The Community Foundation of Marquette County recently received reaccreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations establishes effective legal, ethical and administrative practices for community foundations everywhere.
“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that shows that the Community Foundation of Marquette County demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”
The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With more than 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors. It is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.
“The National Standards accreditation is very important to our donors,” said Zosia Eppensteiner, Community Foundation of Marquette County CEO. “When people establish a fund or make a char table bequest, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and make an impact in our community, now and in the future. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”
The Community Foundation of Marquette County works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including education, human services, the environment and the arts. As a community leader, the Community Foundation actively works with other organizations to develop solutions to complex local issues, including the Marquette County Childcare Initiative. The Community Foundation of Marquette County offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. In addition, the Foundation is available as a resource to help nonprofits establish endowments. The Foundation currently manages more than $23 million in community assets.
In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates the Community Foundation’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.
“Grantmaking is about investing in our community,” said Community Foundation Chair Jack Lenten. “Through our grants, we strive to make wise investments that will have the greatest return for our community. With our National Standards accreditation, our donors and community stakeholders can be assured that we’re doing just that.” The Community Foundation has given more than $11.6 million in grants and scholarships since it was founded in 1988.
Through its philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, the Community Foundation of Marquette County helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. The Community Foundation’s most recent Impact Report is available on its website.
The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and is responsible for the quality, value and integrity of compliance with National Standards. For more information on the National Standards Board, visit its website at www.cfstandards.org.
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