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Community foundation

A community foundation is a nonprofit, public charity that pools financial contributions from diverse donors—including individuals, families, businesses, and organizations—to build permanent endowments, which are then invested to generate funds for grants supporting local nonprofits and initiatives addressing community needs in a defined geographic area.^[1] These organizations serve as stewards of philanthropic resources, offering donors tax advantages, donor-advised funds, and legacy planning options while prioritizing broad community benefit over specific family or corporate interests.^[2] Unlike private foundations, community foundations derive support from the public at large and are governed by boards representing diverse community stakeholders to ensure responsiveness to local priorities such as education, health, arts, and economic development.^[3] The concept originated in the United States with the establishment of the Cleveland Foundation in 1914, founded by banker Frederick H. Goff to more efficiently manage and distribute charitable trusts for public good amid growing urbanization and philanthropy needs.^[4] This model spread rapidly in the 1920s to cities like Detroit, Chicago, and New York, but faced challenges during the Great Depression; growth resumed in the 1970s following tax reforms that enhanced their status as public charities with favorable deduction rules.^[4] By the late 20th century, community foundations had evolved to include innovative tools like donor-advised funds—first created in 1931—and expanded globally, adapting to local contexts in regions from Europe to Africa.^[4] As of 2023, nearly 900 community foundations operate across the United States, managing $158.1 billion in assets and distributing approximately $18.7 billion in grants annually to bolster local nonprofits and respond to crises, such as mobilizing over $1 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5]^[6]^[7] As of 2019, more than 1,800 community foundations existed in 52 countries worldwide, with nearly three-quarters established since 1995, reflecting a surge in grassroots philanthropy that fills gaps left by government and larger funders.^[8] These entities emphasize equity, capacity building, and long-term sustainability, often adhering to national standards for transparency and effectiveness to maintain public trust.^[9]

Definition and Characteristics

Core Definition

A community foundation is a public charity, classified as a 501(c)(3) organization in the United States, that accepts tax-deductible donations from diverse individuals, families, businesses, and other sources, pooling these contributions into permanent endowments to facilitate grant-making for the benefit of local nonprofits and community initiatives.^[10] These endowments generate ongoing income to support a wide array of charitable causes, emphasizing responsiveness to the evolving needs of a specific geographic area, such as a city, region, or state.^[11] Internationally, equivalent structures exist under varying legal frameworks, such as registered charities in the United Kingdom or public benefit organizations in other countries, adapting the model to local philanthropic traditions.^[12] In contrast to private foundations, which are generally funded by a single primary source like an individual, family, or corporation and exert direct donor control over grant decisions, community foundations operate as publicly supported entities that promote broad community benefit without centralized donor dominance.^[13] A key feature distinguishing them is the use of donor-advised funds, where contributors can recommend grant recipients while the foundation retains ultimate fiduciary responsibility and ensures alignment with public charitable purposes.^[14] This structure enhances accessibility to philanthropy, allowing smaller donors to participate in impactful giving alongside larger contributions.^[10] The core purpose of a community foundation is to bridge community-identified gaps through strategic philanthropy, cultivating long-term social progress by aggregating and professionally managing resources for sustained support of education, health, arts, and other vital local priorities.^[15] By focusing on collective impact rather than isolated projects, these organizations strengthen civic engagement and resilience in their served areas.^[10]

Key Characteristics

Community foundations are distinguished by six core characteristics that define their operational and structural identity as philanthropic entities. First, they function primarily as grant-making organizations, distributing funds to nonprofit entities, projects, and initiatives that address community needs.^[16] Second, they pursue a broad community mission, aimed at enhancing the overall quality of life within their served area through flexible support for diverse causes such as education, health, and social services.^[16] Third, they maintain a defined geographic focus, typically centered on a specific city, region, or locality, ensuring targeted impact and deep engagement with local priorities.^[16] Fourth, they aggregate resources from multiple donors and manage a variety of funds, allowing contributions from individuals, families, businesses, and other sources to pool into a collective endowment.^[16] Fifth, governance is handled by a local board of volunteers from diverse sectors, who provide oversight and decision-making rooted in community knowledge and involvement.^[16] Sixth, they hold significant endowed assets, often built through long-term investments to ensure financial sustainability and perpetual grant-making capacity.^[10] A key feature enabling donor engagement is the donor-advised fund (DAF), which allows contributors to recommend grant recipients and allocations while the foundation retains ultimate control and legal authority over distributions.^[17] This structure provides donors with advisory input on philanthropic priorities without granting them veto power or operational control, aligning individual giving with the foundation's broader community objectives.^[17] Unlike pass-through charities that distribute funds immediately, community foundations emphasize permanence by investing endowments to generate ongoing income for sustained grant-making over generations.^[10] This approach fosters long-term community resilience, with assets preserved in perpetuity to support evolving needs.^[16] In jurisdictions like the United States, donors to these foundations benefit from tax deductions on contributions, enhancing the appeal of such vehicles.^[17]

