Community foundations are the fastest growing area of philanthropy. They differ from private foundations and other types of philanthropy based on a combination of the following characteristics: Their funds come from a broad range of donors – large, medium or small, private and public, local, domestic, or foreign. Even people of modest means contribute. Larger donors often create funds to support their areas of interest (donor advised funds), such as education for girls, etc. Community Foundations also typically create an endowment that helps sustain their activities. They make grants only to the community they serve and thereby provide a means to help local people help themselves. They are run and governed by a diverse board of trustees that must reflect a cross section of their community including civic and private sector leaders, local government officials, and NGOs. Community foundations are known for fiscal accountability and transparency;. Community foundations are trusted and respected as neutral agents.
World Bank Community Foundation Initiative The World Bank (through its Social Development Department and in collaboration with the Foundations Unit in CFPVPU) has launched a multi-year effort to test the efficacy of community foundations in client countries. The project is aimed at (1) identifying 3-6 community foundation pilot projects in a variety of countries to demonstrate the model’s ability to empower communities to enhance and sustain community driven development (CDD). The project is also aimed at (2) building internal knowledge and interest within the World Bank in community foundations as a development tool. The initiative grew out of several discussions with the international foundation community. It was launched in March 2003 as a partnership between the World Bank and the International Committee of the Council on Foundations. Funding for the initiative has been provided by several Bank regional VPUs and by the Ford and C.S. Mott Foundations. Dr. Juraj Mesik, the founder of one of the first community foundations in post-communist Europe, serves as the project’s senior community foundation specialist. A Bank/Foundation advisory committee helps to direct the project and provides technical expertise. For more on the Community Foundation Initiative, please click here. This page provides a list of community foundations around the world, a list of the foundations and associations that provide support to community foundations, and other related documents such as white papers and lectures. |
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