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. 

Announcing the Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Launch Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge Unveil Veterans Philanthropy Exchange This week, at the American Red Cross national headquarters, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden joined Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill,…

Council Comments on Treasury/IRS Priorities

The Council on Foundations wrote to the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this week to urge them to prioritize several regulations and guidance documents that impact our members. Each year, the Priority Guidance Plan identifies and prioritizes those tax issues that the…

Investing in College Success

Smart investors believe in California. They flock to it for the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has made it the world’s 8th largest economy. Now, with Los Angeles County facing a major college graduation crisis, these same smart investors are backing the educational future of low-…

Seasons of Giving - Spring 2014

    The Council on Foundations is excited to launch Seasons of Giving, a quarterly newsletter with valuable insights to help you advance your work and increase your impact. This newsletter will provide background on some of the major events and trends in the field and highlight resources…

Philanthropic Leaders Pledge $170 Million to Support Veterans and Military Families

Today, over 30 philanthropic organizations and corporations announced pledges totaling more than $170 million over the next five years to support veterans and military families. The Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge was announced today by Joining Forces and a coalition of leading…

Council Members Announce Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge

Council on Foundations President and CEO Vikki Spruill will join First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and grantmakers from around the country tomorrow for the announcement of the Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge. Made by over 30 funders, this pledge aims to bring support to service…

Washington Snapshot - April 25, 2014

Council Submits Extenders Testimony As we noted in last week’s Washington Snapshot, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI-4) held a recent hearing on the seven business “tax extenders” that he opted to extend in his comprehensive tax reform proposal. The hearing, entitled “The…

Washington Snapshot - April 17, 2014

A little tax week humor... With Congress out of session this week and next, there is not much action on the legislative front. But here is what's on our policy radar this week: Latest on Tax Extenders Movement For the past few weeks we’ve given you a play-by-play of the debates on the Hill…

Tech tools and boisterous public meetings: Building support for community planning in the San Francisco Bay Area

  Silicon Valley Community Foundation is in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, close to the campuses of companies like Google, Facebook and Apple. Companies like these have made the region a leader in the global economy and a hub of innovation. The Bay Area is home to a diverse…

Engaging Latino Parents around Early Learning for their Children

  The proudest moment of Ruben Garcia’s life was when he watched his first child graduate from Boulder High School last spring. The father of three and his wife know how much it took for their son to reach the important milestone. They will tell you that their work with him started before…

HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships

2025 HUD Award Applications Now Open Foundations are invited to apply for the 2025 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships! The award recognizes outstanding partnerships between philanthropic organizations and the public sector that have led to measurable benefits in housing…

Council Awards Programs

The Council Awards are presented annually alongside our Member Meeting and include the Distinguished Service Award and the Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking. These two awards have been presented by the Council since the 1980s. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individual leaders in…

When the process is the product of our endeavors

  The Community Foundation of Western Nevada embarked upon a resident engagement initiative in 2013 centering on improving the lives of runaway, homeless and aging-out foster youth, ages 12-24. Expectations for the estimated 1,300 unsupported young people who experience homelessness in Reno,…

So, what’s your idea? Spurring innovation in your organization

Are you looking for ways to improve innovation at your organization?  Sometimes innovative ideas aren’t shared because people don’t know who to take them to.  Or, they think that others would judge the idea’s value based on the person contributing it.  If you are looking to spur…

Washington Snapshot - April 11, 2014

We are thrilled that spring has finally arrived here in Washington, D.C.! The cherry blossoms are in bloom, and tourist season has begun! Since next Friday is Good Friday, we will be sending you Snapshot on Thursday afternoon. Ways and Means Hearing on Tax Extenders Last week we brought you up to…

#CF100 - Aligning Social Action

Centennial News Pittsburgh Foundation Video on Reaching $1 Billion in Assets Cleveland Foundation Day was busiest Monday in film festival history, Crains Cleveland Celebrating 100 years in America, Charlevoix Courier Celebrating Community Foundations: 100 Years in America, 98 Years in Indiana…
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