Greetings Friend,
The Council on Foundations has served as a proud partner to community foundations for more than 75 years, in part by defending against policy threats and advocating for a regulatory environment that allows organizations to focus on the critical work they do in their communities.
This year, the Council has continued to build on that history by expanding our legal support services for community foundations. Now, we plan to deepen our support for the role community foundations play as policy advocates through the upcoming launch of a new, optional, paid add-on to Council membership.
The development of this add-on was member-informed, starting with a group of members who initially approached us to create this opportunity. Since then, we’ve heard from more than 125 of our members who helped shape it, both through a survey we sent to key staff at member organizations and several conversations. We heard from the field that the types of support community foundations would find most value include, but are not limited to:
- Policy briefings on specific issues (such as education, health care, and housing) that affect the communities you serve.
- Sample language you can use to respond to regulatory or congressional issues.
- The development of a proactive policy agenda to further the interests of community foundations nationwide.
- Tailored policy updates specifically for community foundations, providing additional information and analysis of current topics and debates.
We heard our community foundation members loud and clear, and as we prepare to respond to these needs, the Council commits to making this add-on accessible to all community foundations that could benefit, through a tiered pricing structure.
Starting in March 2026, Council members will be able to include these additional policy benefits as an add-on. We'll share more details in the coming months. Interested in becoming a member? Reach out to membership@cof.org.
In partnership,
Natalie Ross
Vice President, Membership, Development and Finance
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