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. 

SDG Learning Circle for Foundations - June 2025

Join us for this peer-led event dedicated specifically to foundations working on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or are open to learning more about how the SDGs can fit within their work. Connect with foundation peers to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development…

Washington Snapshot: Charitable Rollover Facilitation and Enhancement Act introduced

In this edition of Washington Snapshot we share our recent joint statement with Independent Sector, National Council on Nonprofits, and United Philanthropy Forum on protecting the independence of the charitable sector. Plus, budget reconciliation, DOGE updates, AmeriCorps, tax legislation in…

Community Philanthropy Update - April 2025

This month's Community Philanthropy Update focuses on how you can join us and meet the current moment at Leading Locally 2025 in Minneapolis-St. Paul this summer. 

Threats to Civil Society and the Independence of the Charitable Sector

Joint Statement by the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, and United Philanthropy Forum on Threats to Civil Society and the Independence of the Charitable Sector On behalf of the charitable sector, we oppose the Trump administration’s stated intention to…

Examining Your Foundation's Systems Through an Equity Lens (Pre-Conference Only)

Hosted by: Community Foundation Opportunity Network (CFON) Join us for an opportunity to examine and gain a deeper understanding of the internal systems change needed for community foundations (and other grantmaking organizations) to authentically engage in external systems change and equity work…

Membership FAQs

Since 1949, the Council on Foundations has been dedicated to advancing the greater good, and we couldn’t do it without the support of our incredible member community. A heartfelt thank you to our returning members and a warm welcome to new members joining the Council! We’re excited to have you with…

HR Philanthropy Collaborative - June 2025

This is a peer-led space designed to connect you with human resources leaders at foundations across the country. The group will build meaningful relationships, share resources, and provide a consistent opportunity to engage in collaborative troubleshooting in a trusted environment. Meeting every…

Philanthropy Isn’t a Luxury – It’s a Lifeline

The importance of charitable giving to American society can be seen in every community. Each of us has our own story about the charitable sector’s impact on our lives, whether it is a foundation’s support making a community program possible or the causes we choose to support with our charitable…

Overcoming Barriers to Funding in Rural Places

The latest research reveals a gap in philanthropic funding to rural communities. Why does this gap  exist and how can we help address it? Informed by its many years of experience as a rural operator in the Mountain West, the LOR Foundation will unpack the why and share practical solutions for…

Washington Snapshot: Updated Budget Resolution

In this edition of Washington Snapshot we share the updated budget resolution the Senate is expected to vote on over the weekend.

Council & CEONet | Community Foundation CEO Roundtable - May 2025

Measuring & Communicating Impact ​​​​Fellow community foundation CEOs joined this dynamic and insightful roundtable on impact assessment. This session focused on leveraging data, analytics, and measurement tools in their work. Community foundation leaders shared best practices for…

This Is What Philanthropy Is Built For

When change and uncertainty abound, it’s hard to know what to do. For many philanthropic organizations, and especially our nonprofit partners, so much is at stake right now. But times like these are precisely what philanthropy is built for. Philanthropy consistently steps up during difficult times…

Philanthropy's Response to the 2025 Myanmar and Thailand Earthquake

Overview A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand. The earthquake is the most powerful to strike Myanmar in over a century, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Entire buildings have collapsed in Bangkok and Mandalay, causing thousands of people to be…

CF Insights Office Hours - November 2025

​​​​​​What if each community foundation can know what all community foundations collectively know? Data is a driving force behind effective decision-making, and in the world of philanthropy, it's no different. Through CF Insights, community foundations can access up-to-date, real-world data on…

CF Insights Office Hours - September 2025

​​​​​​What if each community foundation can know what all community foundations collectively know? Data is a driving force behind effective decision-making, and in the world of philanthropy, it's no different. Through CF Insights, community foundations can access up-to-date, real-world data on…

CF Insights Office Hours - July 2025

​​​​​​What if each community foundation can know what all community foundations collectively know? Data is a driving force behind effective decision-making, and in the world of philanthropy, it's no different. Through CF Insights, community foundations can access up-to-date, real-world data on…
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