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. 

Reclaiming Community

  Reclaiming Community June 14 | 12:00-3:00 p.m. ET Designed by and for community foundation CEOs, this preconference session will focus on the critical role community foundations play in building community. Specifically, we will explore the role of community foundations in…

Grappling with Global Threats from Within and Without

  Grappling with Global Threats from Within and Without June 14 | 12:00-3:00 p.m. ET Global grantmaking is more important and urgent than ever before. However, to address crises around the world, foundations working internationally must adapt to overcome new threats to their work…

Leading Together 2021 - Sponsors

  Sponsors The Council thanks all of our sponsors for their generous support of Leading Together. If you're interested in how you can partner with us to create an exceptional experience, learn about our sponsor opportunities.   Sponsor…

Corporate Legal - Ask Me Anything FAQs

What is the Philanthropy Exchange? The Philanthropy Exchange is a peer-to-peer platform that connects Council members around shared interests, topics, or resources. The Exchange is a member-only benefit open to Council members and invited guests. To help you get started on the Exchange, here is a…

Corporate Legal Ask Me Anything

As a corporate grantmaker, do you have questions about legal challenges impacting your work? From self-dealing considerations to legal rules around scholarships and employee assistance programs, all topics are up for discussion and support from the Council’s legal team during our Corporate Legal…

Leading Together 2021 - Working Group

  Working group We want to thank and recognize the hard work of the amazing group of individuals who helped us plan Leading Together 2021.   Co-chairs       Deidre Lind President & CEO,…

Leading Together 2021 - Sponsor Opportunities

  Sponsor opportunities Sponsorship is one of the best ways to elevate your organization as a thought leader and highlight your commitment to advancing the work of the philanthropic sector.   Download Guide To discuss sponsorship…

Leading Together 2021 - Experience

  Experience This is not your typical Zoom. We planned this conference with YOU in mind. Our conference platform and thoughtful program design will give you the chance to expand your thinking, reconnect with old friends, build new relationships, and get energized for the work ahead…

Leading Together 2021 - Schedule

  Schedule Leading Together 2021 featured dynamic opportunities to learn, connect, and reflect. Our programming catalyzed courageous, perspective-shifting conversations about how we can improve as a sector and tackle the biggest challenges of our time together. This schedule is…

Leading Together 2021 - Register

  Register Full conference registration If you have any questions, contact us at registration@cof.org.   REGISTER NOW Memberpricing Council member discounted rate is $279.…

Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Build It but Will They Come?

  Download Transcript  Download Slides   Experts say that as much as 90 percent of the population must achieve immunity to eliminate COVID-19. Yet there is a concerning level of lack of confidence in the vaccines, particularly in communities of color. People…

State of Play: Local, National, and Intersectional Responses to Addressing Anti-Asian Violence and Building Durable AAPI Immigrant Power

While the significant and tragic rise of anti-Asian violence in recent weeks has caught the attention of the general public, coordinated and strategic efforts led by AAPI organizations, networks, and coalitions to respond to anti-Asian violence have been in place since before the pandemic began…

Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations: April 2021

Recording
<   Thank you for joining Council attorneys, Bryan Del Rosario and Ben McDearmon, for Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations: April 2021, a members only Q&A discussion that addressed emerging legal questions. The discussion focused on the top questions and concerns within the…

Webinar Recording: Ask the Council: The Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving

<   Thank you for joining David Kass, the Council's Vice President of Government Affairs, for a members only discussion on the Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving draft policy proposal. The discussion focused on what was included within the proposal and what we are…

Policy Update: Connecting the Dots Between the Biden Administration's Policy Proposals and Philanthropy

Hear an overview of the recently passed $1.9 trillion relief legislation known as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the key pillars of the new infrastructure proposals, the American Jobs Plan, announced by President Biden on March 31. The jobs plan targets 40 percent of the benefits of…

Global Philanthropy Update - March 2021

Dear Friend,  It is difficult to capture the enormity of the challenges we have faced during the past year. Global grantmakers were some of the first to recognize the looming danger of the novel coronavirus and urged the world to respond. As vaccines begin to ramp up in the US, funders…
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