National Association of Community Foundations

National Association of Community Foundations is a non-profit organization that serves as a trade association for community foundations in the United States. The organization is affiliated with the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, and works closely with other philanthropic organizations such as United Way, The Ford Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The National Association of Community Foundations provides resources, training, and networking opportunities for its members, which include over 700 community foundations across the country, such as the New York Community Trust, The Chicago Community Trust, and the California Community Foundation. These community foundations, in turn, work with local organizations, such as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and the Salvation Army, to address community needs and promote philanthropy.

● History

The National Association of Community Foundations was established in 1989 to support the growing number of community foundations in the United States. The organization's early years were marked by collaboration with other philanthropic organizations, including the Council on Foundations, The Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In the 1990s, the National Association of Community Foundations began to focus on issues such as community development, education, and healthcare, working with organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Today, the organization continues to evolve, addressing emerging issues such as climate change, social justice, and economic inequality, in partnership with organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Open Society Foundations.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The mission of the National Association of Community Foundations is to support and strengthen community foundations, enabling them to better serve their communities and promote philanthropy. The organization's objectives include providing training and technical assistance to its members, advocating for policies that support community foundations, and fostering collaboration among community foundations and other philanthropic organizations, such as the United Nations Foundation, The World Bank, and the International Rescue Committee. The National Association of Community Foundations also works to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the philanthropic sector, partnering with organizations like the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, The Philanthropic Initiative, and the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. Additionally, the organization seeks to increase public awareness of the importance of community foundations and the role they play in addressing community needs, working with media outlets like the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Times, and Philanthropy News Network.

● Membership_and_Services

The National Association of Community Foundations has over 700 member community foundations, which are located in all 50 states and represent a diverse range of communities, from urban centers like New York City and Los Angeles to rural areas like Appalachia and the Great Plains. The organization offers a range of services to its members, including training and technical assistance, networking opportunities, and access to resources and expertise, provided by partners like the Harvard Business School, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania. The National Association of Community Foundations also provides advocacy and policy support, working to advance the interests of community foundations and the communities they serve, in collaboration with organizations like the National Council of Nonprofits, The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and the Alliance for Justice. Members of the National Association of Community Foundations include well-known community foundations like the Boston Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, and the Dallas Foundation, as well as smaller, rural community foundations like the Appalachian Community Fund and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership.

● Programs_and_Initiatives

The National Association of Community Foundations offers a range of programs and initiatives to support its members and advance the philanthropic sector, including the Community Foundation Excellence program, which provides training and technical assistance to community foundations, and the National Standards for Community Foundations program, which promotes excellence and accountability within the sector, in partnership with organizations like the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and the Charity Navigator. The organization also offers a range of networking opportunities, including the annual National Conference on Community Foundations, which brings together community foundation leaders and professionals from across the country, and the Community Foundation Leadership Network, which provides a forum for community foundation leaders to share knowledge and best practices, with support from organizations like the Aspen Institute, The Brookings Institution, and the Urban Institute. Additionally, the National Association of Community Foundations has launched initiatives to address emerging issues such as disaster relief and recovery, working with organizations like the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and the Habitat for Humanity, and to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the philanthropic sector, in collaboration with organizations like the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, The Philanthropic Initiative, and the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.

● Leadership_and_Governance

The National Association of Community Foundations is led by a board of directors composed of community foundation leaders and professionals, who are elected by the organization's members, and a staff of experienced professionals, who provide support and expertise to the organization's members, with guidance from organizations like the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, The Alliance for Justice, and the National Council of Nonprofits. The organization's president and CEO is Steve Moore, who has extensive experience in the philanthropic sector, having worked with organizations like the Council on Foundations, The Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The National Association of Community Foundations also has a number of committees and task forces that focus on specific issues and areas of interest, such as community development, education, and healthcare, which are supported by organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

● Impact_and_Achievements

The National Association of Community Foundations has had a significant impact on the philanthropic sector, providing support and resources to community foundations and promoting excellence and accountability within the sector, in partnership with organizations like the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and the Charity Navigator. The organization's efforts have helped to increase public awareness of the importance of community foundations and the role they play in addressing community needs, with support from media outlets like the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Times, and Philanthropy News Network. The National Association of Community Foundations has also played a key role in advancing policies that support community foundations, such as the Charitable Giving Tax Deduction, which was supported by organizations like the National Council of Nonprofits, The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and the Alliance for Justice. Additionally, the organization has helped to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the philanthropic sector, in collaboration with organizations like the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, The Philanthropic Initiative, and the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. Overall, the National Association of Community Foundations has made a significant contribution to the philanthropic sector, and its work continues to have a positive impact on communities across the United States, with support from organizations like the United Way, The Ford Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Category:Philanthropy