National Standards
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations were approved by the Council on
Foundations' Community Foundations Leadership Team and adopted by the community
foundation field in late 2000.

  • Over 500 community foundations, out of approximately 700 nationwide, have agreed
    to comply with National Standards.
  • Compliance with the National Standards is voluntary.
  • National Standards assist community foundations in establishing legal, ethical, and
    effective operating practices that show a foundation’s transparency and financial
    responsibility in light of the increased public scrutiny of foundation practices.
  • Intended both as a blueprint for internal organizational development and as a
    tangible set of benchmarks for external assessment of performance, the 43 National
    Standards address six key areas of community foundation operations:

  1. Mission, Structure and Governance, including standards defining board
    accountability, compensation, independence, fiduciary responsibility and
    representation of the community.
  2. Resource Development, including parameters for administration of funds,
    disclosures to donors and commitment to building long-term resources for
    varied community issues and causes.
  3. Stewardship and Accountability, covering prudent investment and
    management of funds, transparent record-keeping, use of funds for their
    intended purpose, annual audits, and public availability of financial
    information, including standards related to due diligence and community
    responsiveness.
  4. Grantmaking and Community Leadership, including standards related to
    broad and open grantmaking programs, due diligence, and responsiveness
    to changing community needs.
  5. Donor Relations, encompassing guidelines for informing, educating and
    involving donors in responding to community needs.
  6. Communications, including openness to public scrutiny and frequent
    communications about activities and finances.  

The Standards Action Team, supported by Council staff, developed a three-phase
process for the implementation of the National Standards:

  1. Declaration of Intent. Community foundations pledge to adopt and adhere to
    the National Standards.
  2. Confirmation of Compliance. Community foundations, which have pledged to
    adopt the National Standards, submit a record book of 38 compliance
    documents that outline their organizational and financial policies and
    procedures. These documents are then extensively reviewed by trained,
    experienced community foundation practitioners, with support from Council
    staff.
  3. On-site Peer Review Evaluation. Leaders of the field will provide an intensive,
    collaborative, on-site assessment of the foundation’s policies and
    operations, with the aim of reaching exceptional levels of service. (Details for
    this phase are being finalized.)
  • The peer review process is conducted by leaders in the field that have
    at least ten years of experience with or knowledge of community
    foundations of different asset sizes, staff resources, organizational
    longevity and geographical service areas.
  • Community foundations of all sizes use the standards as a roadmap
    to establish legal, ethical and effective practices that are ready for the
    increasing scrutiny of donors, government and the press.
  • Community foundations use standards to publicly communicate their
    commitment to accountability, excellence and service.
  • Community foundations use the standards to certify their achievement
    of comprehensive basic services that mark a true “community
    foundation.”
  • Community foundations use standards to promote self-regulation in a
    manner viewed positively by the Internal Revenue Service, which has
    increased its scrutiny of charities offering donor-advised funds.