What is a Community Foundation?

The first community foundation was formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914.  Today, there are currently over 700 community foundations in the United States. Community foundations are tax-exempt charitable organizations created by the people of a particular community to primarily benefit the people of that particular community.  Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations can create permanent charitable funds that help their region meet the challenges of changing times. The foundation invests and administers these funds.

All community foundations are overseen by a volunteer board of leading citizens and run by professional with expertise in identifying their communities’ needs.In the United States, community foundations serve tens of thousands of donors, administer more than $31 billion in charitable funds, and address the core concerns of nearly 700 communities and regions.