Need to Know More About National Standards? Come to the Fall Conference!
The Fall Conference for Community Foundations* is fast approaching. I want to make sure that you are aware of several opportunities at the conference to learn about the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations™.
Developed in the spirit of accountability, transparency, and continuous self-improvement, National Standards are evidence that community foundations are committed to excellence for their communities and donors. The Community Foundations National Standards Board (CFNSB), a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations, administers the National Standards accreditation process. The CFNSB is responsible for the quality, value, and integrity of compliance with National Standards and ensures that they remain relevant amid changing policies, procedures, and regulations.
Being accredited by the CFNSB demonstrates that a community foundation is in compliance with the most rigorous standards in philanthropy. It also shows the foundation’s commitment to quality and accountability and adherence to nationally recognized effective practices. This self-regulation strengthens the community foundation field.
As George P. Ferrari Jr., executive director of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, puts it: “For a young and growing community foundation serving a small city and surrounding rural communities, National Standards helped us enormously in building trusting and respectful relationships of integrity with donors, grantees, and professional advisors. The review process and regular sharing of ideas with colleagues at other community foundations continue to be of great value for growing our capacity, expanding our effectiveness, and ensuring our efficiency.”
I hope you’ll make plans to attend the conference session, “The History and Future of the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations,” September 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. You’ll hear insights from the former chair of the CFNSB, Ruben Orduña of The Boston Foundation, and several community foundation colleagues with firsthand experience of the standards accreditation process: Jennifer Leonard, president, Rochester Area Community Foundation; Diana Sieger, president, Grand Rapids Community Foundation; and Brian Frederick, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Lorain County.
It should be an interesting and interactive session as we explore the current relevance of National Standards to community foundations and how the standards may need to evolve to ensure their continuing significance. Please join us and add your ideas to the discussion.
In addition, the CFNSB will have a booth in Community Central throughout the conference. Stop by to talk with CFNSB staff and board members and learn more about the revision of the National Standards that will take place in 2013. If you have already gone through the confirmation or reconfirmation process, we’d love to hear from you, too.
See you in New Orleans!
Daria Teutonico is manager, National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations and CFNSB director, Community Foundation Services, at the Council on Foundations.
* Register for the conference by August 3 to take advantage of the $150 early bird discount.
