"Community foundations work with collaborative, community partners to impact lives, solve problems, and build bright futures," said Joan Davis, President and CEO. "In a down economy, resources are limited and more families are in need of services. We are more determined than ever to bring our diverse stakeholders together to find innovative and effective solutions to meet the needs of our community."

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. Richmond Community Foundation builds the capacity of the Richmond community by serving as Community Leader, Collaborator and Broker, and by leveraging assets of all kinds to create and sustain a strong, healthy city. RCF offers grants and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, convenes and acts as financial manager of collaborative community initiatives, and acts as a central information portal.

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.

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November 15, 2011

Contact: Joan Davis - 510.234.1200