# Community Foundation Public foundations that gather donations from individuals, families, and companies to fund public interest projects within a specific geographic area (city, state, or region). Many community foundations also manage their own [[Endowment Funds|endowment funds]], ensuring permanent support for local initiatives over the long term. --- ## Entries **[[2025-04-27]]**: Came across the [Comuá Network](https://redecomua.org.br/), a collective of community funds and foundations, and independent donor organizations (grantmakers) in Brazil. This network mobilizes resources from diverse sources to support groups, collectives, movements, and civil society organizations working in the fields of community development. Established in 2022, following over a decade of operation under different names and working models, the network was formally founded on June 1, 2023, bringing together 16 member organizations. **[[2025-06-15]]**: Today I came across this revealing dataset from the [Appalachia Funders Network](https://www.appalachiafunders.org/state-of-funding-in-appalachia). It compares philanthropic grantmaking between the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Appalachia. While the Bay Area receives $1,031 per person in grants, Central Appalachia gets only $98 - despite having a larger population. Median grant size is also twice as large in the Bay Area. The gap underscores how geography and funder proximity shape access to philanthropic capital, often leaving high-need regions under-resourced. ### Community Foundations in the USA #### Cleveland Foundation - **Description**: The world's first community foundation, established in 1914 by Frederick Harris Goff. It supports education, social services, arts, urban development, and other public interest initiatives in Greater Cleveland. - **Year Founded**: 1914 - **Geographic Area**: Greater Cleveland, Ohio (Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties) - **Assets**: Approximately US$ 2.8 billion (as of 2022) - **Website**: [https://www.clevelandfoundation.org](https://www.clevelandfoundation.org) #### Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) - **Description**: One of the largest community foundations globally, formed in 2007 through the merger of Community Foundation Silicon Valley and Peninsula Community Foundation. It supports education, immigration, housing, economic development, and other regional priorities across Silicon Valley. - **Year Founded**: 2007 - **Geographic Area**: Silicon Valley, California (San Mateo and Santa Clara counties) - **Assets**: Over US$ 10 billion (as of end of 2022) - **Website**: [https://www.svcf.org](https://www.svcf.org) #### The Chicago Community Trust - **Description**: One of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S., established in 1915. It supports nonprofits working in health, education, arts, community development, and civic innovation in the Chicago metropolitan area. - **Year Founded**: 1915 - **Geographic Area**: Chicago metropolitan area, Illinois - **Assets**: Approximately US$ 4.5 billion (as of September 30, 2023) - **Website**: [https://www.cct.org](https://www.cct.org) ### Community Foundations in Brazil #### Fundação FEAC - **Description**: A community foundation that promotes human development, social assistance, and well-being, with a special focus on children and adolescents in vulnerable situations in Campinas and surrounding areas. - **Year Founded**: 1964 - **Geographic Area**: Campinas (SP) and neighboring municipalities - **Assets**: As of December 31, 2023, total assets amounted to approximately R$366 million (~US$73 million). #### Tabôa – Fortalecimento Comunitário - **Description**: A nonprofit organization that fosters community-based initiatives and socio-economic enterprises, valuing local culture and diversity in the southern region of Bahia. - **Year Founded**: 2014 - **Geographic Area**: Serra Grande (Uruçuca/BA) and surrounding areas - **Assets**: In 2023, launched the Community Development Fund with an initial investment of R$105,000 (~US$21,000) to support local initiatives. - **Website**: [https://taboa.org.br](https://taboa.org.br) #### Instituto Comunitário Grande Florianópolis (ICOM) - **Description**: The first community foundation in the southern region of Brazil, working to strengthen civil society organizations and promote private social investment in the Greater Florianópolis area. - **Year Founded**: 2005 - **Geographic Area**: Greater Florianópolis (SC) - **Assets**: Since its inception, has mobilized over R$19.8 million (~US$3.96 million) - **Website**: [https://www.icomfloripa.org.br](https://www.icomfloripa.org.br)