It’s Community Foundation Week (November 12-18)! This annual celebration was created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush to recognize the important work of community foundations and their collaborative and innovative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sector.
In honor of Community Foundation Week, here are some facts about our sector:
- Cleveland Foundation in Ohio was the first community foundation, created in 1914.
- There are now more than 900 community foundations in the U.S. and at least one community foundation on every continent except Antarctica.
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation in California is the largest community foundation in the world, with $13.8 billion in assets in 2022.
- We are the fifth largest community foundation in Michigan (based on 2023 assets). Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and Community Foundation of Greater Flint are first through fourth. We are the 88th largest in the country (as of 2022).
- We got our start as a private foundation in 1951, but in 1972 we reorganized to become a public charity and community foundation.
- More than half of U.S. community foundations are located in the Midwest, and more than one-third serve rural communities—like ours!
- Education, arts and culture, and human services were the fields receiving the most grant funding from Michigan community foundations in 2023.
- U.S. community foundations collectively grant more than $14.8 billion in each year.
