Happy Community Foundation Week!

Grants to fund a new pool lift for the handicapped, furniture for a teen shelter, new instruments for a junior orchestra demonstrate the tremendous impact and unique importance of community foundations in this country. This week, we celebrate Community Foundation Week, our chance to share and reflect on these stories. Though you may not yet know your local community foundation, you’ve likely felt its impact. The Pinellas Community Foundation and more than 750 other community foundations across the country help to bring donors and residents together. The community foundation unites their efforts behind the efforts that will help the communities we call home continue to flourish and grow.

As we enter the giving season, America’s generosity surges. Millions of people from every background will be looking to give back to the communities that have supported them. They’ll also look to make sure that their heartfelt giving – however they choose to give – will have the most impact. That’s why so many of them will choose to give to a community foundation.

A planned gift to your local community foundation is really an investment in the future of your community. The funds will go to work immediately supporting vital services, but they will also provide sustained support for years to come. At the Pinellas Community Foundation we don’t think about the next election or business cycle, we think about the next generation and the next after that.

That can seem a daunting task, but it’s one that we all share. During Community Foundation Week, I hope you’ll join us in recognizing our collective impact and the difference we can make together. Learn more at the Pinellas Community Foundation website.

The National Standards for Community Foundations: What Everyone Needs to Know …

Not all non-profit community foundations are alike. Yes, they differ in their focus and goals, but did you know they also differ in operational effectiveness? That makes a big difference as to how your donations are spent. The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations is an accreditation that represents operational effectiveness to foster excellence in community philanthropy.

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations sets standards for operational and legal soundness for community foundations. Their accreditation recognizes that the Pinellas Community Foundation’s staff and board maintain operational excellence. Look for the National Standards seal when considering your planned giving.

To qualify for National Standards, a community foundation must:

1. Be recognized by the IRS under Code sections 501(c)(3), 509(a)(1), and 170(b)(1)(a)(vi).  This information tells us that your community foundation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and is a publicly supported charity,
2. Be in good standing with federal and state regulators,
3. Meet the National Standards definition of a community foundation as stated in National Standard 1.

The Pinellas Community Foundation is committed to making the Pinellas County community a better place to live. The Foundation is funded by the generous donations of local area citizens, as well as various philanthropic organizations and businesses.