--- title: Community Philanthropy Update - 2025 October --- The Community Foundations National Standards Board (CFNSB) is inviting professionals like you to share feedback on National Standards to help us improve its relevance, clarity, and impact. | | | --- | | | | --- | | Greetings Friend, Your experience in the community foundation field makes you uniquely qualified to help shape the future of the Community Foundations National Standards accreditation program. We’d love to capture your voice in this year’s survey. The Community Foundations National Standards Board (CFNSB) is inviting professionals like you to volunteer for the 2026 National Standards Review Committee, and share feedback on National Standards to help us improve its relevance, clarity, and impact. In 2021, a group of 33 community foundation leaders convened to evaluate and strengthen the 26 National Standards. This work resulted in 85 revisions, clarifications, and enhancements. Serving as co-leaders of this group was both an honor and a meaningful way to give back to the community foundation field. Our work reinforced the highest levels of transparency and legal compliance — cornerstones of public trust — and affirmed National Standards as a unifying force that elevates the credibility and quality of community foundations across the country. Your input can help us: Update standards to reflect current best practices Improve the assessment and review processes Enhance training and educational tools Increase awareness and value of the standards Address emerging issues in policy and practice Whether you have time to serve or just want to share your perspective, your contribution will help shape the standards that shape our work. Ready to get involved? Please complete this survey by October 31, 2025. Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to the field. Sharon Bisher Sandi Roehrig Former Co-Chairs of 2021 Review Committee Current CFNS Peer Reviewers | | --- | | Upcoming Events Plus Member Peer Connections October 23 \| Virtual \| Peer Event Leading Locally All Year Long: Investing in Constructive Journalism October 28 \| Virtual \| Webinar Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Peer Learning Circle October 30 \| Virtual \| Peer Event CF Insights Office Hours November 19 \| Virtual \| Peer Event Leading Across Differences Peer Learning Circle November 19 \| Virtual \| Peer Event Member Communications Briefings November 19 \| Virtual \| Peer Event Community Foundation Donor Services Meet-Up December 10 \| Virtual \| Peer Event Building Together 2026 May 4-7, 2026 \| In-person \| Seattle | | --- | | New Member Spotlight Welcome to the community foundations that have joined as new Council members since our last newsletter! We're excited to have Cass County Community Foundation, Community Foundation of West Kentucky, Kitsap Community Foundation, and Livonia Community Foundation as new members. | | --- | | Resources You Can Use A Community Foundation’s Story of Connection Across Differences in Newaygo County In a new blog post, Lola Harmon-Ramsey, director of impact and engagement at the Fremont Area Community Foundation, shares her story of how the foundation fostered connection across differences in rural Newaygo County, Michigan. The blog post also explores how participation in our Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort and other Building Common Ground programming helps community foundation leaders develop the skills they need to advance their bridging efforts. Read Lola's story. Legal Corner ICYMI: The Community Foundation Legal Support Fund is available to support community foundations facing legal challenges. Through an open application process, eligible organizations can request funding to help offset the cost of responding to the threat of litigation, audits, or investigations — particularly in cases that have the potential to shape the broader legal landscape for the field.  Find out more about the Community Foundation Legal Support Fund. Council members are able to send their questions to our legal team for expert advice and analysis. You can take advantage of this member benefit by becoming a member today. Retreat for New Community Foundation Executives Intended for executive leaders (CEOs, presidents, executive directors) of community foundations who have been in their current executive role for three years or less, this retreat (Nov. 6-7), hosted by Dallas Foundation president and CEO Julie Diaz, equips you with the skills and relationships needed to be successful, including the work of navigating change and staff expectations, transforming operations, and building institutions for the future. Only a few spots remain! Don't miss your chance to register for this in-person retreat in Dallas with your fellow community foundation executives (Nov. 6-7). Better Stories, Better Language Trainings Building on our Philanthropy's New Voice report, the largest study of narratives in philanthropy, this new training series will provide you with the skills to tell more complex, robust stories about the charitable sector and your work to build trust with your key audiences. Meet your fellow communications professionals in the sector, join our first session on Oct. 30, and register for all three this fall for a discounted rate! Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You How are CFs using AI? Audit Firms for Community Foundations Chambers of Commerce Foundations moved to Community Foundations News Articles The NonProfit Times: Community Foundations Face Crisis, Transition, Identity Challenges The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Emergency Funding Takes On New Urgency Amid Government Shutdown The NonProfit Times: GoFundMe Reversing Course On Nonprofit Pages The Associated Press: Government shutdown imperils dozens of Head Start preschool programs Opinions expressed in articles belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council. | | --- | | | | --- | | Keep in Touch! Share your organization’s impact story with us at communications@cof.org. View this email as a web page. | | --- | | Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact. 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