About Certification: Grantmaking

BACK: Stewardship & Accountability

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR U.S. COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS (developed by the Council on Foundations)

V. Grantmaking and Community Leadership
A. A community foundation operates a broad grants program to multiple grantees that is limited neither by a single focus or cause nor exclusively to the interests of a particular constituency.

B. A community foundation awards some grants from its discretionary resources through open, competitive processes that address the changing needs of the community.

C. A community foundation widely disseminates grant guidelines to ensure the fullest possible participation from the community it serves.

D. A community foundation performs due diligence to ensure that grants will be used for charitable purposes.
Explanation: Due diligence applies to all grants made by the foundation, and includes gathering and evaluation of information on the grantee and may include the intended use of the grant. Vigilance regarding quid pro quo benefit to a donor advisor would fall within the scope of this item.

E. A community foundation works to identify community issues and opportunities and acts as a leader and convenor, using its human and/or financial resources to address immediate and long term community issues and opportunities.

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