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. 

Career Pathways Alumni Spotlight: Exploring Knowledge Work in Today’s Philanthropy

  Career Pathways is the Council on Foundation’s executive leadership development program with a primary goal to promote diversity among decision makers in the field. The Career Pathways Alumni network is composed of stellar executive leaders committed to advancing equity in the sector. This…

Community Philanthropy Update - August 2022

*/ */ */ Community foundations are key partners in the Council's work to foster a more trusted charitable sector. Take advantage of new offerings. Greetings Friend, At…

Career Pathways 2023 Program Information - October Office Hours

Join us for the 2023 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours and get answers to any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.! The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse backgrounds…

Career Pathways 2023 Program Information - September Office Hours

Join us for the 2023 Career Pathways Program Information Office Hours and get answers to any questions you have about the program, application, Waldman scholarship, etc.! The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse backgrounds…

Career Pathways 2023 Program Information Session

The Career Pathways program is a highly selective pipeline expansion opportunity open to individuals from diverse backgrounds who are currently employed in philanthropic institutions. This leadership development training is designed for mid- to senior-level career professionals committed to…

2022 UN General Assembly Philanthropic Side-Events

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the UNGA side-events will be virtual or hybrid again. This page highlights events that may be of interest to foundations and other philanthropic organizations and includes links to register for each event.  If you are hosting side-events featuring philanthropy…

Responding to Specific Disasters

Use these resources for tailored responses to specific disasters: Kentucky Floods 2022 Afghanistan Earthquake Gun Violence and Mass Shootings New Mexico Wildfires Russian Invasion of Ukraine Hurricane Ida Afghanistan Refugee Crisis 2021 Haiti Earthquake North America Wildfires Hurricane…

Charitable Sector Mourns Loss of U.S. Rep. Walorski

(WASHINGTON) - Today, five national organizations from the U.S. charitable sector released this statement about U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and two of her staff members. The three passed away on August 3, 2022. The organizations are: Independent Sector, Council on Foundations, National Council of…

Building Sustainable and Inclusive Communities: U.S. Philanthropy and the Sustainable Development Goals

Philanthropic organizations in the United States are leading efforts across the country and around the world to build sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities. Together with American city and state leaders, academic institutions, businesses, and non-profits, many philanthropies are using…

Values-Aligned Philanthropy for Community Foundations - Peer Learning Circle Kickoff

Join us for the launch of our new Values-Aligned Philanthropy Peer Learning Circle. This engagement opportunity is designed to connect community foundation staff across the country who are working to explore, design, implement, or refine their organizational values-aligned grantmaking or anti-hate…

Philanthropy's Response to Kentucky Floods

Overview Severe storms dumped torrential rain across eastern Kentucky, causing at least 37 deaths and severe damage to hundreds of houses, bridges and infrastructure. Multiple mudslides, mountainous terrain, and strong currents are delaying rescue missions and thousands are left without water…

ARPA and Philanthropy: Seizing the Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity

  The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) enacted in March 2021 provided a historic commitment of federal funds to address critical needs of communities responding to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Of the larger federal investment, $350 billion is designated for state,…

SDG Learning Community for Community Foundations - Climate Change Communication

Join us for the August meeting of our new Peer Learning Circle dedicated specifically for community foundations who are working on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or are open to learning more about how the SDGs can fit within their work. Meeting Topic: Climate Change…

Community Foundation Advisory Group

Meet the Advisory Group Members The Council on Foundations' new Community Foundation Advisory Group aims to:   Represent diverse community foundation wants and needs to assist the Council in identifying new opportunities to better serve the sector.   Advise the Council’s strategic approach to…

2020 UN General Assembly Philanthropic Side-Events

This page highlights events that may be of interest to foundations and other philanthropic actors and includes links to register for each event. If you are hosting side-events featuring philanthropy that we should include in our calendar, please send event details to brian.kastner@cof.org so we…

Community Philanthropy Update - July 2022

*/ */ */ The Council wants to equip our members to lift your voices as part of our commitment to a strong multicultural democracy. Greetings Friend, The midterm…
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