Community Philanthropy Update - November 2021
A lot of things worth celebrating are on my radar this month – Thanksgiving is coming up and I am looking forward to the baking that entails. We’ve just finished commemorating Community Foundation Week and I am currently enjoying collecting leaves with my daughter after they turn from green to red and gold.
High on my gratitude list is my role here at the Council. It is a privilege and honor to work alongside all of you. You are ensuring philanthropy is a trusted partner in advancing the greater good. As we close out 2021, our community of almost 800 funders, including more than 320 community foundations, is stronger than ever.
Our members are the heart of the Council community, and I’m excited to celebrate all of you during Member Week (December 1-8). We’ll convene virtually to learn from each other and enjoy quality time together during events like our Annual Member Meeting, an Ask Me Anything session about the Council’s new strategic direction, and a peer networking event for donor services staff at community foundations. I hope you can find time to join us and connect with colleagues, get an update on the Council’s progress, and hear from the 2021 Council Awards winners. Visit cof.org to learn more and register for all Member Week activities.
Many of our members have been with us for 50 years or more. This is a testament to their commitment to the betterment of our field and the Council’s commitment to providing services and resources you need to do your work better. Earlier this year, we released a First-Year Member Experience Guide that both new and longtime members can use to make sure you’re getting the most out of your membership. We have also improved several member benefits, such as Community Foundations Excellence Fundamentals workshops and access to the Philanthropy Exchange, and much more is planned for 2022. If you have questions about maximizing your benefits, reach out to the Council’s Membership team.
I’m sending my heartfelt wishes to all of you for a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude for a career driven by purpose, time spent with the people closest to you, and food made and enjoyed with love.
Warmly,
Kathleen Enright
President & CEO
president@cof.org
Council Events
2021 Council Member Meeting
December 2
Members and non-members can attend this event to hear a keynote speech by the winner of the 2021 Distinguished Service Award and remarks from the Council's Board of Directors.
Register Now >>
New Member Orientation: Member Benefits and Networking
December 3
Connect with other new members of the Council community and learn how to maximize the benefits afforded by your membership.
Register Now >>
Ask Me About the Council's New Strategy
December 6
Ask Kathleen Enright and other Council leaders anything about our new strategic direction. Submit a question in advance of this event to ensure your voice is heard!
Register Now >>
Aligning Endowments and Investments with Foundation Values
December 6
Join Tonya Allen of the McKnight Foundation, John Palfrey of the MacArthur Foundation, and Valerie Red-Horse Mohl of the East Bay Community Foundation for a discussion of impact investing and other values-aligned endowment practices.
Register Now >>
Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services
December 7
Join Catherine Cooney of the Montana Community Foundation and Karen Brown of Fairfield County's Community Foundation to create new connections and discuss ways of supporting donors, gift options, and donor engagement.
Register Now >>
Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations
December 7
Join this members-only Q&A discussion with Council attorney Ben McDearmon, who will address your legal questions, trends in community philanthropy, and the latest concerns around foundation best practices.
Register Now >>
Community Foundation Excellence Fundamentals
December 8, 9, 15, and 16
A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This course helps new and growing community foundation staff build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management with the broader understanding of community foundations within the philanthropic sector.
Register Now >>
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
As part of a partnership with Fifth Third Private Bank, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation has announced the launch of Giving with Purpose, a donor-advised fund (DAF). This new resource will allow the eight counties served by the GCF to expand their philanthropic reach and play an active role in targeted grant recommendations.
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Each year, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation recognizes community leaders achieving civic transformation with the Greater Together Awards. This year’s award winners include the leader of a nonprofit that serves survivors of domestic violence, an attorney with a decades-long track record advocating for the rights of migrants, and the founder of a program that trains people of color to make an impact in the real estate industry.
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry
In South Carolina, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry recently announced guidelines for implementing the funds allocated to the region by the American Rescue Plan Act. Community leaders from Hilton Head Island and the foundation will evaluate how and where these federal dollars can create the greatest possible impact in the state’s southernmost counties.
Have a story of impact you want to share? Email us at communityfoundations@cof.org.
Trending Philanthropy Exchange Conversations
Contact Tucker Rush (tucker.rush@cof.org) to learn more about a new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Learning Community for community foundations, led by the Central Florida Foundation. Although the Philanthropy Exchange is available exclusively to Council members, the SDG Learning Community is open to both Council members and nonmembers.
- How Quickly Are Discretionary Grant Awards Decided? - Open Exchange
- Search for Strategic Planning Consultant - Open Exchange
- Hoping to Start an iPhi Best Practices Group - Open Exchange
Legal Question of the Month with Ben McDearmon, Staff Counsel
Question: Our community foundation holds a designated fund for an organization that recently had its 501(c)(3) status revoked due to failure to file its required 990s. Is there any way to make a distribution from a designated fund to a non-501(c)(3)?
Answer:
The first issue is whether your foundation’s policies or the language of the fund agreement restrict distributions only to 501(c)(3) public charities. If that is the case, then unfortunately it would not be possible to make distributions to this organization. However, if you aren’t prohibited from doing so, you could still make distributions to this organization for charitable purposes if you undertake the appropriate due diligence.
This due diligence wouldn’t need to rise to the level of formal expenditure responsibility, but you could look at the steps required to exercise ER as a general guide. Because the organization has lost its charitable status, you’re now limited in the kinds of support that will qualify as charitable activities. For example, general operating support for a non-charity is not permissible, because the organization’s overall activities are no longer inherently charitable. However, you can support specific charitable projects that the organization carries out.
Council Members are encouraged to send any legal inquiries to legal@cof.org.
News & Resources
- Proxy voting for 2022 additions to the Council's Board of Directors is now open. Cast or delegate your vote today!
- Susie Nelson, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley and board chair of the Community Foundation National Standards Board, celebrates the power and resilience of community foundations in this op-ed reflecting on Community Foundations Week.
- The Council's work on values-aligned philanthropy is highlighted in a new article in the Nonprofit Quarterly.
