Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2007
Abstract
Community foundations administer over $44 billion and distribute $3.6 billion annually to improve quality of life throughout America. The Council on Foundations, a nationwide membership association of grantmaking organizations of all types, developed rigorous, but voluntary, "National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations" in 2000. In light of increased public scrutiny of charitable organizations, standards were developed to define and distinguish community foundations from other philanthropic vehicles and to aid them in establishing legal, ethical and effective operational practices that demonstrate transparency and financial responsibility. In addition, the Standards were conceived to promote self-regulation in a manner viewed positively by policy makers. Qualitative research based on interviews with board members and CEOs of nine Ohio community foundations, sought to gauge the relative impact of standards on organizational performance and advancement. Findings suggest that engaged and proactive leadership and membership in an association of grantmakers are more important than the National Standards as factors that propel community foundation role advancement. The results have relevance to not-for-profit sector practitioners and scholars concerned about the governance and impact of community foundations.
Keywords
community foundations, institutional theory, engaged, proactive, community foundation, association
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Wolfe, Michael, "National Standards and Role Advancement in U.S. Community Foundations" (2007). Student Scholarship. 313.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/313