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. 

East Bay Community Foundation Due Diligence Policy FAQ

As part of its continuous improvement process, EBCF periodically reviews and updates its policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance as well as adherence to industry best practices. EBCF shares these updates with fund holders, grantees, and the wider community as part of our commitment to…

East Bay Community Foundation Due Diligence Policy for Grantmaking

The East Bay Community Foundation Due Diligence Policy for Grantmaking ensures that grants are made in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of our philanthropic goals of eliminating structural barriers and transforming political, social, and economic outcomes.

Resources on the Rise of Hate Funding — Values-Aligned Philanthropy

External Resource
Atlanta Daily World: Major charity distances itself from donations to controversial groups Fidelity and Schwab Ban Gifts From Donor-Advised Funds to NRA-Affiliated Charities ‘Hate Groups’ Received Millions From 351 Charities and Foundations, Chronicle Review Finds Opinion: How Philanthropy Can…

Resources on Neutrality Paradox, Free Speech, and Related Issues — Values-Aligned Philanthropy

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501(c)(3)s and Public Policy Violation: A Fresh Look at Doctrine Alliance Magazine: Should corporate philanthropy be neutral? GlobalGiving: A Journey Into The Neutrality Paradox GlobalGiving: Trump Is Right—And Wrong—About Section 230 Horizon Forum: What Do the Experts Say: The Free…

‘You Get Proud by Practicing’: The Path to Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy

Workplaces across the globe are in flux—and many are changing for the better. With more remote offerings, flexibility, and accommodations, we face a generational opportunity to codify accessibility and inclusion in institutions that have been exclusive for far too long. Despite these changes, our…

Further Reading — Values-Aligned Philanthropy

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U.S. Academic Centers for the Study of Hate and Extremism Bard College Center for the Study of Hate California State University, San Bernardino, Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism Gonzaga University Institute for Hate Studies The International Network for Hate Studies

Career Pathways 2022 Program Information Session

  The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse backgrounds who are currently employed in philanthropic institutions. This leadership preparation course is designed for mid-career professionals and was developed in…

Global Philanthropy Update - September 2021

With the UN General Assembly (UNGA) just a few weeks away, there is no shortage of challenges that will hinder the world’s capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. From the IPCC’s recent devastating climate report and natural disasters in every corner of the…

2021 HR Retreat - Speakers

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The Future of Philanthropy is Local

As we continue to navigate a new normal amid a global pandemic, philanthropy has a moral obligation to create spaces for everyone’s voice to be heard, valued, and represented in building common ground to achieve more together. How do we advance the greater good in our community? How do we build…

Philanthropy's Response to 2021 Hurricane Ida

OVERVIEW Hurricane Ida struck the southern coast of Louisiana on the afternoon of August 29, 2021, as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane and its remnants have since caused major flooding throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. As updates about the impact of this disaster are known as…

Public Policy and Advocacy for Grantmakers

Publication
Government policy decisions impact communities and can drive or impede solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing the nation. Engagement in public policy advocacy is therefore crucial to the philanthropic sector's ability to achieve its greatest impact. Public Policy and Advocacy for…

Community Philanthropy Update - August 2021

Earlier this month, the Council launched a new Strategic Direction focused on how philanthropy can build the trust needed to advance the greater good. This strategy was developed out of feedback from hundreds of philanthropic leaders over the last two years, as well as support from the…

Values-Aligned Philanthropy: Foundations Resisting Hate and Extremism

With extremism on the rise, philanthropy’s responsibility to avoid funding hate has been in the spotlight. While individual foundations have worked to address the issue, there has not been significant analysis of the sector’s activities when it comes to finding solutions to hate funding—until…

Community Foundation CEO Virtual Roundtable: Impact Investing - Part 1 & 2

September Roundtables Focus: Impact Investing  Designed by and for community foundation CEOs, this two-part CEO/COF webinar session provided the tools and knowledge community foundations require to embark on or build upon their impact investing programs. The Council and CEONet convened CEOs…

Community Foundation CEO Virtual Roundtable: Impact Investing - Part 1

September Roundtables Focus: Impact Investing Part 1   Designed by and for community foundation CEOs, Part 1 of this two-part CEO/COF webinar session provided the tools and knowledge community foundations require to embark on or build upon their impact investing programs. The Council…
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