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.
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Mari Kuraishi
Mari Kuraishi, Jessie Ball duPont Foundation
Q: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
A: After decades of working on the edges of philanthropy by making loans to sovereign governments and building up a crowdfunding platform, I had become intrigued by the idea that philanthropy extended…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Anne Vela-Wagner
Anne Vela-Wagner, Mars Wrigley Foundation
Q: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
A: The constant challenge to improve the state of our world and the lives of others is humbling, inspiring, complex and an ongoing education. It suits me well because I’m not happy if I’m not learning and…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Jen Rainin
Jen Rainin, Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: My father was an incredibly powerful force in my life. He was curious and creative. He was a great listener, which allowed him to build a medical device company that responded to the needs of…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Lindy Eichenbaum Lent
Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, President and CEO of the Rose Community Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: An insatiable urge to leave this world slightly better than I found it…and a series of career pivots that were unknowingly preparing me for philanthropy. Driven…
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Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - December 2022
A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This traditionally in-person, two-day course adapted to virtual in four, half day sessions helps new and growing community foundation staff build the essential skills they…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - October 2022
A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This traditionally in-person, two-day course adapted to virtual in four, half day sessions helps new and growing community foundation staff build the essential skills they…
Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - July 2022
Created and led by experienced community foundation leaders and Council attorneys, this course includes:
Basic information on governance, resource development and donor relations;
Updates on key legal and legislative issues;
Information on grantmaking; and
Review of community leadership and…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - Virtual - November 2022
Led by the Council on Foundations Legal Team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex rules and…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - Virtual - June 2022
SOLD OUT!
Led by the Council on Foundations Legal Team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of…
Legal Matters for Community Foundations - Virtual - February 2022
Sold Out!
Led by the Council on Foundations Legal Team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and community foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Teresa Miller
Teresa Miller, President and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: After years of working for state and federal governments, philanthropy was appealing because of the opportunity to take a long-term view of addressing problems. While…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Karem Perez
Karem Perez, Motorola Solutions Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: I’ve always sought roles where I knew the work I was doing was making a difference, so it was a perfect fit to lead the Motorola Solutions Foundation. The opportunity to partner with so many…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Nick Aldridge
Nick Aldridge, CEO of the PayPal Giving Fund
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: The people involved - I was lucky enough to start my career in a UK organization supporting nonprofits and enjoyed meeting leaders working to tackle important and often intractable social…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Eva Giglio
Eva Giglio, CME Group Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: Having worked for years in Chicago Public Schools for years prior to this role, I worked closely with philanthropists who helped support many key initiatives for the district. I was excited about the…
Member Week 2021: Foundation Leader Q&A with Peter Dunn
Peter Dunn, Central New York Community Foundation
Question: What drew you to the field of philanthropy?
Answer: I landed in philanthropy by accident. In my late 20's, as a young and disgruntled litigator, I helped to handle a civil case involving embezzlement by a private foundation trustee.…
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