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 - February 23, 2017

In this Week’s Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: House Republicans face growing opposition to border adjustability Charitable Giving Coalition Spends Day Fighting for the Charitable Deduction on Capitol Hill IRS makes 1023-EZ data available online In the States: State budgets (in brief…

New Podcast: Philanthropy Hour's Conversation with Vikki Spruill

Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill sat down with Philanthropy Hour’s Greg Cherry for an intimate conversation about the impact and value of American philanthropy and the Council on Foundations' role in advancing the common good. Hear what Vikki considers to be trending in the field, what…

Philanthropy Caucus Reception

Join the Philanthropy Caucus for a social reception to conclude Foundations on the Hill. Network with representatives from a variety of charitable foundations and organizations, lawmakers, and Congressional staff in an event to recognize the role of philanthropy as a unique stakeholder in…

Washington Snapshot - February 16, 2017

In this Week’s Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: Mnuchin confirmed as Treasury Secretary, Bishop named to Ways & Means, Trump Administration working on a tax overhaul plan, Congress aims to keep the train on track IRS seeks to understand how the regulatory ban will impact its work…

Recent Immigration Executive Orders: How is Philanthropy Impacted and Reacting?

Listen to the Recording The webinar provided an analysis of the impact that President Trump's Executive Order 13769, Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals, may have on your foundation's work domestically and globally. Council staff and foundation leaders discussed how…

Community Foundations February Update

The nature of disruption has been on my mind recently. Our friends at the Greater New Orleans Foundation are coordinating a Helping our Neighbors: Tornado Relief Fund to alleviate the devastation of numerous tornadoes last week. They mobilized quickly to help pave the way for philanthropy to make a…

Community Foundation Business Model Disruption in the 21st Century

Publication
With the pace of change in our world, disruption is a natural state in communities everywhere. Change is the new normal. So how do community foundations, institutions of long-standing tradition that are influential in how communities address change, adapt themselves to the new normal?…

Council Member Update

Members Access the Recording Thanks to everyone who attended the first Council Member Update of 2017. Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill covered why this is such a critical time for philanthropy — and what the Council has planned in the year ahead to help strengthen the field. Attendees also…

Washington Snapshot - February 9, 2017

In this Week’s Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: Council staff meets with Chairman Brady, there is a new member of Ways and Means, and tax bills are not in short supply The Council sends a letter to Congress about the “Johnson Amendment” A number of the President’s Cabinet Nominees have…

Community Foundation Disruptions - Indianapolis

Indiana University provided a live stream and recording of this session. View the Recording Hosted by Mark Sidel, J.D. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Visiting Chair in Community Foundations at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the Council on Foundations, this session…

Center for Community Foundation Excellence (CCFE) Fundamentals Course - Boston, Massachusetts

  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 helped new and experienced foundation stakeholders build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management. Created and led by…

Call Recording: White House "Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements" Executive Order Explained

On January 27, 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order on "Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements." Since then, there have been protests in cities and airports around the nation, there have been statements from elected officials on both sides of the aisle, and there has…

Does Trump's Immigration Executive Order Impact My Foundation?

Basic Rights and Rules for Foundations working with Non-US Citizens Disclaimer: The information in this message and any attachments is being provided for informational purposes only and not as part of an attorney-client relationship. The information is not a substitute for expert legal, tax,or…

Community Foundation Disruptions - Miami

At the conclusion of Knight Foundation’s Media Learning Seminar, join the Council on Foundation for a small, closed session discussion with community foundation leaders to hear reactions, fresh perspectives, and thought-leadership following an opinion piece on more disruptions for the…

Five Trends in Learning and Evaluation

Evaluation and philanthropic learning are essential to driving social change. Here are five trends to look out for in 2017 – and likely beyond: 1. Integrating Evaluation into Strategy In the philanthropic, nonprofit, and public sectors, and more recently with socially oriented businesses, demand…

Washington Snapshot - February 2, 2017

In this Week’s Edition of Snapshot… Tax Reform Update: POTUS Meets with Congressional Leaders About Tax Reform Cabinet Nominations Progress in Congress Bill Introduced to Allow Expanded Political Activity by Nonprofits President Trump Issues more Executive Orders SCOTUS Nominee Announced…
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