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. 

Flint Neighbors Connect the Blocks

Over the last two years, the City of Flint has been working on its first master plan since 1960. It serves as a blueprint for land use over the next 20 years. This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first…

What's your learning experience going to be at the 2014 Fall Conference?

What's your learning experience going to be like at the 2014 Fall Conference? The 2014 Fall Conference for Community Foundations is the culmination of a year of celebrating the impact of the first century of community philanthropy and a concept that has spread around the globe. The October…

Strategic Partner

The Greater Houston Community Foundation donor-centered focus helps philanthropists make a bigger impact Lessons Learned Ramping up its advisory services for local philanthropists has been a multi-year process for the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Renee Wizig-Barrios, Senior Vice…

A Historic Culture Threatened by Wildfires

This blog was originally posted by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. Visit their website for more information. Does it seem to you that we are hearing more about wildfires? There’s a reason: they are increasing in frequency and intensity and occurring over a longer period of months. According…

Mental Health and Military Families

Join the Council for a briefing by Purdue University’s Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) on Monday, August 11 at 1:00 PM ET, regarding mental health issues faced by Active, Guard, and Reserve service members and their families. After 13 years at war, our nation has lost over 5,800 service…

Washington Snapshot - August 1, 2014

In this week's Washington Snapshot: August Recess Council August Tool Kit Dynamic Scoring Hearing Eric Cantor Resigns New Bills Social Impact Bonds Senate Bill Regulatory Updates And more! Read this issue today!

A Transformational Gift from an Unexpected Source

The Elkhart County Community Foundation's mission: To improve the quality of life in Elkhart County by inspiring generosity. This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The…

Telling the Stories of Community Foundations Through Video

I dare you to watch the video below and not smile. It’s ok – I’ll wait the three and a half minutes it will take you to watch it. Just click “play” and I’ll pick up this post when you’re done. So, was I right? Not only did you smile, but I bet this wonderful kid – known online as Kid President –…

Washington Snapshot - July 25, 2014

Just Announced: August Recess Toolkit Have you scheduled time with your Congressional delegation during August recess? If so, we have just the tools and resources you might need . . . In the past few editions of our weekly Washington Snapshot newsletter, we have been previewing an upcoming policy…

Dollar-a-day giving circle creates new philanthropists in Memphis

“You can do a lot with $1.” A simple but powerful phrase at the heart of GiVE 365, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis’ dollar-a-day giving circle. Formed in 2010, GiVE 365 unites and informs emerging philanthropists to make a collective impact on Greater Memphis. Members donate $365 a year…

The Austin Giving Pledge: A Call to Action for Our Future

Austin, Texas, is the top spot to be an entrepreneur, make movies, get fit, have a dog, and eat barbeque—but as recently as a decade ago we ranked near the bottom of per capita giving. While other Texas cities, like Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, have a long history of philanthropy,…

Bipartisan House Super-Majority Passes "America Gives More Act"

This afternoon, the United States House of Representatives passed an important legislative package impacting philanthropy, the “America Gives More Act of 2014” (H.R. 4719), with a bipartisan super-majority vote of 277-130. While a sizable number of Democrats voted against the bill because of…

Washington Snapshot - July 17, 2014

Breaking News: House Passes Key Charitable Bill Bill Would Simplify Excise Tax to 1% & Make IRA Rollover Permanent We’re excited to report that this morning, the United States House of Representatives passed an important legislative package impacting philanthropy, the “America Gives More Act of…

Dream-maker: The Foundation for the Mid South helps see the possibilities, secure substantial funding

Lessons Learned Ivye Allen, President of the Foundation for the Mid South offered some advice on how to be better positioned to tap public and private funding to support local community efforts. Here are some of her takeaways: Narrow your focus: With communities, schools or organizations facing…

Bringing the community together in unexpected ways: A successful online giving challenge

In conjunction with our 90th Anniversary, the Connecticut Community Foundation hosted our first online giving challenge, Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills in November 2013. This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th…

Washington Snapshot - July 11, 2014

Welcome back! We hope all of our readers had a wonderful 4th of July holiday weekend. Coming Soon - Council Advocacy Toolkit As Congress breaks at the end of the month for August recess, we know many of our readers will want to connect with their elected officials as they spend time back in their…
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