Community foundations are the fastest growing form of philanthropy across the globe. Their broad purpose is to promote and support local voluntary and community activity through the establishment of permanently endowed funds for a given community or interest group.

 

The first community foundation was conceived in 1914 by an Ohio banker who was frustrated by the recurrent dilemmas he faced as the administrator of deceased estates, such as what to do when beneficiary organisations wound up, or when the needs of a community changed from the time a will had originally been prepared.

 

"What if people left their money to a foundation," he thought, "whose trustees were knowledgeable, well respected community members, committed to a common good, with the power to redirect gifts if the original purpose became obsolete over time?"

 

This idea was then linked to the concept of a community pooling and investing contributions from living donors to address local needs, and so the community foundation model was born.

 

Worldwide, there are more than 1100 community foundations in over 35 countries, with over 700 in the United States alone.  Many are over 100 years old.

 

Currently in Australia, more than 25 active community foundations exist across most parts of the country, each at various stages of development.

 

Established in 1983, Victorian Community Foundation is the oldest, and now supports over 200 donation funds as the Melbourne Community Foundation.

 

Western Australian Community Foundation is the first of its kind in our state.