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Get StartedPhilanthropy Exchange Basics
Learn how to get started on the exchange and the basics of posting.
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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.
Getting Started Grantmaking in India
Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in India, we have identified:
Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks
Key local legal contacts
U.S. foundations with local offices
National regulations to note
Local community…
Kenya: Data Strategy and Capacity Building
This report from Foundation Center highlights the key findings and outcomes from a workshop on data strategy and capacity building in Kenya.
Corporate Philanthropy in Kenya: A Report on Nature, Trends, and Engagements by Corporates in Philanthropy
A summary of key findings from the Yetu Initiative on corporate philanthropy in Kenya.
Bringing Foundations and Governments Closer: Evidence from Kenya
This study from The Development Center of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provides an overview of the current state of collaboration between foundations and the government in Kenya, and offers recommendations for enhancement.
Getting Started with Grantmaking in France
Getting Started is a new members-only resource within Country Notes. To help connect you with others working in France, we have identified:
Local nonprofit and philanthropic networks
Key local legal contacts
Council members in France
Local community foundations
You may also…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - Richmond, VA
Led by Suzanne Friday, Counsel for the Council on Foundations and Ben McDearmon, Law Clerk, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. This workshop will provide technical and…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - Oklahoma City, OK
Led by Suzanne Friday, Counsel for the Council on Foundations and Brad Ward, Director of Community Philanthropy, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. Suzanne will provide…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - Phoenix, AZ
Led by Suzanne Friday, Counsel for the Council on Foundations and Brad Ward, Director of Community Philanthropy, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. Suzanne will provide…
Philanthropy in India
This report from Alliance magazine, WINGS, the Centre for Social Impact Philanthropy, and Ashoka University presents the culture and trends of philanthropy in India and the role of foundations in managing charitable giving.
India Philanthropy Report 2018: Understanding Tomorrow's Strategic Givers
This report from Dasra explores strategic giving in India by examining how philanthropists can increase the impact of their giving.
Strengthening Philanthropic Giving and Impact Investing in India
This study from Intellecap and the MacArthur Foundation examines the emerging areas of philanthropic giving and impact investing in India as instruments of the country's development.
The Role of Foundations in Public Debates in Germany
This article explores the history of foundations in Germany and assesses their public role, both as contributors of arguments and policy papers, and as objects of public debate.
Philanthropic Journalism Funding in Germany
This report from the Journalism Funders Forum analyzes and summarizes grantmaking to German journalism and media outlets.
A Paradigm Change: The Case for Private Philanthropy in the Arts in Germany, the Netherlands, and France
A report on the need to increase private philanthropy for the arts and humanities in Germany, the Netherlands, and France after recent cuts in government subsidies.
Philanthropic Journalism Funding in France
This report from the Journalism Funders Forum analyzes and summarizes grantmaking to French journalism and media outlets.
Chinese and Chinese-American Philanthropy
This report, authored by the Global Chinese Philanthropy Initiative, examines the giving patterns of Chinese and Chinese American philanthropists to examine what motivates them and what barriers exist to strengthening giving.
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