Centennial of Community Foundation Movement

Johnson County Community Foundation Marks Centennial of Community Foundation Movement in America

One hundred years ago, the community foundation concept was born in the Midwest, giving rise to a new philanthropy, a new way of participating in community, and a new vision for the future.

Today, the Johnson County Community Foundation is one of more than 700 community foundations across the United States that invite everyday people with a vision and a passion for community to create something together: For good. Forever. These organizations collectively manage more than $48 billion in assets and make grants of approximately $4.5 billion a year to improve life in their communities. This philanthropic model has spread beyond U.S. borders, with approximately 1,700 community foundations established worldwide.

“In 2014, Johnson County Community Foundation celebrates our own 23th anniversary, commemorating the generations of donors and volunteers whose generosity continues to make life better in Johnson County,” said Gail Richards, President/CEO of Johnson County Community Foundation. “We also mark this year as the 100th anniversary of the community foundation movement at work in communities around the world.”

Community foundations translate collective giving into big impact

Cleveland lawyer and banker Frederick H. Geoff established the first community foundation in 1914. His vision was to pool the charitable resources of community members, people of all means, into a single, great and permanent endowment for the benefit of all. Within five years, community foundations were established in Chicago, Boston, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, Buffalo and New York.

Community foundations give everyone access to the power of endowment

Community foundations are designed to build endowment funds that benefit the community forever and help create personal legacies. When you contribute to the endowment managed by the Johnson County Community Foundation, your gift is invested over time. Earnings from your fund are used to make grants addressing community needs. Your gift—and all future earnings from your gift—is a permanent source of community capital, helping to do good work today and in the future.

Since established, the Johnson County Community Foundation has made grants of more than $10 million. We have assets of more than $20 million.

In 2013, the Johnson County Community Foundation–

Granted  $786,217 to causes that matter.

Awarded $400,000+ in scholarships to 170+ students.

Convened workshops to help nonprofit and business leaders grow.

Supported the growth of more than 200 funds, including five new funds.

Connected 1,283 community supporters with their passions.

We meet the nation’s highest philanthropic standards for operational quality, integrity and accountability. The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program requires community foundations to document our policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration.

Community foundations are devoted to the people and places you love

We are making history together. Community foundations across the country are helping people invest in the future of the communities they care about. Trillions of dollars are expected to transfer from one generation to the next during the next 50 years. The philanthropic opportunity during this transfer has the potential to improve the quality of life—in urban centers and small towns alike—through economic development, education, health, human services, environment, arts and culture. As place-based organizations that focus collective assets for good works, community foundations are helping people of all means give back and make a difference.

Johnson County Community Foundation is a local nonprofit organization providing donors a simple, powerful and highly personal approach to giving—so their gifts do good works within the community, forever.

OUR MISSION

To enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Johnson County, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on key community issues.

OUR VISION


The Johnson County Community Foundation strives to be the philanthropic leader in improving our community, today and in the future, by connecting people who care with causes that matter in Johnson County.

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