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. 

Foundation Finance and Investment Management

Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources This chapter examines Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and other laws that govern the management and investment of endowments and other foundation financial assets. It also…

Washington Snapshot - June 8, 2017

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: Congress must address a packed agenda before getting to tax reform “Johnson Amendment” may be discussed in House hearing DOE aims to reduce regulations following EO President Trump unveils infrastructure plan in budget In the States:…

Policy and Private Philanthropy Part 1: President’s Budget and Congressional Appropriations

Members, Access the Recording Many of our private foundation members are worried about the President’s budget and how it will affect the nonprofit organizations they fund. This webinar is designed to give you a better understanding of the process and impact of the President’s proposed cuts to…

2017 Endowments & Finance Summit

Join us in New York! Now in its third year, the Endowments and Finance Summit is the premier convening to hear expert insights and have in-depth conversations on the best practices and financial strategies to get a competitive advantage in the philanthropic advisory marketplace. Here’s why…

Washington Snapshot - June 1, 2017

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Take Action: Extend the Charitable Deduction to All Americans Tax Reform Update: Competing legislative priorities complicate tax reform prospects State Reliance on Federal Funds New York Revitalization Act Amendments Go into Effect Extend the Charitable…

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…

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…

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…
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