History

Origins in the United States

The first community foundation in the United States, and indeed the world, was established in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 2, 1914, by Frederick H. Goff, a prominent banker and president of the Cleveland Trust Company.^[18] Goff, who had risen from a solo legal practitioner to a key figure in Cleveland's financial sector, conceived the model to consolidate fragmented charitable trusts into a single, flexible entity managed by community leaders, allowing funds to adapt to evolving local needs rather than being locked into rigid donor restrictions.^[19] This innovation addressed the inefficiencies of traditional private philanthropy, where small bequests often became obsolete due to unchanging terms amid shifting circumstances.^[4] Goff's motivations were rooted in the industrial-era challenges facing Cleveland, a booming manufacturing hub grappling with rapid urbanization, poverty, and inadequate social services. He envisioned the foundation as a "community savings account" to pool resources from living donors and bequests, enabling systematic investigations into root causes of issues like poverty, hunger, disease, and educational disparities.^[20] The Cleveland Foundation began by consolidating existing endowed trusts held at local banks, with the Cleveland Trust handling investments while an advisory board directed grants toward pressing community priorities, such as the foundation's inaugural 1916 education survey to assess and improve public schooling.^[21] Early funding came from these pooled assets and initial contributions, emphasizing perpetual growth through prudent management rather than a fixed starting sum.^[4] The concept spread rapidly across the United States, with twelve new community foundations established in 1915 alone, including those in Boston, Chicago, and Seattle.^[22] By the 1920s, the model had taken hold in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee, driven by Goff's advocacy and national publicity from the Cleveland Trust, which highlighted the benefits of localized, adaptable giving.^[4] A pivotal milestone came in the 1970s with the Filer Commission's 1975 report, Giving in America: Toward a Stronger Voluntary Sector, which examined the role of philanthropy and recommended enhanced standards for community foundations, including greater transparency, community engagement, and alignment with public needs to standardize and strengthen their practices nationwide.^[23]

Global Expansion

The community foundation model, first developed in the United States, began its international spread shortly after its inception, with early adoptions in neighboring Canada. The Winnipeg Foundation, established in 1921, became the oldest community foundation outside the U.S., modeled after the Cleveland Foundation to pool local philanthropic resources for community needs in Manitoba.^[24] In the United Kingdom, influences from the American approach emerged in the 1970s, leading to the creation of the first UK community foundation in Swindon in 1975, which emphasized local grantmaking and donor-advised funds to address regional priorities.^[25] Following World War II, U.S.-based philanthropies played a key role in exporting the model to Europe and Asia, adapting it to post-war reconstruction and development needs. Organizations such as the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Ford Foundation provided funding and technical support to establish community foundations in these regions, fostering local leadership in philanthropy amid economic recovery efforts. This diffusion accelerated with the formation of global networks; in 2000, the Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) was launched with initial backing from the Mott and Ford foundations to connect and strengthen grantmaker associations worldwide, including those focused on community foundations.^[26] As of 2025, the model has expanded significantly, with over 2,000 community foundations operating in 69 countries, reflecting sustained global growth.^[27]^[28] In Africa, notable expansion occurred in the 1990s, particularly in South Africa, where U.S. foundations like Mott collaborated with local partners to introduce community philanthropy as a tool for post-apartheid equity and development.^[29] Similarly, in Asia, growth has been driven by influences from major philanthropies, such as the Azim Premji Foundation in India, which since 2001 has supported community-based civil society organizations through grants and capacity-building, indirectly bolstering the ecosystem for place-based foundations.^[30]

Structure and Operations

Governance and Administration

Community foundations are typically governed by a board of trustees or directors, composed of 10 to 20 local volunteers who bring diverse expertise from sectors such as business, law, education, philanthropy, and nonprofit management to ensure balanced decision-making reflective of community interests.^[31]^[32] These unpaid board members are often selected through appointment by existing board members, nomination committees, or community stakeholders, with a legal minimum of three members required by state nonprofit laws in the United States.^[32] The board holds ultimate fiduciary responsibility for the organization's mission, finances, and operations, serving without compensation to prioritize public good.^[32] Professional staff support the board's oversight, with a chief executive officer (CEO) or executive director leading daily administration, implementing strategic plans, managing budgets, and representing the foundation in the community.^[32] Additional key staff include program officers who handle grantmaking processes, conduct community needs assessments, and facilitate donor relations, ensuring operational efficiency while aligning activities with board-approved policies.^[32] This structure allows boards to focus on high-level strategy while staff executes programmatic and administrative functions. Decision-making processes emphasize community responsiveness, with boards approving all grants based on periodic needs assessments that identify local priorities in areas like education, health, and economic development.^[32] Donor advisors, who contribute to donor-advised funds, can recommend grant recipients, but they do not exert control; the board retains final authority to modify or veto recommendations, safeguarding the foundation's public charity status and variance power over assets.^[33]^[32] Bylaws and committees further guide these processes, promoting transparency and conflict-of-interest prevention. In terms of legal status, community foundations operate as tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, requiring adherence to federal and state regulations for nonprofit governance and public support.^[32] They must file annual IRS Form 990 returns to report finances, activities, and compliance with the public support test, which ensures a broad donor base and prevents undue influence by any single contributor.^[32] This framework promotes accountability, with boards responsible for maintaining charitable purposes through the organizational and operational tests mandated by the IRS.^[32]

