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. 

Hurricane Florence: What's Next?

Revisit this co-hosted Webinar to hear perspectives directly from the front lines of disaster impacted areas. The devastation of Hurricane Florence has wide-reaching impacts that will require strategic, long-term investments. The Council co-sponsored this webinar on Tuesday, September 18, with…

What to Watch at UN General Assembly 2018

This month, thousands of representatives from governments, civil society, and the corporate sector will come together in New York for the 73rd annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Alongside the high-level conversations  within the UN, hundreds of side-events will address the world’s…

Veteran's Philanthropy Exchange: Successes and Challenges in Veterans Transition

This is a funders-only meeting to share what funders have learned from their investments in veterans transition and the continuing challenges veterans and their families face as they return to civilian life after military service. Panelists and attendees will share data and metrics, grantmaking…

Community Philanthropy Update - September 2018

During my tenure at the Council, I've seen how often community foundations are on the front lines in countless disasters. But no community is alone in their moment of crisis. The Council can connect you quickly to a global network of colleagues, < a href="https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-…

Creating Inclusive Economic Prosperity Starts with Each of Us

Earlier this week, there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to my desk.  It was from the Community Foundation team to mark a milestone in my life—and my family’s life. We moved to the Quad Cities four years ago and I began working with an incredible group of people—board members and…

Washington Snapshot: House Republicans Push Tax Cuts 2.0, Rettig Confirmation Expected

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Tax Cuts 2.0 Plan is Unveiled Rettig Expected to Be Confirmed Amid Other Pending Priorities Primary Elections Held in New Hampshire State Tax Revenues Vary Due to Federal Tax Law Changes News from the Hill Tax Cuts 2.0 Plan is Unveiled On Monday, the…

Hurricane Florence

Disaster Overview Hurricane Florence made landfall along the coast of the Carolinas on Thursday September 13, leading to catastrophic inland rainfall, flooding, life-threatening storm surges and destructive winds.  As more becomes known about the impacts of the storm, this page will be…

Washington Snapshot: Tax Reform 2.0 to be Unveiled, Primary Upset in Massachusetts

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… An Update on Tax Reform 2.0 Kyl to Fill Vacant Arizona Senate Seat Left by McCain Rocky start for Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings Federal Reserve Board Releases New Publication Primary Upset in Massachusetts SALT Workaround Proposed Regulations Cause…

2018 UN General Assembly Philanthropic Side-Events

This page is an archived schedule of events from the 2018 United Nations General Assembly. See the most recent UNGA schedule instead. In September 2018 - representatives from government, civil society, and the corporate sector came together at the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly…

2019 HR Summit

The 2019 HR Summit: Building a Culture of Equity, co-hosted by the Council on Foundations and CHANGE Philanthropy, is your unique opportunity to share your personal and organizational journey as it relates to building a culture of decision-making and best practices rooted in equity.…

Crypto-Philanthropy: What You Need to Know

Editor's note: This post is one in a series highlighting sessions for the upcoming Endowments and Finance Summit, held in Washington, DC, on September 6-7. The Summit is where foundation leaders – such as CEOs, CIOs, CFOs, Senior Investment Officers and board and investment committee members –…

Washington Snapshot: Senator John McCain Leaves Behind a Legacy, Treasury Proposes Rules on SALT Workarounds

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Senator John McCain Leaves Behind a Legacy Senate Passes Spending Bill Package Treasury Proposes Rules on State-Level SALT Workarounds Primary Elections Held in Arizona and Florida States Respond to Work Requirements Differently Payments in Lieu of Taxes (…

Facebook Live: Serving the Public Good: Exploring Relationships between Public Policy and the Charitable Sector

Join us on Facebook for the closing plenary session at the 2018 Endownments & Finance Summit.  Experts from top economic thinktanks and foundation leaders will discuss the future of philanthropy, highlighting key policy implications and anticipated outcomes of changes in charitable giving…

Facebook Live: Harnessing the Momentum, Finding Opportunities, Building Stronger Futures

Join us on Facebook for the opening plenary session at the 2018 Endownments & Finance Summit.  Hear from top foundation leaders how they navigated the financial unknowns of the past year and what moves they plan to make in the year ahead to set their organizations up for success.…

Putting Down Roots

Editor's Note: As a part of our Inclusive Economic Prosperity in the Midwest convening, we're highlighting stories from the region. This article was originally published in bMag, a publication by the Bush Foundation. Pakou Hang (BF’11) and her six siblings spent much of their childhood rising…

Council on Foundations Statement On Donor Advised Funds

In response to numerous articles in which some media outlets have mischaracterized the intent and impact of donor advised funds, the Council on Foundations released the following joint statement from interim president and CEO Gene Cochrane and Javier Alberto Soto, chair of the Council’s board of…
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