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. 

We Can Always Do a Little Bit Better

James E. “Jim” Casey coined the phrase “constructive dissatisfaction” while steering United Parcel Service (now UPS) to becoming one of the world’s most successful companies. His dissatisfaction drove him to outpace the competition as he developed innovative transportation strategies, implemented…

Washington Snapshot - April 8, 2016

News from the Hill Charity Bill Introduced in Senate The Council is pleased to announce that this week, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Charities Helping Americans Regularly Throughout the Year Act (S.2750). This bill would: Express the sense of the Senate that…

Goal 2025 and Workforce Development in Newaygo County

  An increasing percentage of jobs in the United States require a college degree, certification, or credential beyond high school. It hasn’t always been this way. In the past, good manufacturing jobs didn’t require more than a high school degree. These jobs provided middle class wages,…

Center for Community Foundation Excellence (CCFE) Fundamentals Course - Syracuse, New York

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

Center for Community Foundation Excellence (CCFE) Fundamentals Course - Portland, Oregon

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

Redefining Philanthropy: Values-led, Resident-centered and Place-based Sustainable Development

  Incourage’s work is redefining place-based philanthropy to realize a simple yet bold vision: A Community That Works Well for All People, led by values of Equity, Opportunity, and Shared Stewardship. Over two decades, we have seen a resilient community emerge after crisis with a shift in…

Community Foundations Converge in the Big Easy

I attended the AdNet, CommA, and ProNet Professional Networks for Community Foundation staff this week in New Orleans, which represents the first time these three professional peer network groups have convened together. This combined event clearly reflects the community foundation way of…

Engaging with the National Standards Accreditation Program

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations has been an important resource for the Community Foundation of Central Georgia (CFCG). During CFCG’s most recent strategic planning process, the board set three goals. One of these goals is to be a “trusted, ethical, and excellent organization”.…

Washington Snapshot - April 1, 2016

News from the Hill House Tax Policy Subcommittee to Hold Next Tax Reform Hearing Chairman of the House Ways and Means Tax Policy Subcommittee Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced this week that the series of hearings on tax reform will continue, with the next hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April…

Council Comments on Multistate Registration & Filing Project

The Council submitted a letter on March 31, 2016 in response to a request for information (RFI) issued in February by the Multistate Registration and Filing Project (MRFP)—an organization that works with the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) and the National Association of…

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…

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…
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