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. 

Partnering for Progress

Editor's Note: The following is an edited version of a Mott Perspectives piece written by Ridgway White, president of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The original was published on the Foundation’s website on July 16, 2018, and is being republished as a part of our series on the winners of the…

2018 Endowments & Finance Summit - Attendees

Who's Attending

Tax Update: Deep Dive into Tax Reform and recent IRS Guidance

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: Johnson Amendment Remains in the Crosshairs, Bill to Repeal UBIT Changes Introduced in the Senate

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Johnson Amendment Attack Reiterated by Sen. Lankford Bills to Repeal UBIT Changes Introduced in Senate Bill to Reinstate Schedule B Requirements for All Nonprofits Introduced in Senate Senate Finance Votes to Advance Treasury/IRS Nominations Appropriations…

Philanthropy Law in China

View the Recording The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and the Council on Foundations co-hosted an instructive, engaging webinar that unpacked the legal framework for philanthropy in China, featuring Chinese civil society experts Shawn Shieh and Jessica Batke. Shawn…

Washington Snapshot: New Bill to Expand Foundation Scholarship Programs Introduced in the House, Senate Seeks to Avoid Shutdown Threats by Bundling Spending Bills

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… New Bill to Expand Foundation Scholarship Programs Introduced in House Ways and Means Unveils Tax Reform 2.0 Summary Senate Finance to Hold Hearing for Treasury/IRS Nominees Senate Seeks to Avoid Shutdown Threats by Bundling Spending Bills Primary Runoff…

Strengthening Communities to Be Smoke Free

Editor's Note: This is part of our series focusing on the winners of the 2018 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.  In 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a nationwide smoke-free policy for all public housing locations…

Council on Foundations Applauds Introduction of the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act

The Council on Foundations on Tuesday applauds the introduction of the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act (H.R. 6486) by Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) on July 24. The bill would allow charitable foundations to administer post-graduation…

Partnering to Create Success through Housing Grants in Alaska

Editor's Note: This is part of our series focusing on the winners of the 2018 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.  The Creekview Plaza housing development in Anchorage, Alaska For a decade Rasmuson Foundation has worked alongside…

Creative Grantmaking Today: Redefining Risk in Philanthropy

In 2003, when I was a co-recipient of the Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking, the theme of the Council on Foundations’ conference was collaboration. Instead of giving a speech, one of the co-recipients, Luz Vega-Marquis,* demonstrated the spirit of collaboration when she asked all…

Washington Snapshot: Council Works with Senators on Letter to Treasury Secretary, Tax Cuts 2.0 Update

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Senators, Worried About a Decline in Charitable Giving, Request Information from Treasury House to Vote on Appropriations “Minibus” with Johnson Amendment Rider Treasury Rolls-Back Donor Disclosure Requirements, Wyden Disapproves Tax Cuts 2.0 Update 2018…

Community Foundation Convenes Support for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Editor's Note: This is part of our series focusing on the winners of the 2018 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.  A few years ago, Barry and Gilda Boyer, two members of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa community,  were having a conversation about economic…

Insights from the 2017 Investment of Endowments Study

  Foundation endowment managers faced both challenges and opportunities in 2017 as they worked towards funding the grantmaking practices of their organizations, including a continued increase in scrutiny from policymakers and preparing for the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as…

The Spartanburg Foundation and the Northside Development Group Create Change

Editor's Note: This is part one of a series focusing on the winners of the 2018 Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships.  The great Michael Jordan once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” For 75 years, The Spartanburg County…

Nonprofit, Foundation Leaders Oppose Ban of Amendments to Remove anti-Johnson Amendment Rider from Appropriations Bill

The House Rules Committee approved a rule for consideration of the Financial Services and Interior/Environment “mini-bus” appropriations bill (H.R. 6147) that refuses to allow debate or action to remove a disingenuous provision that elevates partisan politics over nonprofit missions and…

How Do US Foundations Support Global Programs and Partners?

  New Data and Trends on International Giving Did you know that grants by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation accounted for almost 50% of all international grants awarded by US foundations? Or that between 2011 and 2015, only 12% of funds went directly to local organizations without…
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