Funding and Investment

Community foundations primarily raise funds through contributions from individuals, families, corporations, and other entities, often in the form of cash, securities, real estate, or planned gifts such as bequests.^[34]^[35] Individual donors frequently establish funds via bequests in wills or trusts, providing long-term support for community needs, while corporate gifts support aligned initiatives like workforce development or environmental projects.^[36]^[37] Family philanthropy often flows through these channels, with donors creating named funds to direct giving over generations.^[38] A significant portion of assets at U.S. community foundations is held in donor-advised funds (DAFs), which allow donors to recommend grant distributions while the foundation manages the funds professionally. On average, as of 2023, DAFs comprise about 30% of community foundation assets, though this can reach 60-70% in larger examples like the Chicago Community Trust, where DAFs accounted for 62% of total assets as of 2022.^[39]^[40] In 2023, DAFs represented 30% of reported assets across participating foundations and received 47% of all gifts.^[39] Endowments at community foundations are managed by professional investment teams or external advisors, employing diversified portfolios that include equities, fixed income, alternatives, and cash equivalents to balance growth and preservation.^[41] These strategies aim for long-term real returns above inflation, typically targeting 5-7% annually net of fees.^[42] In 2024, the average one-year return for community foundation endowments was 11.0%, with a 10-year average of 7.0%.^[43] Payout rates for grants from these endowments generally range from 4-5% of assets annually, ensuring perpetual funding while adhering to minimum distribution requirements.^[44]^[45] The grant-making process at community foundations involves either competitive applications, where nonprofits submit proposals for review, or responsive funding, where staff proactively identify and support local priorities based on donor intent or unrestricted funds.^[46] Grants target community-specific issues such as education, health, and economic development, with average sizes ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on the foundation's scale and focus.^[47]^[48] For instance, the median largest individual award from community foundations was $10,800 as of 2019, while some programs, such as the Silicon Valley Community Foundation's Community Action Grants, averaged $21,000 per grant as of 2025. Recent comprehensive median data is limited, but grant sizes vary by program and economic conditions.^[47]^[48] Board oversight ensures alignment with strategic goals during final approvals.^[49]

Types and Variations

Geographic Scope

Community foundations are primarily distinguished by their geographic scope, which defines the territorial boundaries within which they pool resources, make grants, and foster philanthropy to address community needs. This scope typically ranges from hyper-local to broader regional coverage, with variations allowing for targeted impact while maintaining a commitment to place-based giving. The structure ensures that funds are directed toward improving lives in specific areas, often through component funds or affiliates that align with defined territories.^[10]^[14] Local community foundations concentrate their efforts on a single city, town, or county, enabling deeply tailored support for immediate, place-specific challenges such as education, health, or economic development within that bounded area. These foundations emphasize grassroots engagement, drawing on local knowledge to distribute grants that respond to hyper-local priorities and build enduring community assets. By focusing on a compact geographic footprint, they facilitate efficient resource allocation and strong ties between donors and beneficiaries in the served locale.^[10]^[50]^[51] Regional community foundations extend their reach across multiple counties, metropolitan areas, or even an entire state, addressing interconnected issues like rural-urban disparities or regional infrastructure needs that transcend single locales. This broader territorial focus allows for larger-scale endowments and collaborative grantmaking that bridges diverse communities, often through advisory boards or affiliate structures that maintain oversight while empowering sub-regional decision-making. Such foundations are particularly effective in coordinating resources for area-wide initiatives, ensuring equitable distribution across varied landscapes.^[50]^[52]^[27] While most community foundations adhere to local or regional scopes, national or international affiliates represent a rarer variation, often operating through networks or component funds that support cross-border initiatives or global community philanthropy efforts. These affiliates enable limited expansion beyond traditional boundaries, typically via donor-advised funds or partnerships that align with the host foundation's governance while promoting wider impact. Within any geographic scope, foundations may integrate specialized thematic priorities to enhance their targeted giving.^[53]^[50]^[54]

Specialized Focus Areas

Community foundations can specialize in particular causes, directing their grantmaking and donor engagement toward targeted issue areas such as environmental sustainability, arts and culture, or public health, rather than broad geographic priorities.^[55] These issue-based models allow foundations to address pressing societal challenges through focused endowments and programs, often pooling resources from donors interested in specific outcomes like climate adaptation or cultural preservation. For instance, some community foundations establish dedicated funds for environmental initiatives, providing grants for climate resilience projects that enhance community preparedness against extreme weather and promote sustainable practices.^[56] In the arts, specialized foundations support creative placemaking and artist residencies to foster community vitality and equity in cultural access.^[57] Similarly, health-focused community foundations prioritize grants for equitable access to care, mental health services, and preventive programs, aiming to reduce disparities in underserved populations.^[58] Demographic-specific community foundations tailor their efforts to the needs of particular groups, such as youth, immigrants, or indigenous communities, by creating targeted funds and partnerships that build long-term capacity and inclusion.^[55] Youth-oriented foundations, for example, emphasize education, mentorship, and opportunity-building programs to support children's development and future success.^[59] Foundations serving immigrant communities often fund legal aid, integration services, and economic empowerment initiatives to help newcomers overcome barriers like language access and policy uncertainties.^[60] For indigenous populations, specialized initiatives focus on cultural preservation, leadership development, and addressing systemic inequities through grants to tribal organizations and community-led projects.^[61] Identity-based examples, such as those centered on LGBTQ+ communities, integrate multiple demographic lenses to support housing, health, and youth programs tailored to marginalized identities.^[62] Hybrid models in community foundations blend traditional endowment-based grantmaking with elements of venture philanthropy, incorporating performance metrics, capacity-building support, and sometimes recoverable investments to scale social impact.^[63] This approach draws from venture capital principles, providing not only unrestricted funding but also strategic advising and multi-year commitments to social enterprises and nonprofits addressing specialized issues.^[64] By combining permanent endowments for stability with active investment in high-potential initiatives, these models enable foundations to achieve measurable outcomes in areas like environmental justice or demographic equity, while attracting innovative donors. Such hybrids often integrate with geographic scopes to amplify local relevance without diluting thematic focus.^[65]

