Updates and Resources
CF Insights Annual Survey - One Month Left!
There is only one month left to submit your data for the CF Insights FY 2025 Survey!
By participating in the survey, you can help the field make decisions based on timely, accurate, and complete information, leading to greater impact – individually and collectively.
Submit your community foundation FY 2025 data by August 31 and use our benchmarking tool to track your foundation's sustainability and growth alongside your peers.
Show the Country What Generosity Builds
Have you joined our Generosity Builds campaign? This sector-wide storytelling campaign celebrates how philanthropy shows up in communities across the country, providing you with an opportunity to showcase your own impact as part of it.
Think about what generosity looks like in your community and what you'd want to highlight. You can explore the social media toolkit to share stories we've already collected or build your own, submit a story to be featured on our campaign site, record a short video explaining your initiative, or subscribe for updates throughout the year.
Join us as we show the country what generosity builds.
Legal Question of the Month With Senior Staff Counsel Remy Barnwell
Question: One of our agency fund holders sent us a letter wishing to terminate their fund and directing us to wire money to a new bank account in their name.
They’ve lost their 501(c)(3) status, and the original fund agreement from many years ago allows them to require the return of assets in their fund. How should we proceed?
Answer: Based on the agreements and amendment, you could return the assets to them if they regained charitable status under 501(c)(3), subject to the approval of your board. It’s important to note that although this is an agency fund, it is the sole legal property of your foundation.
One additional note: Generally, agency fund agreements should not contain a clause allowing the agency to require the return of assets in the fund unless it is intended to be a non-component fund (which is rare). Because component funds at community foundations may not be subject to any material restrictions, and the assets in component funds must be the result of completed gifts, you may want to do an audit of other agency funds and review those agreements.
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.
CF Insights Highlight
Members with the CF Insights Add-On: Join Our Next Peer Connections Event on August 18
Join us on Tuesday, August 18 at 2 p.m. ET for an in-depth conversation on the management of geographic affiliates with Luis Leon, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Community Foundation for the Ozarks.
Geographic affiliates play an important role in expanding your community foundation’s reach and strengthening local relationships. This peer discussion for Council members with the CF Insights add-on will explore how community foundations structure, manage, and support geographic affiliates, including governance models, operational processes, and more. This will be a roundtable discussion formatted to encourage peer dialogue as you share challenges, compare approaches, and learn from each other. We hope to see you there!
Visit the CF Insights website to learn more about CF Insights and the CF Insights membership add-on, or email the team at cfinsights@cof.org anytime with your questions.
Advocacy Essentials for Community Foundations
As organizations committed to strengthening community foundations, we're partnering with CFLeads to offer a new public policy and advocacy training course for community foundations. This updated training will provide community foundation leaders and staff with the knowledge and resources needed to excel in advocating for the nonprofits and communities doing the hard work of social change.
Members receive a discounted rate, with a further discount if you sign up as a pair with another colleague. We hope to see you there on August 25 and August 27!
NEW: Fiscal Sponsorship Guide for Community Foundations
Fiscal sponsorship can expand access to charitable infrastructure and help emerging projects, community initiatives, and grassroots efforts pursue their charitable goals without the need to create and manage a separate nonprofit organization.
This new resource for community foundations offers guidance on the laws, regulations, and practices of several models of fiscal sponsorship, diving into the structure, benefits, and pitfalls of each. Download this resource for free!
Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You
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