MCCF News

MCCF Announces National Standards Recognition

5/27/09 - The Marshall County Community Foundation is pleased to announce it has received recognition for compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations by the Council on Foundations.

National Standards were developed in 2000 by a group of community foundation practitioners to serve as a roadmap for legal, ethical, and effective practices within a philanthropic environment increasingly affected by technology, competition for donors, and political and media scrutiny.

Approved and adopted by the Community Foundation Leadership Team of the Council on Foundations in late 2000, the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations are philanthropy's most rigorous. Since the standards were adopted, hundreds of community foundations of all sizes, ages, and locations have committed to operational excellence. There are approximately 700 community foundations in the United States.

The State of Indiana has more community foundations than any other state in the country with every county served by at least one community foundation. The Marshall County Community Foundation (MCCF) becomes the 72nd community foundation in Indiana to achieve compliance and can now display the official National Standards Seal that denotes the achievement. 95% of all community foundations in Indiana are currently in compliance with National Standards.

The MCCF board of directors decided to pursue the National Standards endorsement from the Council on Foundations in the fall of 2007. "After more than a year and a half of extensive work the Foundation was recognized in compliance," said Tammy Houin, past president of the board of directors.

"We are very pleased to announce this achievement to our donors and our community," added Sarah Smith, asset development committee chair.

A total of 43 National Standards were designed by community foundation colleagues to demonstrate community foundations’ transparency and financial responsibility. They are also designed to guide sound policies and practices, distinguish community foundations from other philanthropic vehicles, build the capacity of community foundations to carry out their missions, help the field self-regulate in a manner that meets IRS rules, and help community foundations continually improve their practices.

The 43 National Standards address six key areas of community foundation operations:
Mission, Structure, and Governance, including standards defining board accountability, compensation, independence, fiduciary responsibility and representation of the community.

Resource Development, including parameters for administration of funds, disclosures to donors and commitment to building long-term resources for varied community issues and causes.

Stewardship and Accountability, covering prudent investment and management of funds, transparent record-keeping, use of funds for their intended purpose, annual audits and public availability of financial information, including standards related to due diligence and community responsiveness.

Grantmaking and Community Leadership, including standards related to broad and open grantmaking programs, due diligence and responsiveness to changing community needs.

Donor Relations, encompassing guidelines for informing, educating and involving donors in responding to community needs.

Communications, including openness to public scrutiny and frequent communication about activities and finances.

Because of the National Standards movement, community foundations are leading philanthropy toward greater accountability and transparency.


Confirmed in Compliance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations

For further information contact Jennifer S. Maddox, Executive Director, Marshall County Community Foundation at 574-935-5159.