Global Presence and Notable Examples

North America

In the United States, community foundations form the backbone of organized philanthropy, with nearly 900 such organizations operating across the country as of 2024.^[66] These foundations collectively manage over $120 billion in assets among their largest 100 members alone, as of 2023, supporting a wide range of local initiatives through donor-advised funds and endowments.^[49] Among the largest by assets in 2023, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation held approximately $15.7 billion, followed by the Tulsa Community Foundation with $6.0 billion and the New York Community Trust with $3.3 billion.^[67] By the end of 2024, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation's total assets reached about $16.2 billion, reflecting growth driven by major tech-sector donations, while the Tulsa Community Foundation stewarded around $6 billion in charitable assets.^[68]^[69] In Canada, there are 208 community foundations actively supporting communities from coast to coast, emphasizing responsive grantmaking tailored to regional needs.^[70] The Winnipeg Foundation, established in 1921 as the country's oldest community foundation, exemplifies this tradition with total assets exceeding $2.4 billion CAD as of September 2024, enabling it to distribute $91.6 million to over 1,100 charities in the fiscal year.^[71]^[72] These foundations often prioritize reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, as seen in targeted grant programs like The Winnipeg Foundation's Reconciliation Grants stream, which funds projects advancing equity and cultural revitalization for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.^[73] Community foundation models in Mexico are emerging, with organizations like the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Cemefi) providing guidance on establishing endowments and donor-advised structures to build sustainable local philanthropy.^[74] A notable example is the Comunalia network, which unites approximately 16 community foundations across Mexico to support local initiatives addressing community needs such as education, health, and social development.^[75] This approach highlights how North American community foundations beyond the U.S. and Canada are adapting to address specific national priorities, such as ecological sustainability in Latin American contexts.^[76]

Europe

Community foundations in Europe have experienced significant growth since the 1990s, evolving into a vital component of local philanthropy and social cohesion efforts, with more than 850 such organizations operating across 26 countries.^[77] This expansion has been supported by national networks and European-level initiatives, such as the European Community Foundation Initiative (ECFI), which facilitates knowledge sharing and peer learning among foundations to address regional challenges like inequality and migration.^[78] EU and EEA funding programs have played a key role in this development, particularly in post-2004 member states like Croatia and Latvia, where grants have bolstered civil society organizations, including community foundations, to promote social integration and sustainable community action.^[79] In the United Kingdom, the community foundation movement has matured into a robust network of 47 accredited organizations, coordinated by UK Community Foundations (UKCF), established in 1991 to advocate for local philanthropy and deliver training.^[80] These foundations manage endowments exceeding £811 million and distribute over £70 million in grants annually, focusing on place-based initiatives that respond to community needs such as health, equality, and inclusion.^[80] A prominent example is Forever Manchester, Greater Manchester's community foundation, which raises funds to support grassroots activities across the region, including projects addressing mental health and social isolation.^[81] Germany hosts one of Europe's largest concentrations of community foundations, with approximately 420 active organizations, many operating under the Bürgerstiftung model that emphasizes citizen-led endowments for local development.^[79] The Alliance of Community Foundations, a national support organization, provides guidance and a Seal of Approval to 263 foundations, ensuring adherence to core principles like transparency and community engagement.^[79] For instance, the Gütersloh Community Foundation, founded in 1996, exemplifies this approach by mobilizing local resources for education, culture, and social welfare projects.^[79] In Berlin, similar efforts are seen through initiatives like the ECFI's hosting by the Association of German Foundations, which fosters cross-border collaboration for urban social cohesion.^[82] EU influences have further shaped these foundations, integrating them into broader strategies for social cohesion, such as through funding for migrant integration and civic participation programs.^[83] The 2020s have marked accelerated growth for European community foundations, driven by renewed interest in Western and Central Eastern Europe amid global disruptions.^[84] Post-Brexit, UK foundations have adapted by prioritizing local leadership and agile grantmaking to fill gaps in community funding previously supported by EU programs.^[79] The Ukraine crisis has prompted further adaptations, with 30 Ukrainian community foundations mobilizing over $760,000 in grants for humanitarian aid since 2022, while neighboring foundations in countries like Hungary and Poland have redirected resources toward refugee support and integration efforts.^[85]

