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.
Webinar Recording: Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations - April 30, 2020
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, and seeking best…
Washington Snapshot: Congress and the White House are Split on the Contents of a Fourth Coronavirus Relief Legislation
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
List of COVID-19 Response Funds
Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus…
COVID-19: Place-Based Grantmakers and Investing in Local Communities
View the Recording
With COVID-19 there seem to be more questions than answers, particularly for funders who want to respond effectively and efficiently. The Council is a co-sponsor of the COVID-19 webinar series from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), which brings expert panelists…
Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations
Members View 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, and…
Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations
Members View 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, and…
Community Foundation CEO Virtual Roundtable
Thank you for joining the Council and CEONet as we reconvened CEOs and Executive Directors of community foundations for a third virtual roundtable in support of the continued efforts by the field to respond and adapt to the challenges of COVID-19.
Executives explored in an open format…
Washington Snapshot: The Battle Lines are Firming Up about the Fourth Coronavirus Relief 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
List of COVID-19 Response Funds
Council's Comprehensive Coronavirus Legislation Guide…
Advice on Charging Administrative Fees During a Crisis
Community foundations often feel like waiving administrative fees is the right thing to do during a disaster or crisis. Or you may feel your community expects you to waive such fees.
And yet waiving administrative fees is almost always a bad business decision. This is especially true when a global…
HR Leaders Peer Exchange: Considerations for Returning to Work
As organizations continue COVID-19 response efforts, HR leaders in philanthropy are thoughtfully introducing innovative practices about returning to work, while coping with new and complex challenges. Join us for a facilitated, small-group dialogue to explore the issues you are considering as you…
Strengthening Cyber Security for Foundations & Nonprofit Partners
COVID-19 has revealed the inadequacies of many foundation and nonprofit virtual strategies. Having an up-to-date cybersecurity strategy is key to ensuring your foundation’s ability to respond to this ongoing crisis while enabling and empowering your nonprofit partners to accomplish their…
Washington Snapshot: Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act passes Congress
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
List of COVID-19 Response Funds
In This Week's Edition of Snapshot...
News from…
Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, 2020 (H.R. 266)
Bill #4 – Enacted April 24, 2020
Approximate appropriation: $484 billion
Comprehensive Coronavirus Legislation Guide for the Charitable Sector
This is a summary of the fourth bill Congress passed to help with the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. This guide highlights the specific provisions…
Tips and Resources for Community Foundations Responding to COVID-19
Responding to your community’s needs during the COVID-19 pandemic is complicated. Your approach to combatting the outbreak and its impact on public health and the economy will differ from place to place. However, effective practices are emerging among community foundations that are applicable and…
How Community Foundations Can Support Individuals and Small Businesses During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Legal Compliance Guidance
During the pandemic, many of us expected the stock market would fare poorly, that there would be long lines at food pantries, and that public health systems would be overwhelmed. Many of us did not expect to see record levels of unemployment, widespread permanent closures of small businesses, or…
Making Grants to Crowdfunding Campaigns During Disasters
Legal Compliance Guidance
You may wonder whether you can make grants to GoFundMe campaigns that are supporting localized efforts during disasters. Proceed cautiously: GoFundMe and many similar crowdfunding platforms are not registered 501(c)(3) public charities, and therefore you need to examine carefully if the campaigns…
Legal Office Hours for Community Foundations
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, and seeking best…
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