- About
-
Resources
-
Peer Communities
Get StartedPhilanthropy Exchange Basics
Learn how to get started on the exchange and the basics of posting.
-
Advocacy
-
Programs
-
Events
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.
In Hilton Head, One Foundation Is Working to Provide Public Sewer to Homes
Editor’s Note: This blog post spotlights Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, which was one of 10 recipients of the 2017 HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. The awards are a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Council on…
Washington Snapshot - May 25, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Ways and Means holds tax reform hearing, tension builds around border adjustment idea
New research estimates sharp decrease in giving under proposed tax code changes
Trump administration releases FY 2018 budget
In the States: New York nonprofit contractors…
Global Philanthropy Update - May 2017
Council staff are back in D.C. after a whirlwind Annual Conference in Dallas last month, where we were joined by more than 1000 attendees from around the world. You can see conference highlights at cof.org/2017annual. Thank you to all of our global speakers and especially to our global conference…
Washington Snapshot - May 18, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Tax Reform Update: Ways and Means Committee holds hearings, Senate gears up for tax reform
Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy named
Hearing on IRS reform scheduled for tomorrow
In the States: state budgets passing but on shaky footing; Mainers seek block grant…
Career Pathways: Reflections on #COFAnnual
Three years ago, I met Charles Story at the Grants Managers Network annual conference in San Diego. He was a featured panelist on a session about Extreme Management — successfully leading teams in constantly changing organizational environments. I was so impressed with his insights that we would…
Washington Snapshot - May 11, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Tax Reform Update: Health care legislation passed the House — so what now for tax reform?
Private foundation excise tax simplification bill introduced in House
House Set to Hold Hearings on Tax Reform and IRS Reform
FBI Director, Census Director Are Out…
2016 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report: Administrative and Program Expense Tables
Publication, Research
The 2016 Administrative and Program Expense Tables provide foundations with tools to benchmark their expenses – charitable administrative, program service, and qualifying distributions – against peers in the field. Containing data collected through the Council’s 2016 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits…
Community Philanthropy Update — May 2017
April came and went, and it packed a punch.
I am grateful for the 200 community foundation (CF) leaders who joined over 1,000 philanthropic leaders in Dallas, Texas, for the 2017 Annual Conference. Please take a look at the highlight videos, which feature many examples of the type of thoughtful,…
Washington Snapshot - May 4, 2017
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
BREAKING: House holding Johnson Amendment hearing today, President Trump signs EO
Tax Reform Update: White House releases tax plan, Congress continues toward health care and tax reform bills
Congress averts a government shutdown
President Trump’s first 100…
Council on Foundations Announces New Leadership in Its Board of Directors
Today, the Council on Foundations, which represents nearly 1,000 philanthropic organizations, announced new leadership to its Board of Directors, as well as several new members.
Javier Alberto Soto, President and CEO of The Miami Foundation, has begun a two-year term as the Board’s Chair and Jamie…
Council on Foundations Statement Regarding White House Tax Cut Statement
Today, the Council on Foundations released the following statement from President and CEO Vikki Spruill:
“Today’s White House statement on its tax reform position clarifies the first step in what will be a long process towards meaningful tax reform. We are especially pleased to see the White House…
Council on Foundations Kicks off 2017 Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas
The Council on Foundations opened its Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, this week with a special address from President George W. Bush. He talked about the current work of the George W. Bush Institute and its Military Service Initiative, which ensures post-9/11 veterans and their families make…
HUD and Council on Foundations Announce Winners of 2017 Secretary's Award
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Council on Foundations (COF) today announced the winners of the 2017 HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.
The awards were presented at the Council on Foundations Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, earlier…
Philanthropy's Role in Bridging Divides through Civil Discourse and Shared Dialogue
Thank you Sherry for that introduction. Sherry is our outgoing Board Chair and has done a remarkable job during her tenure with the Council’s Board. She recently wrote a moving piece that you may have seen on what the Council means to her, and how the Council is and I quote, “the one entity that…
Washington Snapshot - April 20, 2017
We will be taking a break from sending Snapshot next week due to our Annual Conference, but will resume sending on May 4. We look forward to seeing those of you who will be joining us in Dallas!
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot…
Tax Reform Update: Debate continues as charitable issues receive…
How Essential is Broadband in Your Community?
Role of community foundations and free resources to help
Broadband is essential for communities – it can mean more robust economic development, more access to health care, stronger and more diverse educational options, and enhanced public safety.
Because every community has different needs and…
Pagination
- First page
- Previous page
- …
- 91
- 92
- 93
- …
- Next page
- Last page