Other Regions

Community foundations in Africa have experienced steady growth, with over 110 active organizations identified across the continent as of recent global surveys, particularly in countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana. These entities often adapt the model to local contexts, emphasizing grassroots philanthropy and civil society strengthening amid challenges like poverty and health crises. For instance, the Southern Africa Trust, established in 2005, supports community foundations in the region by providing grants and capacity-building to enhance participation in policy processes aimed at reducing inequality.^[8]^[86]^[87] In Asia, community foundations are emerging in diverse forms, influenced by rapid urbanization and varying regulatory environments. In India, organizations like Dasra operate as hybrid strategic philanthropy platforms, bridging funders and nonprofits to address social issues such as adolescent well-being and education, having facilitated over USD 10 million in collaborative giving since 1999. In China, post-2010 developments have seen government-linked foundations proliferate, with initiatives like the conversion of municipal charity federations into community foundations in cities such as Shenzhen, reflecting state encouragement of localized philanthropy while maintaining oversight. By 2018, foundations accounted for nearly 45% of charitable donations in the country, underscoring their role in social service delivery.^[88]^[89]^[90]^[91] Latin America's community foundation landscape features innovative community funds integrated with corporate and public efforts, particularly in Brazil where interest in the model has grown since the early 2000s. Itaú Social, founded in 1993 as part of the Itaú Unibanco group, functions as a major community-oriented initiative, investing in public education improvements through research, training, and partnerships that have supported thousands of educators and schools nationwide. These efforts align with broader consultations highlighting the potential of community foundations to manage social investments and foster local development.^[92]^[93]^[94] In Oceania, particularly New Zealand, community foundations prioritize regional equity and indigenous priorities, with 18 such organizations operating across Aotearoa as of 2025. The Taranaki Foundation (also known as Toi Foundation) exemplifies an indigenous-focused approach, directing grants toward Māori aspirations, child and youth well-being, and environmental sustainability in the Taranaki region, having distributed over NZD 200 million since its inception to build inclusive communities. This model emphasizes local endowments and collaboration to address disparities faced by Māori and Pacific peoples.^[95]^[96] As of 2025, a notable trend in these regions is the adoption of digital platforms to enhance diaspora giving, enabling remote contributions to community foundations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Initiatives like RemitHope in Africa use fintech to channel remittances into local impact projects, while platforms such as iDiaspora facilitate global connections for philanthropy, amplifying homegrown efforts through online fundraising and engagement tools.^[97]^[98]

Impact and Challenges

Community foundations play a pivotal role in fostering social and economic development by channeling substantial resources into local initiatives. In the United States, these organizations distributed nearly $19 billion in grants in 2023.^[99] This scale of grantmaking enables broad support for vital sectors, including case studies from the 2020s where community foundations allocated funds for disaster relief, such as climate resilience programs responding to extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires.^[100]^[101] The economic effects of these investments extend far beyond initial outlays, creating multiplier effects that amplify community value. Research indicates that foundation grants generate broader economic benefits through job creation in supported organizations and the mobilization of volunteers.^[102] These multipliers arise from the local recirculation of funds, stimulating employment in human services, education, and health-related fields while enhancing overall economic resilience.^[102] On the social front, community foundation grants have advanced equity in key areas such as education and health, funding programs that reduce disparities in access and outcomes for underserved populations. As of 2025, philanthropy shows continued but challenged commitment to DEI initiatives amid federal scrutiny and scaling back in some areas.^[103] This shift has supported targeted interventions, including scholarships for diverse students and health services in marginalized communities, yielding measurable improvements in equity metrics over the decade.^[104]

Criticisms and Limitations

Community foundations have faced criticism for their over-reliance on wealthy donors, which can perpetuate inequality in grantmaking. This dependence often leads to funding priorities that align more closely with donor interests than community needs, resulting in underinvestment in marginalized groups. For instance, an analysis of 25 community foundations revealed that only 1% of grants from 2016 to 2018 explicitly benefited Black communities, despite Black individuals comprising about 15% of the local population in those areas, equating to just $6 per Black person compared to $78 overall.^[105] Such disparities exacerbate systemic inequities, as the pressure to attract large donations from affluent individuals undermines the foundations' role in serving diverse community interests.^[106] Another common critique is the slow pace of grant processes, which hinders timely responses to urgent community needs. Grantees frequently report frustration with lengthy application timelines and decision-making delays, even as nonprofits face immediate crises like post-pandemic recovery efforts.^[107] This sluggishness contributes to the "nonprofit starvation cycle," where delayed funding forces organizations to underinvest in operations and staff, amplifying financial strain during pressing times.^[108] Limitations of community foundations include significant regulatory hurdles in international contexts, particularly the absence of tax incentives in many countries. Without comparable deductions to those in the U.S., cross-border grantmaking by corporate and private foundations is deterred, limiting the scale and efficiency of global philanthropic efforts.^[109] Additionally, these organizations are vulnerable to market downturns, as their endowments are heavily invested in financial assets. During the 2008-2009 economic crisis, community foundations experienced sharp asset declines—such as the McKnight Foundation's $700 million loss—and anticipated grant reductions, with over 60% of surveyed Southeastern foundations planning cuts in 2010 due to depressed endowments.^[110] In 2025, community foundations grapple with donor fatigue, as declining engagement and shrinking budgets challenge fundraising amid economic and political headwinds.^[111] The integration of AI and automation in philanthropy presents further hurdles, including ethical concerns like bias against underserved communities, insufficient funding for tools and training (with 90% of foundations offering no AI support to grantees), and barriers to adoption such as staff expertise gaps and security risks.^[112] Compounding these issues are ongoing calls for greater transparency in donor-advised fund (DAF) spending, where limited public disclosure allows funds to sit idle without accountability; reform advocates urge mandatory reporting on distributions to ensure timely charitable use and prevent misuse.^[113] Strong governance practices can help mitigate these transparency gaps by enforcing internal oversight mechanisms.^[114]

