Dear Friend, Over the past weeks, we have all likely felt deep sadness and concern for those impacted by the Ukraine crisis. The invasion of Ukraine was more than an attack on a country; it has had a destabilizing effect felt across the globe. And yet one thing has remained constant: the central…

Funders around the world have sprung into action to support those at risk during the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Eastern Europe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 has already resulted in more than 800,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict and seeking refuge abroad. As the conflict…

Since my last update, the ways in which community foundations and other sponsoring organizations utilize donor-advised funds (DAFs) have become a topic of discussion within the broader grantmaking community. Not only did a Council working group release recommendations to guide the…

2021 was an historic year in many ways, for philanthropy and for the people and communities we care about. It was a year of loss and heartache as families and communities continued to suffer the effects of the pandemic and many other hardships. It was a year of advocacy to…

Today is the second day of the 2021 Summit for Democracy, and the issues at hand are too urgent to ignore. While the world faces pressing humanitarian crises like climate change, COVID-19, and racial injustice that threaten global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Summit…

A lot of things worth celebrating are on my radar this month – Thanksgiving is coming up and I am looking forward to the baking that entails. We’ve just finished commemorating Community Foundation Week and I am currently enjoying collecting leaves with my daughter after they turn from…

You may have started your career in philanthropy knowing that community foundations not only impact the neighborhoods they serve, but also inspire a commitment to the greater good across counties, states, and the country — or you may have learned this along the way. Community Foundation Week,…

Advancing the greater good often starts with investing in our local communities. The resources that community foundations hold, whether through agency funds, endowments, or donor-advised funds, have significant potential to shape the future and reflect the values of those communities. When grants…

With the UN General Assembly (UNGA) just a few weeks away, there is no shortage of challenges that will hinder the world’s capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. From the IPCC’s recent devastating climate report and natural disasters in every corner of the…

Earlier this month, the Council launched a new Strategic Direction focused on how philanthropy can build the trust needed to advance the greater good. This strategy was developed out of feedback from hundreds of philanthropic leaders over the last two years, as well as support from the…

A worldwide pandemic is something that few of us expected to experience in our lifetimes. As the global community continues to struggle through the hardships of containing the pandemic, funders are demonstrating the many ways we can learn from each other, especially in times of crisis. Although the…

Dear Friend, It’s been an eventful month in Congress! In addition to the ACE Act, another bill was introduced last week that will have a significant impact on community foundations – by providing you with new ways of giving scholarships. We know that scholarships are a vital tool for community…

Over the last year, corporations of all shapes and sizes have responded in unprecedented ways to the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for racial justice. You’ve leveraged your philanthropic dollars alongside core business operations and employees to drive impact in communities across the US and around…

Foundations and donors of all kinds have responded in creative and impressive ways to COVID-19, as well as the other crises of the previous year. Community foundations have served as beacons of hope and safety, educators and public health outlets, and conduits for vital aid during the pandemic…

Dear Friend, Over the last two years, conversations with community foundation leaders from across the country have deepened my understanding of the complexity and importance of your work. I have a personal commitment to advocating for the unique needs and priorities of community foundations, and…

Dear Friend,  It is difficult to capture the enormity of the challenges we have faced during the past year. Global grantmakers were some of the first to recognize the looming danger of the novel coronavirus and urged the world to respond. As vaccines begin to ramp up in the US, funders…