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FEATURED EVENT
Practice and Purpose of Policy
A Training for Community Foundation Leaders
July 30 and August 6, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Virtual
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.
The Value of Learning from the World
What do you do when you have a difficult and complex problem? If you’re like me, you start by trying to understand it. You think the problem through from all angles, looking at the data, talking to people in your community. You study the problem, inside out.
Now, what do you do when you're looking…
Reimagining the Council on Foundations: A Member Visioning Session with Kathleen Enright
What is the highest and best role for philanthropy? And how can the Council support our members and the field to reach our potential and address the most pressing issues of our time? Join Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of The Council on Foundations, for an interactive visioning session to…
Out @ COF: LGBTQ Funders Reception
Are you a grantmaker committed to LGBTQ issues? Did you know in 2017, grantmaking by U.S. foundations in support of organizations and programs addressing LGBTQ issues totaled $185.7 million, and the South became the most funded region with more than $22 million in funding, occupying the top…
Washington Snapshot: Possible Retirement Overhaul, Bill to Redesign the IRS Clears Committee
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot...
Preserve Charities and Houses of Worship Act Introduced
Request for Information on Opportunity Zones Regulations
At-Risk Community Index for 2020 Census
States Continue Enacting Targeted Tax Credits
The Council Hosted Public Policy Preconference in Miami
On…
Reimagining Council Membership: What We've Learned So Far
Last month, we announced our work to Reimagine Council Membership and asked for feedback as we review Council membership and dues.
More than 400 individuals – representing grantmaking organizations of different types, sizes, geographies, and member status – responded to our survey and shared ideas…
Keeping the Light of Philanthropy Shining: Puerto Rico Community Foundation Reception
After Hurricane María’s devastating impact on the island, the network of community foundations in the US were the first to mobilize resources. This solidarity action allowed the Puerto Rico Community Foundation (PRCF) to provide immediate relief grants and supplies to community first…
Community Foundation Scholarship Programs: From A to Z
Recording
In this month’s “Lunch with Legal Counsel” webinar, Ben McDearmon, Law Clerk and Legal Administrator with the Council, continues our March scholarship series after our discussion earlier in the month on Post-Graduation Scholarships. Ben guides attendees on an exploration of topics around…
Town Hall: Philanthropy Bridging Divides
No matter our political persuasion, most of us can agree that America is a divided nation. Elected officials, political parties and the media often fan the flames of division, leaving our nation more angry and our citizens more isolated from each other. What is the role of our sector during these…
National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Breakfast Roundtable
Positive changes are coming to the National Standards program! Please join members of the Community Foundations National Standards Board, the National Standards Legal Director and the National Standards Managing Director for an informal breakfast discussion about this valuable program and what you…
Continued Learning: Trends in Professional Development for Community Foundations
Are you curious about where you and your staff of community foundation professionals can develop the latest core competencies required to administrate, lead, and advance your community foundation?
Join Council staff Brad Ward and Daniela Rodriguez-Ranf, as well as Judy Sjostedt, faculty…
2019 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey Demo
Interested in the Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report? Join Council staff for a demonstration of the survey process and learn how you can participate in this important resource for the field.
Big Data for Proactive Philanthropy
Urban Institute will feature three cases of innovative tools designed to make big data more easily accessible to decision makers: 1) Public Good Projects' Social Media data tool for the Opioid Crisis; 2) Urban Institute Education Data Portal; and National Center on Charitable…
PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson's Disease
Genetic information is a powerful tool used to help us uncover key mechanisms responsible for slowing or stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease, ultimately improving care and speeding development of new treatments. Join Parkinson’s Foundation’s Chief Scientific Officer…
The New Balance: Philanthropy, Power, and Possibility
Experience an art-filled interactive discussion around our new research series on changing practices and structures in response to shifting notions of power in philanthropy. We will share early research results on questions like: What practices help to ensure equitable grantmaking outcomes? What…
Best Practices in Charity Due Diligence
Getting to know and trust a grantee that is thousands of miles away and operates in a foreign legal context can be daunting. Join this session to learn about: understanding what tools you have at your disposal for conducting due diligence on your grantees, identifying any red flags during that due…
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