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. 

Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations

Members View the Recording Over the past weeks, COVID-19 has changed most community foundation's disaster and crisis management plans by the hour. As primary local funders throughout this pandemic, many are launching local response funds, shifting to immediate operational and unrestricted grants,…

Washington Snapshot: Congress Passes and President Signs $2 Trillion COVID-19 Bill

The Coronavirus - Prevention Guidelines World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub In This Week's Edition of Snapshot... News from the Council News from the…

Policy Briefing: How the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Bill Impacts Philanthropy

  What is in the $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill that passed Congress on Friday, March 27? How will the bill impact the philanthropic sector? Thank you for joining us on this policy briefing where we heard top experts explain what you need to know in order to support your operations and…

Sample Agreement for Converting Project Grants to General Operating Support

Legal Compliance Guidance, Sample Document
In these unprecedented times, grantors may decide that converting previously awarded project-specific grants to general operating grants is the best way to support grantees and enable them to respond to the needs of their respective communities. While current grant agreements can be revised or…

Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations: Adaptive Grantmaking in Economic Uncertainty

Members View the Recording   Over the past weeks, COVID-19 has changed most community foundation's disaster and crisis management plans by the hour. As primary local funders throughout this pandemic, many are launching local response funds, shifting to immediate operational and unrestricted…

Legal Office Hours for Community, Private and Family Foundations: Grants to Individuals and Businesses

Members View the Recording   Over the past weeks, COVID-19 has changed most foundation's disaster and crisis management plans by the hour. As primary local funders throughout this pandemic, many are launching local response funds, shifting to immediate operational and unrestricted grants, and…

Council Resources for Responding to COVID-19

Curated resources from the Council on Foundations that may be helpful for responding to COVID-19.  indicates this content is available to Council members only. Philanthropy Exchange  COVID-19 Survivors Fund – Open Exchange Fees on COVID-19 Funds – Open Exchange COVID…

How Can We Make Money Available to Individuals in Need During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

Many private and corporate foundations and giving programs are grappling with how to quickly respond to those most in need in their community. This often means funding in new and different ways, including possibly making grants to individuals. Many corporate grantmakers are looking for ways to set…

Washington Snapshot: Congress Considers Third COVID-19 Bill

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub In This Week's Edition of Snapshot... News from the Council News from the Hill…

U.S. Government Action on COVID-19

  Letter to Secretary Ross and U.S. Census Bureau On August 5, 2020, the Council on Foundations joined more than 500 philanthropic leaders to urge Secretary Ross and the US Census Bureau to maintain their original plan to continue counting households through the end of October and ensure…

Top Foundations Pledge Flexible Funding to Grantees in Wake of COVID-19 Crisis

New York, March 19, 2020 — More than 40 major US-based and international foundations announced today to pledge their commitment to more flexible funding to help grantee partners meet emergency needs prompted by the COVID-19 crisis. Signatories include The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,…

A Call to Action: Philanthropy's Commitment During COVID-19

Join the 806 Organizations who have Signed the Pledge! The rapid spread of COVID-19 has created a global health and economic crisis that is testing every one of us. We know that the shocks of this “new normal” are severe and unanticipated for our sector and grantee partners. As leaders in…

How Philanthropy Can Best Support Nonprofits in a Pandemic

  COVID-19 has rocked the United States and threatened the safety, health, and financial security of our communities and the nonprofits that support them. As communities across the US experience the impact of this pandemic to varying degrees, they are also facing different needs. Some, in…

Community Foundation CEO Roundtable: The New Normal - COVID-19

  Council on Foundations and re-constituted affinity group, CEONet, invited CEOs and Executive Directors of community foundations to join a virtual roundtable in response to the growing challenges of COVID-19. In an open exchange of ideas, executives shared perspectives, experiences, and…

Washington Snapshot: Coronavirus Emergency Legislation in Negotiation

The Coronavirus - THE MORE YOU KNOW World Health Organization: Situation Dashboard How Philanthropy Can Respond: Center for Disaster Philanthropy NEW! Council on Foundations: COVID-19 Resource Hub In This Week's Edition of Snapshot... News from the Council News from the Hill…

Funder to Funder Call: Sharing Approaches to COVID-19 Community Response

  View the slides The Council on Foundations hosted a Funder to Funder Call: Sharing Approaches to COVID-19 Community Response on Thursday, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. ET | 11:00 a.m. PT to discuss the emerging challenges of the coronavirus and philanthropy’s response. This conversation…
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