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. 

A Guide to Advocacy, Lobbying & Election Related Activity: Navigating the Rules

Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources The purpose of this chapter is to help you understand the federal tax laws and regulations that govern how, when, and to what extent different types of foundations can engage with policymakers, their…

Expenditure Responsibility: Step by Step

Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources Expenditure responsibility is the federally mandated procedure that a private foundation—and some public charities—must follow for any grant made to an organization that is not a public charity. This…

How Data Standards Can Help Save the World

  Modern life is full of data—a lot of data. Sometimes it feels simply overwhelming. And that’s especially true in the philanthropic sector. It can feel like our work is simply an endless string of profiles, templates, accounts, applications, and reports. If we aren’t thoughtful about it…

Three Words to Describe Community Foundations: Thoughtful. Intentional. Sustainable.

I believe the intent of community foundation offerings—from endowment building, convening, to grant making—is to be thoughtful, intentional, and sustainable in their approach to community challenges and opportunities.  My personal experience with community philanthropy is best explained…

Washington Snapshot - March 25, 2016

News from the Hill House Tax Policy Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Tax Reform Proposals As we reported last week, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy held a hearing on Tuesday about potential tax reform approaches. The Subcommittee heard testimony from Representatives Devin Nunes (R-…

2016 Endowments and Finance Summit

Why Attend the Summit? As a summit participant, you can expect a robust learning experience where you will: Engage in discussions about effective solutions to current foundation financial management challenges; Hear from industry experts on key trends in foundation management, the economy,…

Washington Snapshot - March 18, 2016

News from the Hill Hearing on Tax Reform Proposals Set for Next Week Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced the first in what will be a series of hearings on potential approaches and proposals for tax reform. The hearing is scheduled for…

Washington Snapshot - March 11, 2016

News from the Hill Chairman of House Veterans' Affairs Committee to Retire from Congress Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL-1) announced this week that he will not seek re-election at the expiration of his current term in office. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2001, Miller…

Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources

Legal Compliance Guidance
The Council on Foundations's Compendium of Legal Resources (“Compendium”) is a comprehensive guide to foundation law for the non-lawyer. It is easy to use, self-directed, and regularly updated. The Council developed the Compendium as a direct response to requests from our members to publish…

Carrying Forward the Legacy of the Walton Family Foundation

When my grandparents, Sam and Helen Walton, set the course for our family’s philanthropic vision in the late 1980s, they set out to make lasting change by empowering individuals. My grandfather often said there is no limit to what can be accomplished when people are given opportunity and…

2016 Annual Conference - Only Community Foundation Sessions

Community Foundation Sessions Community foundations have unique local leadership as the core of place-based philanthropy in the United States and around the world. While all have goals specific to their diverse communities, a community foundation learns a great deal by exploring its colleagues’…

2016 Annual Conference - Community Foundation Sessions

Community Foundation Sessions Community foundations have unique local leadership as the core of place-based philanthropy in the United States and around the world. While all have goals specific to their diverse communities, a community foundation learns a great deal by exploring its colleagues’…

2016 Annual Conference - Networking Events

Networking Events Saturday, April 9 All conference attendees are welcome to attend these preconference events. Networking Reception for Community Foundations featuring The Harwood Institute 5:15-6:15 p.m. — Georgetown, Concourse Level We live in an era of mistrust, fragmentation and…

Washington Snapshot - March 4, 2016

News from the Hill Congress Grows More Skeptical of Universities This Wednesday, the Ways and Means Oversight Committee held a hearing entitled: Protecting the Free Exchange of Ideas on College Campuses. Though the motivation for this hearing perhaps stemmed from previously expressed skepticism…

Reaching Your Community's Roots

Historically, community foundations have worked to create change by making grants to local nonprofits, advocacy groups, and other organizations. But a new breed of funders is showing how, by serving in yet another role, they can foster change that is more comprehensive, more responsive to residents…

Veterans Philanthropy Exchange 2016 National Annual Convening

Members of the Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge and the Veterans Philanthropy Exchange will gather for  learning and sharing. Any funders supporting veterans and military families are encouraged to join this learning exchange. This year’s meeting will provide a funders-only…
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