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Create a legacy fund at WCF. One bequest can support many causes, now and in the future. Your fund can: Distribute gifts immediately after your estate is ...Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
[34]
Types of Funders and Alternative Giving Options
Funders include community, corporate, family, independent, operating, private, and public foundations. Alternative options include crowdfunding, individual ...
[35]
Types of Funds | The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
The six fund types are: Community, Field of Interest, Donor Advised, Scholarship, Agency, and Designated Funds.
[36]
[PDF] Community Foundations and Donor Advised Funds
- On average, DAFs comprise about 29 percent of a community foundations assets. ... - For the average community foundation, 42 percent of their DAFs can be ...
[37]
2022 CF Insights Results: Data Lists Distribution Rate
... donor-advised funds divided by total foundation assets. Rank, Foundation, Distribution rate, Percent total assets DAF. 1, The Chicago Community Trust, 37%, 62%.
[38]
2023 CF Insights Results: Funds | Council on Foundations
DAFs are a significant source of fund activity within the field and within this data sample. In 2023, they made up 30% of all reported assets, received 47% of ...
[39]
Council on Foundations-Commonfund Study of Foundations Released
Aug 24, 2022 · Five years ago, in 2018, 10-year returns averaged 5.5 percent for private foundations and 5.3 percent for community foundations, a level low ...
[40]
Investment Policy and Guidelines
The primary objective of the Community Foundation's investment program is to achieve a long term real return (after inflation) of 5% per year. The investment ...Missing: rates | Show results with:rates
[41]
Foundations' Endowed Portfolios Produced Double-Digit Investment ...
Aug 27, 2025 · Similarly, for the 101 participating community foundations, the average 2024 return was 11.0 percent, from 14.1 percent in 2023. This marks the ...
[42]
Endowment Calculator - Community Foundation of Broward
Projections assume annual return of 7%, administration fees of 1.5% and an annual distribution rate of 5%. Administrative fees vary by Fund. No market value ...
[43]
Foundations Can Increase Payouts: Here's How - FSG
May 1, 2020 · Every foundation is free to determine its own payout percentage as long as it equals or exceeds 5%, and that percentage does not need to be the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[44]
2025 Grantmaking Overview - Connecticut Community Foundation
Our average grant size is between $5,000 – $15,000. (Please refer to each of our priority funding areas to see the range of awards for that area.) We do not ...
[45]
34 Grant Statistics for 2020 - Submittable Blog
May 21, 2025 · The median largest individual award received from community foundations in 2019 was $10,800. The median largest individual award received ...
[46]
Silicon Valley Community Foundation awards $2.4M to small local…
Jun 23, 2025 · The average grant size is $21,000. The Community Action Grants ... View the list of grant recipients from SVCF's Community Action Grants here.
[47]
2023 CF Insights Results: Assets, gifts, and grants
Changes in gift and grant activity Change rates varied by asset size cohort: the median community foundation with less than $25M in assets saw a 10% year over ...Missing: average | Show results with:average
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Resource Development - Community Foundation National Standards
6.6 Does the board follow the applicable state laws when making decisions by teleconference or written consent? Note: Many states require unanimous written ...Missing: administration | Show results with:administration
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What Is a Community Foundation? Definition, Pros and Cons, and ...
Dec 17, 2024 · Community foundations are grantmakers that serve a defined area—such as a city, county, or state— and draw their funding from multiple sources ...
[50]
Viewpoint | Analyzing Community Foundation Data by Region
Nov 7, 2023 · 2022 community foundation returns were negative across regions. The best relative return was -12.1 percent for community foundations in the South.
[51]
Community Foundation 101: Understanding Their Role and Value in ...
Oct 16, 2025 · Community foundations originated in the early 20th century, primarily to improve the management of charitable trust funds and enable more ...Missing: definition facts
[52]
U.S. Community Foundations Increase Their International Giving
Sep 25, 2018 · Our data show that while international grantmaking is becoming increasingly common among community foundations—in 2014, 85 percent of large U.S. ...A Donor-Driven Trend? · Community As Place Vs... · Not Just GrantmakingMissing: worldwide statistics<|control11|><|separator|>
[53]
Global Fund for Community Foundations
We create partnerships with organizations that are building community philanthropy around the world, supporting their efforts with small grants and advice.Grants to foster community... · What we do · About us · What we stand for
[54]
Philanthropy: A Primer
Oct 22, 2024 · There are also identity- or issue-based community foundations, such as the Stonewall Community Foundation, which was founded by and for the ...
[55]
Environmental Resilience | Triangle Community Foundation
Funding is available to increase awareness of conservation and climate issues and increase climate resiliency of communities.Overview And Impact Area... · Grantmaking · Eligibility
[56]
BCF & The Arts - Baltimore Community Foundation
Oct 10, 2023 · BCF's advocacy, strategic grantmaking and service to arts-focused fundholders, are ensuring Baltimore remains a vibrant center for arts and culture.
[57]
Healthy Communities Foundation – A health conversion foundation ...
We are a community-informed health conversion foundation dedicated to measurably improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.About Us · Our Community Space · Board & Staff · Our Approach
[58]
YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis | As ...
Our mission at YouthBridge Community Foundation is to partner with donors to help charities in the St. Louis region, especially those focused on children.Donors · Businesses · Advisors · Nonprofits<|separator|>
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Fund for Belonging - Community Foundation Sonoma County
The Fund for Belonging The Community Foundation has long recognized that immigrant communities are central to the vitality and resilience of the region.Missing: causes | Show results with:causes<|control11|><|separator|>
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Arizona Indigenous Philanthropy - Arizona Community Foundation
Arizona Indigenous Philanthropy seeks to ignite the culture of Indigenous peoples to cultivate sacred, healthy communities while addressing root challenges.
