Austin Community Foundation - Generosity Multiplied

Austin Community Foundation meets National Standards for operational quality, donor service and accountability in the community foundation sector.

The National Standards Seal by our name indicates official confirmation from the Council on Foundations that we have met the most rigorous standards in philanthropy. It affirms our commitment to the following important standards:

• financial security
• transparency
• accountability

It also says our grantmaking includes an open, competitive process designed to address the changing needs of our community and confirms our history of honoring donors’ wishes to support the causes and needs they care about both locally and all over the world.

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations Program was established in 2000 in cooperation with the Council on Foundations. National Standards guide community foundations in establishing legal, ethical and effective operational practices that serve as blueprints for internal development and benchmarks for external assessment. The 43 National Standards require Austin Community Foundation to document its policies in donor services, investment management, grantmaking and administration. To receive confirmation of National Standards compliance, Austin Community Foundation submitted its organizational and financial policies and procedures to a rigorous peer review.

"This is critically important to our donors," said MariBen Ramsey, Austin Community Foundation's Vice-President & COO.

"When people make a charitable bequest, establish a fund or set up an annuity, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and, in some cases, provide lifetime income to a loved one. The National Standards confirmation says our house is in order."