Phone: +371 261 367 56 E-mail: Sources : websites, e-mails, studies ,etc First and oldest community foundation in the world : Russian Toliati foundation : Polish initiative : USA initiative : Northern Ireland initiative : Community foundations are independent registered philanthropic institutions serving geographically defined territory, typically a city or administrative area (rural area, county, region and the like). The six main characteristics of the CFs are: Act as grant-making foundations – e.g. give grants to support development projects from local rural area, Their mission broadly defined (e.g. to improve quality of life in a community) Serve geographically defined communities – a rural area, city, state, region, district or province Are supported by a broad range of private as well as public donors and seek philanthropic contributions primarily from inside the community or rural area, Are governed by multi-sectoral local boards reflecting the community, Build capital endowment, which is an important element of sustainability. It is a combination of all these basic characteristics what makes true CF, although there are many other types of community organizations that have some of these characteristics. Families, individuals, businesses, and nonprofit groups establish funds within community foundations into which they can contribute a variety of assets to be used for charitable purposes. The people or organizations that establish the funds can then recommend that grants be distributed, in the name of the fund or anonymously, to qualified nonprofit groups and schools. The donor receives a charitable deduction in the year that gifts are made into their funds, but not all countries where community foundations currently operate provide such incentives for donors. Increasingly, community foundations are hosting giving circles as a way to further support giving in their communities. The assets of community foundations are pooled and invested, with donors typically having a choice of investment products. The funds established at community foundations can be non-endowed or
Phone: +371 261 367 56 E-mail: Sources : websites, e-mails, studies ,etc First and oldest community foundation in the world : Russian Toliati foundation : Polish initiative : USA initiative : Northern Ireland initiative : Community foundations are independent registered philanthropic institutions serving geographically defined territory, typically a city or administrative area (rural area, county, region and the like). The six main characteristics of the CFs are: Act as grant-making foundations – e.g. give grants to support development projects from local rural area, Their mission broadly defined (e.g. to improve quality of life in a community) Serve geographically defined communities – a rural area, city, state, region, district or province Are supported by a broad range of private as well as public donors and seek philanthropic contributions primarily from inside the community or rural area, Are governed by multi-sectoral local boards reflecting the community, Build capital endowment, which is an important element of sustainability. It is a combination of all these basic characteristics what makes true CF, although there are many other types of community organizations that have some of these characteristics. Families, individuals, businesses, and nonprofit groups establish funds within community foundations into which they can contribute a variety of assets to be used for charitable purposes. The people or organizations that establish the funds can then recommend that grants be distributed, in the name of the fund or anonymously, to qualified nonprofit groups and schools. The donor receives a charitable deduction in the year that gifts are made into their funds, but not all countries where community foundations currently operate provide such incentives for donors. Increasingly, community foundations are hosting giving circles as a way to further support giving in their communities. The assets of community foundations are pooled and invested, with donors typically having a choice of investment products. The funds established at community foundations can be non-endowed or
EntCom-WP2-Mapping-Report.docx