[61]
Stonewall Community Foundation
### Summary of Stonewall Community Foundation
[62]
[PDF] Investing in Beneficial Corporations - Collier Community Foundation
Jun 12, 2024 · • Venture Philanthropy. • The model incorporates elements of Venture capital, For-profit joint ventures,. Public/Private Partnerships and ...
[63]
Venturing a Bet on Giving - Chronicle of Philanthropy
Venture philanthropy also is leading some traditional foundations and community funds to adopt their own venture-philanthropy models. The James Irvine ...
[64]
[PDF] Community Foundations: - The Funders Network
4. Opportunities for national and regional funders to leverage the power of community foundations as conduits for meaningful local investments.
[65]
Community Foundations – Driving Impact in a Dynamic Landscape
Jun 21, 2024 · In this investment perspective, we reflect upon the challenges facing community foundations and share strategies to enhance their impact.
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2023 CF Insights Results: Data Lists Assets - Council on Foundations
Rank, Foundation, Assets, Fiscal year end. 1, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, $15,689,563,101, 31-Dec. 2, Tulsa Community Foundation, $6,007,174,000 ...
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Consolidated Statements of Financial Position 2024
Dec 31, 2024 · Assets, 2024, 2023. Cash and Cash Equivalents, $260,107, $81,386. Investments, $15,712,351, $13,375,034. Contributions and Grants Receivable ...
[68]
Financial and Legal Information | Tulsa Community Foundation
We got our start in 1998, and today we steward $6 billion in charitable assets for community good. ... As of December 31, 2024 · As of December 31, 2023 · As ...
[69]
Community Foundations of Canada – Relentlessly pursuing a future ...
Our 208 community foundations are actively contributing to Canadian communities from coast to coast to coast, helping donors match their interests to community ...Contact Us · Local Community · Our People · Current Initiatives
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THE WINNIPEG FOUNDATION - Charity Data
4200: Total assets ($). 2,412,048,500. 1,653,601,304. 1,568,697,445 ... The Forks Foundation Inc. Winnipeg. MB. 297,135. 0. 2024. The Winnipeg Art Gallery.
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2024 Winnipeg Foundation Annual Report Summary - Issuu
Jan 22, 2025 · Ultimately, because of our generations of incredible donors, in 2024 we were able to distribute approximately $91.6 M back to 1,100 charities – ...Missing: oldest | Show results with:oldest
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Reconciliation Grants - The Winnipeg Foundation
A Reconciliation Grants stream was developed, aimed at providing charitable organizations with grants to advance reconciliation in the community.
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[PDF] Mexico Community Foundations: A Comprehensive Profile
guidance to Mexico's community foundations, Cemefi defined an endowment (fondo patrimonial) as a fund that is established by a nonprofit organization for ...
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Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza A.C. (FMCN)
FMCN is a national private entity based in Mexico with the mission to provide strategic technical and financial support to sustain Mexico's natural treasure.
[75]
[PDF] Mexico - International Community Foundation
We are proud to share with you that in FY2021, ICF provided 292 grants to 135 organizations in Mexico, totaling over $8.7 million. The.
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[PDF] Community Foundations in Europe – State of the Field 2022 - ECFI
The more than 850 community foundations in 22 countries across Europe are impressive proof of how philanthropy and local action.
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https://www.communityfoundations.eu/atlas-cf.html
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UK Community Foundations
We are a national network of community foundations, bringing together people and organisations that want to improve their communities.UKCF · Contact Us · Partner with us · How we work
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About Us - Forever Manchester
Forever Manchester is Greater Manchester's Community Foundation, the only charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater ...
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Contact Us | ECFI
info@communityfoundations.eu c/o Association of German Foundations Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 34 | 10178 Berlin | Germany Phone +49 30 89 79 47-0 | Fax -91
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[PDF] A GUIDE TO COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS IN GERMANY.
kinds of community foundations in Europe inspires ideas and leads to important new insights. A look behind the scenes. Community foundations in Germany assume.
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50 years of community foundations in the UK and Europe
May 15, 2025 · Now there are over 850 community foundations across the UK and Europe. They are part of the global community foundation movement which continues ...
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[PDF] The Role of Ukraine's Community Foundations in a Time of War
Apr 16, 2025 · Since February 2022, the GFCF has made grants totalling more than US $760,000 to 15 community philanthropy organizations in Ukraine. Funders ...Missing: 2020s Brexit
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Southern Africa Trust
At the Southern Africa Trust, we work to strengthen the voice and agency of poor people in policy processes to reduce poverty and inequality in southern Africa.Grantmaking · Contact Us · Our Staff · CareersMissing: examples | Show results with:examples
[85]
Southern Africa Trust, Small Grants and Capacity Building Program ...
The project goal is to expand and strengthen the community foundation field in southern Africa. Over the last two years, the Southern Africa Trust has worked ...Missing: examples network<|separator|>
[86]
Dasra Home Page
Dasra drives collaborative action to accelerate social change. In 1999, Dasra began as a venture philanthropy fund to invest in early-stage non-profit ...Careers · Our Team · What we do · Who we are
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Rebuild India Fund - Dasra US
The Rebuild India Fund was built off of Dasra's 2021 COVID relief campaign - #BackTheFrontline – which raised USD 10+ million, supporting 152 NGOs across 31 ...
[88]
Community Foundations in China: In Search of Identity? - jstor
Dec 20, 2017 · municipal government proclaimed that Shenzhen would convert all its city- and district-level charity federations into community foundations in ...Missing: linked | Show results with:linked
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[PDF] The Development and Operation of Foundations in China
