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.
Leading Together 2019 Conference - Learning Labs
Learning Labs & Tech Bars
Your conference experience won’t be complete without taking in a Learning Lab or Tech Bar session. You can develop your skills while engaging with your peers and learning from the experts. The Learning Labs are presented in 45-minute learning segments and are…
Webinar Recording: Fostering the Grassroots Leadership Capacity of Community
Recording
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Community Foundations around the country recognize that they must deploy capital beyond financial assets to improve their regions. At the same time, our community leadership has grown frustrated by the pace of change. Most of these leaders have come to understand that they…
Community Foundation Scholarship Programs: From A to Z
Members, View the Recording
In this month’s “Lunch with Legal Counsel” webinar, Ben McDearmon, Law Clerk and Legal Administrator with the Council, continues our March scholarship series after our discussion earlier in the month on Post-Graduation Scholarships. Ben guides attendees on an exploration…
Leading Together 2019 Conference - Plenary Sessions & Leadership in Action Series
Plenary Sessions & Leadership in Action Series
We all came together to discuss the crucial opportunities and issues facing philanthropy today. We covered topics including inclusivity and leadership, bridging divides, addressing climate vulnerability, creating inclusive economic prosperity,…
Celebrating the Council on Foundations' 70th Anniversary
Celebrate the Council’s 70th birthday in true Miami beach style! Attendees will be immersed in the tropical essences and pulsing energy of South Beach, as we celebrate with the very best music, fine cuisine, and entertainment South Beach has to offer.
Webinar Recording: Preventing and Ending Homelessness by Removing Legal Barriers: A Partnership Taking Best Practice to Scale
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While housing, employment and other supportive services are critical to prevent and end homelessness, the reality is legal barriers such as bad credit, unpaid child support, unpaid fines and tickets, outstanding warrants and criminal records present a hard stop that only…
Post-Graduation Scholarships: What Are They and How Can You Use Them?
Members, View the Recording
Interested in alleviating the student loan debt crisis and attracting needed talent to your community? Then this webinar is for you! Last year, the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act was introduced in Congress. This bill would allow charitable…
Reimagining Council Membership
A New Way Forward
It is an important time for the Council on Foundations. We are reflecting on our role in the changing landscape of philanthropy and the road ahead of us. Above all, we are committed to thinking creatively and responsively about how we best serve Council members.
A first step…
Sample Fund Activity Policy
Sample Document
This sample fund activity policy provides language that you can either use in a stand-alone policy or incorporate into an existing donor-advised fund agreement or policy.
Sample Gift Acceptance Policy
Sample Document
Sample policies for gift acceptance, including ethical standards, who has authority to accept gifts on behalf of the foundation, types of gift assets, and more.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on…
Sample Gift Acknowledgement Letter for IRA Transfer
Sample Document
This document is a customizable gift acknowledgement letter for an IRA transfer.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an attorney-client…
Closing the Needs Gap
According to The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s recent Strengthening Grantees Report, there is a gap between the support foundations provide and the support nonprofits actually need, which is pervasive and challenging to overcome. Can funders support grantees’ actual needs when…
Lunch & Closing Plenary - Activating Levers of Social Change: Philanthropy, Policy, and Justice
As we work to create change within communities and within systems, we must also strengthen how we leverage political advocacy in order to be effective. In this plenary, public and private sector leaders will discuss tools, tactics, and strategies for building and wielding political power to support…
Sample Policy on Records Retention and Destruction
Sample Document
Sample formal policy on records retention and destruction for board approval.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an attorney-client relationship,…
Sample Due Diligence Policy for Grantmaking
Sample Document
Sample internal policies and procedures for grantmaking due diligence.
This sample document is being provided for informational and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an attorney-client relationship, and the…
Sample Affiliate Fund Agreement
Sample Document
Editable sample affiliate fund agreement to establish a permanently endowed charitable fund.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an attorney-…
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