Community Foundations
Community Foundations are tax-exempt public
charities organized and operated as a permanent collection of endowed funds for the long-term
benefit of a defined geographic area. They are designated "public charities" rather than
"private foundations" by the IRS because they raise a significant portion of their resources
from a broad cross-section of the public each year. Donors to community foundations are from
diverse backgrounds with a common commitment to their communities' well-being.
Each community foundation has its own character, but they all share common traits:
- a mission to enrich the quality of life in a
defined geographic area;
- service to three primary constituencies:
- donors--as a partner for giving and a
resource for information about local needs;
- charitable organizations--as a source of
grants and technical assistance, and as a guardian of nonprofit endowments;
- the community at large--as a force committed to
helping their communities thrive over the long term.
- a focus on building permanent endowment with as few
restrictions as possible
an independent local volunteer governing body that knows about and generally represents the community; and
- accountability to the public and an openness
to its broad participation.
Of the more than 500 community foundations in the
country, 18 of them are
located in Connecticut. Some cover geographic regions with multiple communities and others support one community.
You may locate the Connecticut community foundation that
serves the communities you wish to support on the
LOCATOR MAP.
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