Serving as the fundraising departments for their founding government agencies, the early foundations were designed to qualify for the nonprofit sta- tus ...
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Because Education spans from good morning to thank you, from the ...
Itaú Social Mobilize. Provides opportunities for voluntary involvement in actions organized by the Itaú Mobilize committees and offers information about the ...
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Itaú Social - Vera Solutions
Founded in 1993, Itaú Social is one of the largest organizations dedicated to improving the public education sector in Brazil. Its work involves training ...
[92]
[PDF] Consultation Process Report Brazil
This consultation process revealed a growing interest in the community foundation concept in Brazil, particularly regarding its potential to manage social ...<|separator|>
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Community Foundations NZ: Smarter giving for local impact
There are 18 Community Foundations across Aotearoa New Zealand. See what they're up to in your region. Find my local Community Foundation · Community ...Your local foundations · What is a community... · Meet our teams · Charities
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Toi Foundation: Empowering Taranaki Communities for 35+ Years
Discover how Toi Foundation has contributed over $200M to support Taranaki's thriving, inclusive, & equitable community.
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RemitHope Mobilizes Diaspora Giving for Impact - NCFA Canada
Oct 7, 2025 · As reported by Devex on October 3, 2025, RemitHope is redefining how diaspora remittances fund local impact across Africa. A fintech-powered ...Missing: emerging | Show results with:emerging
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iDiaspora: Homepage
Aug 15, 2025 · iDiaspora is a digital hub to connect, learn and contribute. It is a community driven digital space, designed to empower diaspora engagement and ...Young Diaspora Leaders · Initiatives · Contact Us · Log in
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CF Insights Survey Results - Council on Foundations
In 2023, participating community foundations held over $152 billion in assets, received over $16 billion in gifts, and gave nearly $19 billion dollars in grants ...
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Community Funds Award Record Amount in Grants, Survey Shows
Nov 4, 2025 · The Columbus survey found that community foundations gave away a median of 8 percent of the prior year's market value of their assets. Although ...
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Disaster Grantmaking | Council on Foundations
In this stage, funders play a key role by making strategic investments that can address chronic social and environmental challenges in the impacted community.Missing: 2020s | Show results with:2020s
[100]
Climate Resilience Fund – Building Resilience, Together
The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) is announcing 21 grants totaling $2.2M to help communities across the country plan and prepare for extreme ...Grants · About · Our Team · Initiatives
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[PDF] THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF PRIVATE ... - Sonecon
This analysis finds that the grants and other operations of foundations generate very large economic returns. While the benefits vary in size across various ...
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The State of DEI in Philanthropy: Are Funders Still Prioritizing Equity?
Mar 9, 2025 · Community Foundations: Many local grantmakers are stepping up to fill gaps in DEI funding. How Nonprofits Can Secure DEI-Focused Grants.
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Philanthropy and DEI: Building on momentum post-2020
Nov 14, 2023 · Since the spring of 2020, many grantmaking organizations have reexamined their DEI practices across the board, especially those that did not ...
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NCRP Report: Too Many Local Community Foundations Still ...
Aug 26, 2020 · Analysis of publicly available data finds that among some of the largest community foundations, only 1% of grants are explicitly designated for Black ...<|separator|>
[105]
Pressure to Win Big Donors Is a Problem for Many Community ...
The great tragedy of tipping toward donors at the expense of community interests is that it undermines the essential and unique role that community foundations ...
[106]
How Foundations Infuriate Grantees, and Offer Glimmers of Hope
Aug 5, 2025 · The vehicles, processes, and flows of private institutional giving are evolving, slowly. They are worth watching if you want to stand out ...
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The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle - Stanford Social Innovation Review
The survey found that 36 percent of respondents felt pressure from government agencies, 30 percent felt pressure from donors, and 24 percent felt pressure from ...Essentials Of Social... · Funders' Unrealistic... · Proper Care And Feeding
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Legal Framework for Global Philanthropy: Barriers and Opportunities
The lack of tax incentives in many countries may deter more substantial grantmaking by corporate foundations, in particular. As in the case of disaster relief, ...
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Foundation Grantmaking during the 2008–2009 Economic Collapse
Mar 21, 2009 · Public foundations, such as community foundations and re-granters, may use a different calculus for responding to economic downturns than do ...
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20 Key Challenges for US Charities in 2025 and How to Overcome ...
Jan 13, 2025 · This article will explore the key challenges facing nonprofits today, including declining donor engagement, increasing competition for funding, ...
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AI With Purpose: How Foundations and Nonprofits Are Thinking ...
A nationally representative survey of nonprofits and foundations reveals how organizations are engaging with AI, top concerns they share, and lagging ...Missing: automation challenges
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The Independent Report on DAFs - Inequality.org
Apr 7, 2025 · In the absence of adequate transparency, DAFs are ripe for mistreatment by donors and for-profit actors. And every year, more charitable dollars ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
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Foundation Posts Donor-Advised-Fund Data to Quell Criticism
Nov 3, 2025 · In an effort to curb criticism about donor-advised funds, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation has made public a searchable catalog of ...