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. 

Court Cases That Have Been Decided or Dismissed

Legal Compliance Guidance
The Council is committed to helping our members stay informed about litigation that may have an impact on the philanthropic sector. This page lists cases that we tracked through their conclusion, whether they were decided in court or by settlement. Please see our list of ongoing cases we are…

Bridging Without Breaking: Leadership in Polarizing Times (CEO Only)

Calls to bridge divides often collide with real tensions inside foundations – across boards, donors, DAF holders, staff, and grantees who hold differing political and ideological views. This CEO-only session features foundation CEOs grappling with those realities in real time, sharing how they set…

Strengthening Communities Through Language

Language shapes how communities experience trust, belonging, and collaboration—often in ways we don’t intend. This session is designed for funders interested in strengthening trust, reducing risk, and supporting community problem-solving through more intentional language choices.We’ll explore how…

National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - March 2026

CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program. This event will take place the second Wednesday of…

Legal Basics for Community Foundations - Virtual - June 2026

Training HoursWednesday, June 3, 1-4 p.m. ETThis workshop will include:  An overview of the nonprofit universe including information about including 501(c)(3) organizations and the differences between public charities and private foundations.Introduction to the statues, tax codes, and legal…

Guidance Memorandum for Foundations for Interacting with Immigration Officials on their Property

Legal Compliance Guidance
Prepared by Leon Fresco, Partner at Holland & Knight LLP for the Council on Foundations | Finalized February 2026Download this guidance as a PDF.BackgroundThe purpose of this memo is to provide guidance to foundations for interacting with immigration agents on their property. Although there was…

Communications Toolkit for Working Across Differences

Developed in partnership with Hattaway Communications, this free toolkit draws on our national survey of 1,000 American adults, in-depth one-on-one interviews, and a landscape analysis to reveal how people view work to connect and collaborate across differences and the role that foundations should…

S.3554/H.R.6800 Bill Summary

Summary of H.R.6800/ S.3554 introduced by Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).Current LawIt is a criminal offense to provide “material support or resources” to a foreign terrorist organization. “Material support or resources” includes providing funding,…

Plus Member Peer Connections - March 2026

Technology systems play a critical role in supporting community foundation operations, ensuring data integrity, and enhancing donor services. CF Insights Plus Members are invited to this informal session to explore how community foundations use technology, including AI tools, to streamline internal…

Washington Snapshot: Supporting the sector

Earlier this week, Real Clear Politics published an op-ed by Council President and CEO Kathleen Enright responding to recent commentary criticizing the sector. Plus, new amicus brief, Foundations on the Hill 2026, and more.

Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Balancing Purpose, Responsibility, and Risk in Corporate Grantmaking

Toolkit
Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Balancing Purpose, Responsibility, and Risk in Corporate Grantmaking is centered on helping address the unique challenges faced today by corporate foundations. These organizations can be more vulnerable to external pressures than other grantmaker types, balancing their…

HR Philanthropy Collaborative - February 2026

This is a peer-led space designed to connect you with human resources leaders at foundations across the country. The group will build meaningful relationships, share resources, and provide a consistent opportunity to engage in collaborative troubleshooting in a trusted environment. Meeting every…

Community Philanthropy Update - January 2026

Here's what you can look forward to with National Standards in 2026, including a review committee to examine all 26 standards.

Coming Together, Not Apart: Publications

Publication
Coming Together, Not Apart, is a three-publication series exploring philanthropy's involvement in developing the heartset, mindset, and skillset to lead collaboratively across differences. Specifically:Part 1: How Philanthropy Supports Connection in a Time of Dangerous DivisionComing…

Washington Snapshot: Foundations on the Hill

Foundations on the Hill 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for the philanthropic sector. Plus, new legislation targeting nonprofits, federal government funding, and more.

Community Foundation Trends: Highlights from the CF Insights FY24 Annual Survey

Watch the webinar recording to dive into the latest findings from the CF Insights FY24 Annual Survey, and hear how peers across the country leverage detailed community foundation business model data to make informed decisions on how to inform their own operations.David Rosado, Director for…
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