Recognizing the Impact of Community Foundations November 12-18, 2011

During the week of November 12-18, 2011, The Community Foundation of Central Illinois will join more than 700 community foundations across America for Community Foundation Week. For more than 20 years, the effort has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.

During the week, CFCI will celebrate by receiving a proclamation from Mayor Jim Ardis on Tuesday, November 8 and visiting Bradley University’s Service on Saturday program funded by a CFCI grant from the Thomas and Ellen Foster Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, at Crittenton Center’s Stocking Stuffer Store at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie on November 12.  In addition, CFCI is participating in and supporting the Association of Fundraising Professional’s National Philanthropy Day Luncheon, November 9, where outstanding donors, volunteers, corporations, foundations, small businesses, youth in philanthropy and others will be honored in recognition of their work in improving their communities and their world every day.

“Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” said Mark Roberts, CEO. “In a down economy, with limited resources and a growing need for services to help families in need, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions to some of our most challenging social problems.”

Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities.

Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—that is advancing solutions to a wide range of social issues. The 2010 Columbus Survey found that despite the recession, giving by the nation’s 100 largest community foundations actually increased slightly in 2010 to $3.7 billion and exceeded prerecession levels seen in 2006 and 2007.

Launched in 1989 through a proclamation by former president George H.W. Bush, the first Community Foundation Week included a congressional briefing about the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.