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.
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - December 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - November 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - October 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - September 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - August 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - July 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - June 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - May 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - April 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - March 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - February 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
National Standards Monthly Zoom Session - January 2025
CFNSB hosts a monthly call to offer community foundation staff the opportunity to learn what's new, or ask any questions related to the National Standards program. The input of community foundation staff is critical to the success of the program.
This event will take place the second Wednesday of…
Washington Snapshot: 119th Congress Preview
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Washington Snapshot: Trump-Vance Administration Preview
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Community Philanthropy Update - November 2024
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Marketing Toolkit: The Center for Community Foundations
Toolkit
We’ve heard your feedback and are thrilled to announce the launch of the new Center for Community Foundations! The Center will act as a dedicated hub for community foundation resources, as well as a place for those who are new to, or curious about, the field to learn more.
We hope you’ll…
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