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. 

Council on Foundations Announces Hiring of New Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Council on Foundations has named Ruth LaToison Ifill as its new Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She will lead efforts to develop and implement strategic initiatives, tools, educational programs and opportunities that foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion among…

Inclusive Economic Prosperity in the Midwest Resources

Council on Foundations Resources Economic Development as a Charitable Activity - A chapter from Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources Slide Presentations and Resources from Community & Economic Development for Community Foundations…

Washington Snapshot: Bill to Expand Charitable Deduction Introduced in the House, Ways and Means Adds a New Member

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Bill to Increase Charitable Giving Introduced in House IRS Funding to be Considered by Senate Committee Ways and Means Holds Hearing on Tax Reform's Impact (So Far) Council Urges Treasury to Delay New UBIT Provisions In the States: States Respond to Federal…

Sponsors

The Council would like to thank all of the sponsors for their support of the 2018 Endowments & Finance Summit. Leadership & Networking Reception Partner TIAA Institute www.tiaa.org/public/land/endowmentsandfoundations The TIAA Institute helps advance the ways individuals…

Fiscal Sponsorship

Legal Compliance Guidance, Publication
A Chapter in Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources Fiscal sponsorship provides a valuable tool for charitable entrepreneurs to realize their vision by working with an established charity that takes in tax-deductible donations and private foundation…

Inclusive Economic Prosperity Resources

Council on Foundations Resources Economic Development as a Charitable Activity - A chapter from Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources Slide Presentations and Resources from Community & Economic Development for Community Foundations Case Studies…

Community Foundation Update - May 2018

Over the last 18 months, I’ve continually talked with community foundation leaders about the role philanthropy is playing in driving inclusive economic development. Last year, in response to member inquiries to National Standards and the Council’s legal team, we hosted a workshop with Indiana…

Council on Foundations and Independent Sector Applaud Introduction of Charitable Giving Tax Deduction Act

Independent Sector and the Council on Foundations applaud the introduction of the Charitable Giving Tax Deduction Act, which would expand giving, help civil society flourish, and allow the charitable sector to expand its impact in communities across the country. The bill was introduced by Rep.…

Washington Snapshot: House Committee Sets Series of Tax Reform Hearings, White House Sends Rescissions Proposal to Congress

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… House Committee Sets Series of Tax Reform Hearings White House Sends Rescissions Proposal to Congress IRS Debuts New EO Search Tool Form 990s for Calendar-Year Organizations Due Soon In the States: Vermont Considers Repeal of Charitable Deduction; Municipal…

Walking the walk...

Anyone who has had the responsibility of putting together a team has wrestled with the challenge of determining who will be the best match for the positions that need to be filled. At the recently completed NFL draft, teams approached these decisions from one…

Washington Snapshot: Treasury Pushes Ahead with Priority Guidance Despite Backlog from Tax Reform

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… Another House Ways & Means Member Departs Congress Bill Introduced to Increase Charitable Driver Mileage Rate Treasury Solicits Input for Priority Guidance Amid Rollout of Tax Reform Regulations In the States: Pay Equity, Employment Law Changes Advance…

Legal Matters for Community Foundations - Spokane, WA

This event is part of the Legal Matters for Community Foundations series, which the Council is offering in 2018. See Other Dates & Locations Led by Bryan Del Rosario, Staff Counsel for the Council on Foundations and Brad Ward, Director of Community Philanthropy, this…

Community Foundations National Standards Board Announces New Members and Executive Board

Today, the Community Foundations National Standards Board (CFNSB), a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations, announced four new board members. The CFNSB is a collegial group of professionals from across the U.S. seeking to advance the community foundation field through governing a…

Three Legged Stool: Evaluation, Monitoring, and Feedback

Members, View the Recording Almost all foundations and nonprofits want a better understanding of how their funding, services and products are (or are not) making a difference in real people’s lives and how they might be improved. This webinar introduces a new framework for measurement in the social…

Washington Snapshot: Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing Ahead of Recess

In This Week's Edition of Snapshot… JCT Releases New Estimates in Advance of Senate Finance Hearing Council Call Highlights Public-Philanthropic Partnerships Council Raises Concerns About FARA In the States: Kentucky Preserves Charitable Incentive in Tax Reform, Maryland Passes Law Mirroring…

Developing an Investment Strategy

  View the Slides This webinar on investment management is presented by David D. Center, CFA from the Fund Evaluation Group, and is part of the  Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Finance Course. For this particular webinar, objectives include increasing the…
Subscribe to Community Foundations