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. 

Bold Strategies to Uplift Humanity in Uncertain Times

Philanthropic institutions are facing mounting challenges in their pursuit of a just world for all. Foundation leaders must confront these legal, communication, and reputational risks head-on support the communities they serve. In this session, tailored for CEOs, participants will learn about…

Understanding Heirs' Property Issues and Opportunities

Heirs’ property is inherited property that has been passed down without a will or other legal instruments and affects a family's ability to maintain stable housing and build intergenerational wealth. Present in all ethnic groups and geographies, it is concentrated in those with lower incomes or…

Affordable Housing Is a Group Project

The session would be focused on the centrality of collaborative, braided funding (public, private, philanthropic) and other resources for affordable housing to effectively address our nation's lack of affordable housing supply. This session is for foundation leadership and staff working on systems…

Opening Plenary Session: United in Giving, Then and Now

Approaching its 250th anniversary, our nation has the opportunity—and the obligation—to reflect: How can these United States truly recognize the contributions of all who live here? And how can we work together on the path toward our ultimate goal: a multiracial, multicultural democracy where…

Advancing Health and Wealth Equity Through a Community-Centered Economic Inclusion Model

Community-centered economic development frameworks drive more accessible economic growth.  These frameworks take an interdisciplinary approach to community development, address social determinants of health, and require collaboration between stakeholders to create grassroots change. Learn…

What Makes Nonprofits Stand Out to Funders?

This discussion will explore what funders (including donors to community foundations) need from nonprofits in order to connect them to funding opportunities and philanthropic investors.  Join a candid conversation about the ways organizations and funders might inadvertently create barriers to…

Addressing Generational Poverty at the ZIP Code Level

In this session, attendees will learn why and how one funder decided to address generational poverty at the ZIP code level to reduce human suffering and improve health outcomes. Presenters will cover how to identify the right lead organization and the right leaders in the community and how to…

Who Defines Community Foundations?

What is a community foundation? State revenue programs, tax credits, and scholarship programs increasingly force state regulators to answer this question. In this session, hear how--through civic engagement and self-regulation--community foundation leaders have successfully positioned Community…

Working Together in Times of Disaster: 2020 to Present

This session will showcase lessons learned in disaster response from the 2020 global pandemic to the 2024 hurricanes that devastated Florida’s Gulf Coast. A collective effort from every department rooted in trust, clarity, and alignment is essential in deploying life sustaining support, as quickly…

Activating Community Leadership Through the Lens of Indigenous Philanthropy

Many philanthropic organizations struggle to build and maintain authentic community relationships, stifling the work they hope to support. Conventional practices and transactional interactions can hinder genuine connection and lasting impact. This session invites you to learn how Indigenous…

A Place-Based Approach to Advancing Economic Mobility

Join CFLeads to learn about community foundations that are leading economic mobility work in their communities. Hear about how these community foundations have navigated the complex social, economic, and political issues that have affected economic mobility in their cities and…

Exploring the Latest Community Foundation Snapshot: FY23 Annual CF Insights Survey Analysis

Join us as we unpack the findings from the CF Insights FY23 Annual Survey, and hear how your peers across the country leverage detailed community foundation business model data to make informed decisions on how to enhance their own operations. David Rosado, the Council's Senior Advisor for…

April 2025 Congressional Recess Packet

Meeting with members of Congress and their team during district work periods are an important time to share more about your foundation’s work and how partnerships with local, charitable organizations to meet community needs. These resources will help you prepare for meetings during this year's…

HR Philanthropy Collaborative - April 2025

This is a peer-led space designed to connect you with human resources leaders at foundations across the country. The group will build meaningful relationships, share resources, and provide a consistent opportunity to engage in collaborative troubleshooting in a trusted environment. Meeting every…

Washington Snapshot: Maintaining the Momentum

In this edition of Washington Snapshot we share how members can continue to build momentum following Foundations on the Hill, as well as everything we continue to track in DC.

Learning Across Differences Ideas Forum - The Connection Opportunity

We begin our Learning Across Differences Ideas Forum series on April 23. Join the Council, More in Common, and the Walmart Foundation for an in-depth discussion of new More in Common research entitled The Connection Opportunity: Insights for Bringing Americans Together Across Difference. The report…
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