 there seem to be more questions than answers, particularly for funders who want to respond effectively and efficiently. The Council is a co-sponsor of the COVID-19 webinar series from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), which brings expert panelists together…

Washington Snapshot: The CDC Has Issued Recommendations to Guide Schools, Businesses, and Others Into the Next Phase of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub List of COVID-19 Response Funds Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus…

PhilEx Live: Strategies for Programmatic Changes in Response to COVID-19

Developed out of a trending conversation on the Philanthropy Exchange (PhilEx), the Council invites you to join a peer-led discussion of how community foundations are adapting programmatic strategy to deliver their core mission amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  Join peers from community…

Webinar Recording: Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations - April 30, 2020

  Over the past weeks, COVID-19 has changed most community foundation's disaster and crisis management plans by the hour. As primary local funders throughout this pandemic, many are launching local response funds, shifting to immediate operational and unrestricted grants, and seeking best…

Washington Snapshot: Congress and the White House are Split on the Contents of a Fourth Coronavirus Relief Legislation

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub List of COVID-19 Response Funds Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus…

COVID-19: Place-Based Grantmakers and Investing in Local Communities

View the Recording With COVID-19 there seem to be more questions than answers, particularly for funders who want to respond effectively and efficiently. The Council is a co-sponsor of the COVID-19 webinar series from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), which brings expert panelists…

Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations

Members View Recording Over the past weeks, COVID-19 has changed most community foundation's disaster and crisis management plans by the hour. As primary local funders throughout this pandemic, many are launching local response funds, shifting to immediate operational and unrestricted grants, and…

Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations

Members View Recording Over the past weeks, COVID-19 has changed most community foundation's disaster and crisis management plans by the hour. As primary local funders throughout this pandemic, many are launching local response funds, shifting to immediate operational and unrestricted grants, and…

Community Foundation CEO Virtual Roundtable

  Thank you for joining the Council and CEONet as we reconvened CEOs and Executive Directors of community foundations for a third virtual roundtable in support of the continued efforts by the field to respond and adapt to the challenges of COVID-19. Executives explored in an open format…

Washington Snapshot: The Battle Lines are Firming Up about the Fourth Coronavirus Relief Bill

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub List of COVID-19 Response Funds Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus Legislation Guide…

Advice on Charging Administrative Fees During a Crisis

Community foundations often feel like waiving administrative fees is the right thing to do during a disaster or crisis. Or you may feel your community expects you to waive such fees. And yet waiving administrative fees is almost always a bad business decision. This is especially true when a global…
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