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. 

Scholarship Exchange: Peer Event and Book Club

Topic: Measuring Impact & SuccessHow do we know scholarship programs are making a difference – and how do we tell that story? In this peer event, scholarship professionals will explore practical ways to measure impact and success beyond dollars awarded. In peer discussion, we will discuss how…

Scholarships Exchange: Book Club

This peer space is curated for foundation staff that manage and lead scholarship programs, designed to be informal, peer-led conversations with fellow foundation staff (of all types) to share best practices and explore common challenges in scholarship programs. Whether you are new to managing…

Scholarships Exchange: Peer Event & Book Club

Topic: Supporting Students Beyond the AwardJoin this peer event to explore how scholarship programs can support beyond the financial award through mentorship, networking, and wrap around services that address real-life challenges. Together, we will share creative strategies for building meaningful…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - December 2026

Topic: Endowment Funds and Nonprofit Endowments Featured Speakers: Lisa Pitsiri, Director of Donor Services and Programs, and Sara Parcell, Director of Philanthropic Services, Communities Foundation of OklahomaJoin fellow community foundation donor service professionals for a virtual meet-up…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - October 2026

Topic: From Frustration to Function: Real-World CRM Solutions for Donor Services Featured Speaker: Jason Arbacheski, CAP, Senior Philanthropy Planning Officer, Chester County Community FoundationJoin fellow community foundation donor service professionals for a virtual meet-up focused on CRM…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - August 2026

Topic: Mapping the Journey - Creative Approaches to Donor Services Featured Speakers: Bea Thomas, Donor Services Officer and Becca Root, Senior Donor Services and Gift Planning Officer, Pittsburgh FoundationDonor stewardship isn’t just a checklist – it’s a journey. Join this peer discussion on…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - June 2026

Topic: Growing Unrestricted Assets, Practice-Based ConversationsGet ready to roll up your sleeves! In this interactive session on growing unrestricted assets, we will dive into hands-on, practice-based discussions and role-playing exercises. You’ll explore strategies for having donor conversations…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - April 2026

Topic: Speaking the Same Language: Partnering with Professional Advisors From referrals to relationships, working effectively with professional advisors such as CPAs and Attorneys can bolster donor services opportunities. This conversation will explore what successful advisor partnerships look…

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services - February 2026

Topic: Donor Engagement StrategiesHow do you make donors feel truly seen and valued without getting lost in the logistics of providing touchpoints at scale? Join your fellow community foundation donor service professionals for a peer discussion on donor engagement and stewardship, exploring how…

Reimagining Democracy in New Jersey

Learn how the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation partnered with the Participatory Budgeting Project to create the conditions that allow innovative democratic practices to emerge. The session will focus on how this catalytic investment gave grassroots practitioners the tools they need to connect with…

Harness Your Convening Power as a Funder to Reduce Polarization

Many foundations want to act as conveners to bridge divides but don’t know where to start. Participants in this session will learn how funders can spark bold partnerships, increase social cohesion and reduce polarization. Through case studies, participants will learn how to combine dialogue and…

From Transactional to Relational: Centering Indigenous Values in Philanthropy

This session explores how Native-led and national funders are moving beyond transactional grantmaking toward trust, reciprocity, and long-term partnership. Through examples from Hawaiʻi and national partners, participants will learn relational, Indigenous-informed funding approaches and apply them…

Cultivating a Student-Driven Culture of Curious Disagreement in College

This session introduces a fresh approach to dialogue in higher ed: a peer-led fellowship that equips student club leaders to adopt dialogue as a tool to reach club goals. Participants will engage in an interactive case study, then explore a funding perspective on campus discourse--why it matters,…

Collaborative Giving, Common Ground

Join three collaborative-fund leaders working across environment, democracy, and narrative change as they share data-driven insights and real-world examples of projects they are funding that bring together philanthropy, NGOs, grassroots organizations, government partners, and diverse community…

When Campus Crises Become Collaborative Possibility

Crises don't have to pull people apart; they can also be a turning point for collaboration and connection. In this interactive session, attendees will walk through real case studies and try out a scenario role play to explore constructive, pluralistic responses during tense moments. Attendees will…

Building Stronger Communities Through Reflection, Rigor, and Shared Language

Community building is complex, and metrics are hard to get to. Try out a new tool built with and for community builders to take stock of progress and set course for what’s next.  This bilingual reflection tool brings added rigor, shared language, and real-world examples. Participants will have…
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