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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.
Washington Snapshot: Tax Cuts 2.0 Expected to Stall in Senate, Congress Punts Spending Fight to December
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
“Tax Cuts 2.0” Passes House, Expected to Stall in Senate
Government Shutdown Averted, December Vote Looms
Tax Writers Remain Hopeful That IRS Reform Will Happen Before Year’s End
Rettig Officially Sworn In to Become IRS Commissioner
Sen. Scott Sends Letter to…
Washington Snapshot: House to Vote on Tax Cuts 2.0, Senators Pushing for a Vote on IRS Donor Disclosure
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot...
House to Vote on Tax Cuts 2.0
Senators Pushing for a Vote on IRS Donor Disclosure
Rettig Swearing-In Expected for Next Week
States Acting Quickly in Aftermath of Hurricane Florence
News from the Hill
House to Vote on Tax Cuts 2.0
Yesterday, the House Rules…
California College Pathways: A Case Study on How Strategic Philanthropy Leads to Systematic Change
The Excellence in Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Exchange (Exchange) hosted a webinar featuring the California College Pathways (CCP) Project, which received the 2018 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.
This…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Miami, FL
A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This two-day course helps new and experienced community foundation staff build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management.
Created and led by…
Spurring Opportunity: Entrepreneurship and Community Foundations
Members, View the Recording
Community Foundations are part of the fabric for creating vibrant communities across the United States. They cultivate relationships by connecting people to what matters locally. Given that past work, never has there been a better time for community foundations to play a…
Career Pathways Leadership Development: Conversations with Alumni
As the 2018 Career Pathways cohort approaches their final learning session in November, the Council on Foundations is eagerly preparing for the 2019 program. We are anticipating a transformative year with a new group of powerful, dynamic, and talented leaders that are ready to hone their…
Leading Together 2019 Conference - Philanthropic Practice
Effective philanthropy requires leaders that are well versed in the business model, legal and regulatory framework, and political climate in which grantmaking organizations operate. This philanthropic practice programming will provide attendees with knowledge on both emerging and best…
Leading Together 2019 Conference - Bridging Divides
Philanthropy is an important bridge within societies. In today’s world of growing nationalism and division, it has an even more critical role to play. We see funders of all types and sizes working across divides to drive social change, from strengthening democracy and civic engagement…
Leading Together 2019 Conference - Inclusive Economic Prosperity
The economy is rapidly changing. The public and private sectors, anchor institutions, and philanthropy play a vital role in strengthening local economies, and if knitted together, can serve as powerful drivers for building inclusive economic opportunities, ensuring further democratizing of…
Leading Together 2019 Conference - Climate Impact & Vulnerabilities
Throughout history, from the Green Revolution to the proliferation of renewable energy at local levels today, foundations have catalyzed action that helps communities adapt to changing ecosystems. Today, major environmental grantmakers are calling for increased investment in climate…
Nusenda Foundation To Receive 2018 Wilmer Shields Rich Award for Excellence in Communications
The Council on Foundations today announced that it will present the Nusenda Credit Union Foundation with its 2018 Wilmer Shields Rich Award for Excellence in Communications.
Nusenda Executive Director Robin Brulé and members of her team will receive the award at the Council’s Member Meeting and…
Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s Brennan Gould to Receive 2018 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking
The Council on Foundations today announced that Brennan Gould, president and CEO of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, will receive its Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking for an innovative grantmaking initiative created in response to the deadly racial riots that rocked…
Global Philanthropy Update - September 2018
September is a month of global conversations and events for the development community. As important actors in the global movement to achieve the ambitious targets within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, foundations play a vital role in this community.
Earlier this month, foundation…
Washington Snapshot: We Need Your Input on UBIT, Appropriations Update
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
We Need Your Input on UBIT!
Appropriations Update
Rettig Takes Over as New IRS Commissioner
2018 Elections: Attorneys General
2018 Ballot Measures of Interest
We Need Your Input on UBIT!
Many foundations and other charitable organizations are going to face…
Career Pathways: Supporting Underserved Communities
Editor's note: This is part of our blog series featuring current participants in the Career Pathways program. Applications for the 2019 cohort opened in September 5.
I’ve always cared about social issues. Growing up queer, in a mixed-race household, the daughter of two social workers, gave me a…
2018 Member Meeting and Council on Foundations Awards Ceremony
The Council on Foundations Awards Program was established to recognize excellence in philanthropy and honor exemplary leaders for their dedication to exploring creative ways to advance the common good.
This year’s ceremony, held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on November 28, 2018,…
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