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The role of a community foundation is to
assist people and organizations in making
a difference. A community foundation
fulfills its role by facilitating
charitable giving, initiating responses to
targeted needs, and building permanent
funds for the benefit of the community.
Community foundations offer donors many
services and benefits. They routinely work
with families, individuals, estate
planners, and attorneys to design gift
plans that fit every economic situation so
that donors can receive the most benefit
from their charitable contributions and
ensure their philanthropic dollars are
used to the fullest extent. All community
foundations share the common goal of
serving donors, non-profit organizations,
and the community as a whole.
Community foundations are one of the
fastest growing sectors of philanthropy in
the United States today. They build and
strengthen communities by making it
possible for a wide range of donors to
create permanent, named funds to meet
critical needs. Community foundations have
become catalysts for improvement within
urban centers and in rural settings and
have a long tradition of helping bring
about thoughtful, effective change. The
first one was started in 1914, and there
are now more than 650 throughout the
United States.
Community foundations have in-depth
knowledge of their communities. We remain
alert to emerging needs in order to
respond quickly and effectively. We
convene groups—including donors, nonprofit
leaders, and elected officials—to work
together on community problem-solving.
Greater giving and volunteering is
fostered by CTF in our communities.
Community Foundation Staff spend most of
their time in the community understanding
challenges, identifying opportunities, and
recognizing successful organizations. We
also identify current and emerging issues,
stimulate resources to address those
opportunities, and help our region prepare
for the future.
Over 700 Community Foundations in the
United States collectively hold more than
$4.48 billion in assets.
In 2006, community foundations gave $3.6
billion to a wide variety of nonprofit
activities, including urban affairs, the
arts, education, environmental projects,
and health and disaster relief, a 13.2%
increase over 2005. And, 60% of community
foundations expect their giving to
increase in 2007.
Community foundations received an
estimated $5.6-billion in 2005, up 45%
increase over the previous year. They
accept gifts of various sizes and types
from private citizens, corporations,
government agencies and other foundations.
Nearly every type of gift—including real
estate, closely held stock and artwork—can
be contributed to a community foundation.
Gifts are made from bequests and by living
donors through various types of funds and
deferred giving vehicles.
More than 260 community foundations in the
United States recently earned the National
Standards Seal from the Council on
Foundations for attaining the highest
standards for grant making integrity and
accountability.
The community foundation model has spread
throughout the world, including the
Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand,
Canada and Mexico, Eastern and Western
Europe, Russia and the former Soviet
Republics and is rapidly expanding across
Africa.
The 2005 Community Foundation Global
Status Report published by Worldwide
Initiatives for Grant maker Support
(WINGS), estimates that there are at least
1,175 community foundations in 46
countries outside the United States, with
at least another 154 in development around
the world.
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