Philanthropy Together — How Community Foundations Support Nonprofits for Long-term Community Benefit
The Community Foundation of Nevada County (COFO NC) recently hosted an event to clarify how community foundations nationally and regionally act as partners — not rivals —to nonprofits. They do this by expanding philanthropic capacity, attracting resources, and building a long-term base of support. At the “Philanthropy Together” Discovery Salon guests heard perspectives from Eileen Speaker of the Placer Community Foundation, Andy Hayes from the Auburn Interfaith Food Closet, and Norm Westmore, a local donor.
A high-level overview of community issues
Panelists described how community foundations take an ecosystem-level view of a community, identifying gaps and connecting donors and organizations to address them. Hayes shared how the Placer Community Foundation supported local nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the Food Closet and other organizations together to share ideas about how to respond. “They were there to support a critical need in the community,” he said.
Playing matchmaker for donors and nonprofits
Community foundations also orient donors who are new to the community to local needs and opportunities, providing an overview of the entire nonprofit landscape so new donors can decide where they want their dollars to go. Speaker, who oversees the Placer Community Foundation’s grant programs, scholarships, and nonprofit trainings, described community foundations as “professional dot connectors.”
“We manage 60 donor advised funds. Some are set, but others don’t know the community,” she said. “We do tours and introduce donors to nonprofits. I get to play matchmaker.”
Westmore echoed this role, emphasizing how community foundations surface high-level issues that no single nonprofit can solve alone. “The Community Foundation can play a very important role in filling holes, funding needs that are not being met,” he said.
Who decides where the money goes?
An audience member asked who decides where the money goes. COFO NC’s interim CEO, Cristine Kelly, explained. “We hold funds in trust for our donors in donor advised funds,” she said. “That money becomes an asset of the Community Foundation, but the donor directs the funding.” One benefit of this model is that the money can be deployed quickly in response to urgent needs as they come up — during disasters, for example — as well as to support long-term goals over a long period of time.
In it for the long haul
Community Foundations plan for the future, carefully laying the groundwork for a vision that may take decades to realize. “We need to start thinking of assets under influence instead of under management because we don’t know what the community is going to face in three generations,” Kelly said. Wendy Willoughby, managing director of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, sees great potential in this approach. “The flexibility of being able to drive the train based on where the need is at the moment has the ability to drive real change,” she said. Westmore agreed: “Look at the long game,” he said. “That is where you will see significant community impact.”
Facilitating complex and collaborative efforts
Big community challenges require a coordinated response. Nonprofits bring deep expertise, while community foundations act as catalysts and connectors, facilitating complex and collaborative efforts that no single organization could manage alone.
Western Nevada County was the only region of its size in California without a community foundation — until now. In closing, Kelly asked the nonprofit community for open communication and patience as COFO NC works to raise the funds needed to create a stronger, more united philanthropic ecosystem.
“We are here to serve this community,” she said. “We are just doing it in a different way.”