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. 

Community Foundation Climate Collaborative

This session will provide attendees a basic understanding of how community foundations can lead locally on climate. Community Foundation Climate Collaborative members will share opportunities for joint action and shared learning such as incorporating climate justice into local work, donor…

CEONet Annual Retreat: "Building Bridges"

Hosted by CEONet The CEONet Annual Retreat offers a unique experience to connect with peers. Day one will be a site tour led by our local community foundation hosts, R.T. Rybak and Dr. Eric Jolly. The Twin Cities provide an interesting backdrop for the ongoing work to heal, restore, and reimagine…

Supporting Local Community Development Through Affordable Energy

This session will discuss the role philanthropies can take in funding local solar energy projects and the benefits these projects can bring to communities. Hear from philanthropies, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and a developer--highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration…

Caring for Ourselves and Others in Complex Times

Place-based funders remain committed to serving their communities, including through periods of political and cultural turmoil. For staff to perform at their best, they must also care for themselves. How can executive leaders make sure that happens while practicing their own self-care and…

Supporting Local Priorities with a Global Portfolio

Companies can lead locally in their headquarters' market, while at the same time investing in communities where their global employees live and work. 3M achieves this through a strategic partnership with GlobalGiving, leveraging its expertise in international philanthropy to support locally-led…

Career Pathways Alumni Homecoming

Hosted by Career Pathways Over the past 10 years, the Career Pathways (CP) alumni network has grown to over 200. We are excited to announce our first in-person homecoming, gathering participants from across all cohorts! This pre-conference is an opportunity to explore future philanthropic…

Building Trust with Policymakers Using the Science of Storytelling

You’re already doing the work of helping your communities thrive. Now let’s make sure you can talk about it in a way that builds buy-in and trust with a key audience: policymakers. This workshop will help you use stories and data to communicate the value of philanthropy and charitable giving. It…

Building Trust in Community Through National-Local Collaboration

Across the nation, communities are facing a crisis of connection, with a 2023 survey revealing that 74% of Americans feel a sense of non-belonging in their local communities. In 2022-23, the Walmart Foundation funded the Belonging Innovation Lab, a program providing subgrants, training, and…

Sustained Collaboration Funders Convening

Hosted by Sustained Collaboration Network (SCN) Funders have been coming together in communities across the country to collectively fund nonprofit collaboration in order to help nonprofits meet increased demand for services, achieve economies of scale, or navigate high-stakes executive…

Building the Durability of Detroit’s Youth-Serving Institutions

Something new is happening in Detroit. The local donor community recently launched the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative (MCSCEI) to ensure that the most critical youth-serving institutions are set up to support the community for the long haul. Ten nonprofit agencies will…

Building Strong Communities Across Divides

Community and place-based foundations are building common ground in the communities they serve. The intended audience for this session is leaders of community and place-based foundations who are curious about what they can do to help bridge divides constructively. Participants will leave…

The Community Foundation of Louisville’s 10-Year Journey into Impact Investing

The Community Foundation of Louisville will discuss the evolution, challenges, and learnings from its 10-year impact investing practice. Foundation staff, donors, and investees will discuss how the newest iteration of the impact investing program, Invest Louisville, is using innovative strategies…

Building Grassroots Impact and Sustainability by Reimagining Fiscal Sponsorship

In 2018, the largest fiscal sponsor in Baltimore, serving over 150 independent projects, started showing signs of fiscal mismanagement. Ultimately, the organization pulled out of fiscal sponsorship, causing harm to dozens of mostly Black-led community organizations that were unable to recover these…

The Role of Community Philanthropy in Advancing Immigrant Inclusion

Local foundations play a critical role in fostering welcoming environments for immigrants. This session explores how philanthropy can support immigrant inclusion through investments, partnerships, and programming. Leaders from the Walder Foundation and Welcoming America will share examples, lessons…

Building Capacity Through Pooled Funds

Discover how pooled funds and collaborative grantmaking foster nonprofit resilience by supporting key capacity-building activities, such as executive transitions and sustained collaboration. This session will  highlight how funders can flexibly support nonprofits through intermediary giving…

The Role of Place Based Funders in Keeping People and Communities Safe

When someone is harmed by those meant to support them, an organizations’ inability to prevent abuse receives intense public scrutiny, as seen with cases such as U.S. Gymnastics and the Boy Scouts. But what is the role of foundations in ensuring that their grantees are preventing harm? How do you…
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